Sternal Osteotomy Guide and Fixation System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Sternal dehiscence and deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) complications following cardiac surgery are significant due to poor wound healing and surgery-related factors, with no effective solutions addressing asymmetric osteotomy or providing improved treatment procedures and apparatus for sternal fixation.
Innovation Solution
A sternal osteotomy guide and fixation system comprising non-bioresorbable intra-sternal shims, tie members with gear racks, and ratcheting brackets, along with a ratchet gun, to provide anteroposterior stability and distribute pressure, reducing the risk of DSWI by allowing for uniform and efficient closure of the sternum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional wire cerclage closure is used, then the surgical procedure is simple and quick, but sternal stability is insufficient leading to dehiscence and infection in high-risk patients
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation system is segmented into multiple functional components: intra-sternal shims for anterior stabilization, tie members for compression, and brackets for posterior fixation. This segmentation allows each component to address specific stability requirements while maintaining overall system manageability during surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
Intra-sternal shims serve as intermediary elements placed within the sternum to provide anterior stabilization and distribute forces. These shims act as mediators between the tie members and the sternal halves, enabling reliable fixation without requiring complex external hardware.
2Manufacturing precision
If asymmetric osteotomy is performed without a guide, then the surgical procedure is faster and simpler, but manufacturing precision and symmetry of the osteotomy are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting guide is designed as a universal device that can be applied to various sternum sizes and patient anatomies. It provides multiple functions: establishing midline alignment, guiding symmetric osteotomy cuts, and ensuring proper positioning of fixation hardware, thereby achieving manufacturing precision without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If prolonged surgery time is spent on manual tightening, then uniform compression can be achieved, but productivity and surgical efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ratchet mechanism on the brackets provides self-service functionality by automatically maintaining uniform compression forces once the tie members are tightened. The ratchet prevents backsliding and ensures consistent force distribution across the sternal halves, eliminating the need for prolonged manual adjustment while maintaining compression uniformity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are described for a sternal osteotomy guide and sternal fixation system.