Stapes Prosthesis with Integrated Removable Jaw Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stapes prostheses and surgical tools face challenges in precision and risk during stapedotomy or stapedectomy operations due to limited access and hand tremor issues, leading to potential failure and complications such as hearing loss or facial nerve paralysis.
Innovation Solution
A stapes prosthesis with integrated removable actuating means that allows for precise fixation and positioning without additional tools, featuring a design with a curved upper jaw and lower jaw that can be brought closer together using a sliding mechanism, facilitating easier insertion and positioning during surgery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional stapes prostheses with separate fixation tools are used, then the prosthesis can be fixed to the incus, but the surgeon's hand tremor and the need for additional tools increase the risk of surgical failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the prosthesis body and the fixation means into a single integrated device. The fixation means including upper and lower jaws are directly attached to the prosthesis body, eliminating the need for separate fixation tools and reducing hand tremor effects during positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The prosthesis is designed to be self-positioning and self-fixating. The integrated fixation means allow the prosthesis to grip the incus directly without requiring external manipulation tools, making the device autonomous in its fixation function.
2Ease of operation
If additional fixation tools are used to secure the prosthesis, then the prosthesis can be fixed to the incus, but the surgical procedure becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the fixation means with the prosthesis body, the patent eliminates multiple separate fixation steps and tools. The single integrated device can be inserted and fixed in one continuous motion, reducing surgical time and procedural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixation means are pre-positioned and pre-configured on the prosthesis body before surgery. This preliminary arrangement allows for immediate fixation upon insertion without requiring additional setup or adjustment steps during the surgical procedure.
3Measurement precision
If the prosthesis requires additional tools for positioning, then fixation can be achieved, but the precision is reduced due to hand tremor and difficult access
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of positioning and fixation functions into a single device eliminates the need for separate positioning tools. The prosthesis with attached fixation means can be positioned and secured in one atomic action, eliminating tremor-related precision losses between multiple steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixation means act as an intermediary mechanism that bridges the gap between the prosthesis body and the incus. This intermediate structure provides stable engagement and precise positioning without requiring direct manual manipulation during the critical fixation moment.
4Ease of operation
If the fixation means are permanently attached to the prosthesis, then fixation is simplified, but the actuating means cannot be removed after positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation means are designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing them to be attached during surgery and then detached after use. This dynamic design provides the benefits of permanent attachment during the critical fixation phase while allowing removal afterward to avoid interference with hearing restoration.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating means are designed as disposable or removable components that are attached to the prosthesis for the duration of the surgical procedure, used for fixation, and then discarded or removed. This approach eliminates the need for complex permanent attachment structures while ensuring reliable fixation during surgery.
Data Source
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AI summary
This stapedial prosthesis (10) comprises a stirrup body (14) having a proximal end provided with means (22) for fixing to the long limb (12) of the incus of the middle ear of a patient and a distal end intended to be positioned against the osseous labyrinth (20) of the corresponding inner ear of the patient. The fixing means (22) comprise an upper jaw (24), designed to be able to bear on the long limb (12) of the incus, and a lower jaw (26), designed to be able to enclose the long limb (12) of the incus by cooperation with the upper jaw (24). They additionally comprise actuation means (28) for actuating one (26) of the two jaws by bringing it towards the other (24) of the two jaws, these actuation means (28) being fixed removably to the proximal end of the stirrup body (14).