Swivel Hinge Wire Tensioner for Angled External Bone Fixation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wire tensioners for external bone fixation devices often cock to one side when wires cross the edge of the device at an angle, leading to wire bending and instability during tensioning.

Innovation Solution

A swivel hinge wire tensioner with a swivel bar that allows the tensioner to be set at any angle, featuring a swivel pin and block mechanism to prevent deflection and maintain stability when tensioning wires that cross the edge of the device at an angle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a wire tensioner is installed on a wire that crosses the edge of the EBF device at an angle other than 90 degrees, then the wire can be attached to the device, but the tensioner cocks to one side, bending the wire and becoming unstable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to accommodate wires at various anglesVSAvoidstability of the tensioner during tensioning

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a swivel hinge mechanism that allows the tensioner to dynamically adjust its angle relative to the wire. The swivel block can rotate around the swivel pin, enabling the tensioner to adapt to any wire angle while maintaining stability during tensioning operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The swivel hinge changes the angular parameter of the tensioner-wire connection. By allowing the swivel block to rotate, the system can modify the angle between the tensioner body and the wire, thereby accommodating various wire configurations without compromising stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the tensioner is designed to fit flat on the edge of the device, then it provides stable tensioning for perpendicular wires, but it cannot accommodate wires that cross at angles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of the tensionerVSAvoidability to accommodate wires at various angles

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The fixed flat-fit design is transformed into a dynamic swivel hinge mechanism. The swivel block can rotate around the swivel pin, allowing the tensioner to adapt from a stable perpendicular position to various angled configurations, thereby achieving both stability and versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The swivel hinge mechanism enables the tensioner to perform multiple functions: it can accommodate wires at perpendicular angles (maintaining stable tensioning) and at various other angles (providing adaptability). This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction between stability for perpendicular wires and versatility for angled wires.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11266454B2Wire tensioner with swivel hinge

Publication Date: 2022.03.08 NEW STANDARD DEVICE LLC

AI summary

Provided is a device for tensioning a wire in conjunction with an external bone fixation (EBF) device. A swivel hinge body comprises two forks extending in a plane parallel from the swivel hinge body. A lower lip extends from the swivel hinge body below and in parallel with the two forks. A swivel pin and a swivel block are positioned between the lower lip and the plane of the two forks and held in place by the swivel pin such that the swivel block is able to rotate in an arc with respect to the lower lip and the swivel hinge body. The swivel block comprises a face, wherein the face is configured to fit against an edge of a component of the EBF device such that, when the tensioning mechanism is applying tension to the wire, the swivel hinge body is prevented from deflecting to one side.