Sternal Fixation Assembly With Flexible Loop And Quick-Release Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sternum fixation methods are inadequate for rapid and secure attachment/separation, often requiring critical time for re-opening and may experience loosening under thoracic loads, compromising patient health.
Innovation Solution
A fixation assembly comprising a flexible elongated member with a locking structure and an attachment member, featuring a receiving structure for bone fasteners, allowing for easy attachment and separation, enhanced stability, and rapid healing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cable or wire is tensioned around the sternum parts for fixation, then the sternum parts are secured together, but the fixation may come loose or break due to thoracic region loads
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation device is divided into a flexible elongated member that loops around the sternum and a separate attachment member with bone fasteners that secure to the sternum parts. This segmentation allows the flexible member to provide circumferential support while the attachment member provides rigid anchoring, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and load-bearing strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines a flexible elongated member (which can be made of flexible polymers or woven materials) with a rigid attachment member (made of biocompatible metal or rigid polymer). This composite construction allows the flexible portion to accommodate sternum movement while the rigid attachment member resists thoracic loads, simultaneously achieving reliability and strength.
2Reliability
If a bone plate is used for secondary closure to stabilize the fixation, then the fixation stability is improved, but the procedure complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment member integrates both the flexible elongated member connection and the bone fastener attachment in a single component. This merging eliminates the need for separate bone plate application, reducing procedural complexity while maintaining fixation stability through the combined mechanical advantage of the loop-and-attach configuration.
3Reliability
If the sternum is re-opened to check surgical procedure success, then the patient's health can be monitored, but critical time is lost which may affect patient health
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation device incorporates a quick-release mechanism that allows the flexible elongated member to be rapidly detached from the attachment member without requiring surgical intervention. This self-service feature enables immediate release if needed, eliminating the time-consuming re-opening procedure while maintaining patient safety through the simple detachment capability.
4Reliability
If a locking structure is used to secure the flexible elongated member in a loop, then the fixation security is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is extracted from the flexible elongated member itself and placed in the attachment member. The flexible member simply forms the loop around the sternum, while the attachment member contains the locking structure that secures the loop. This extraction simplifies the flexible member design and concentrates the locking complexity in a single, manageable component.
Data Source
AI summary
A fixation assembly for securing parts of a sternum is provided. The assembly comprises a flexible elongated member and an attachment member. The flexible elongated member includes a locking structure configured to secure the flexible elongated member in a loop around the sternum parts. The attachment member has at least one opening for receiving a bone fastener and is coupled to the flexible elongated member.