Surgical Cable Connector with Deformable Sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical connectors struggle to securely fasten surgical cables, especially when the cables are loosely woven or have a soft bone structure, as they fail to maintain tension effectively due to the cables sinking into the bone.
Innovation Solution
A surgical connector system featuring a deformable sleeve and actuator that compresses and shapes the surgical cable, creating a tortuous path to prevent pull-through and securely fasten the cable to the connector, even with loosely woven elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional crimp devices are used to secure the surgical cable, then the cable can be fastened to the connector, but the cable elements remain loosely woven and cannot maintain effective tension
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable sleeve changes the physical state of the cable elements from loosely woven to compressed and bundled together. By applying mechanical compression through the deformable sleeve, the cable elements are transformed from a loose configuration to a compact, solid-like structure that can effectively maintain tension without sinking into soft bone.
2Reliability
If the surgical cable is tensioned to stabilize bone portions, then bone stabilization is achieved, but the cable sinks into soft bone portions and loses effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable sleeve compresses the cable elements to change their physical parameters, transforming them from a loose, compressible structure to a compact, solid-like configuration. This compression prevents the cable from sinking into soft bone portions by reducing its cross-sectional area and increasing its density, thereby maintaining effective tension for bone stabilization.
3Reliability
If the deformable sleeve compresses the cable elements to a near solid state, then the cable can be securely fastened, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable sleeve is nested within the connector body, with the cable passing through the sleeve which is itself contained within the connector structure. This nested arrangement allows the complex compression and fixation function to be integrated within the existing connector geometry, minimizing overall device complexity while achieving reliable cable fixation.
4Reliability
If the cable elements are compressed together tightly, then the cable resists pull-through, but the insertion process becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable sleeve transitions from a flexible, open state during insertion to a compressed, rigid state during fixation. During the insertion phase, the sleeve remains deformable and accommodating, allowing easy cable passage. Once the cable is in position, the sleeve is deformed to compress the cable elements tightly, creating pull-through resistance. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between easy insertion and secure fixation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively secures surgical cables by compressing them into a near-solid state, providing a stable and reliable fixation to the bone, even in soft bone conditions, and resisting cable pull-through through a deformable sleeve and actuator mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
The deformable sleeve has an inner diameter smaller than the effective outer diameter of the surgical cable to compress the elements of the surgical cable as the surgical cable is advanced through the deformable sleeve
Implementation Method 2
The actuator has a lower portion adapted to be shifted in a longitudinal direction between unlocked and locked positions to contact the deformable sleeve and deform the surgical cable extending therein
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for securing bone portions is provided that includes a surgical cable having a plurality of elongate elements and a connector. The connector includes a body and a deformable sleeve associated with the body and having a through opening for receiving the surgical cable. The through opening of the surgical cable has a non-deformed configuration sized to compress the elements of the surgical cable together with the surgical cable extending in the sleeve through opening. An actuator is connected to the body and is operable to deform the sleeve and further compress the compressed elements of the surgical cable therein to secure the surgical cable relative to the body.