Telescopic Osteodistraction Device for Bone Lengthening

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current bone lengthening techniques, such as external fixators and intramedullary implants, are either painful and inconvenient or expensive and inaccessible, often requiring multiple surgeries and lacking torsional and axial stability, with high risks of infection and complications.

Innovation Solution

A hybrid solution involving an intra-corporal telescopic osteodistraction device with unidirectional movement and external force production, allowing for controlled bone lengthening with axial, torsional, and bending stability, and a method that requires only one surgery, using a telescopic implantable nail with an external device for lengthening and locking, minimizing invasiveness and complications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If external fixators are used for bone lengthening, then the treatment is low cost and accessible, but the treatment becomes painful and inconvenient for the patient with high infection rates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecost and accessibilityVSAvoidpain and infection risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device separates the force production function (external battery pack worn on clothing) from the implantable part (telescopic mechanism inside bone), allowing the external components to be removed during sleep and physiotherapy while maintaining the internal stabilization structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device transitions from static external fixators to a dynamic system where the external battery pack can be attached and removed as needed, and the internal telescopic mechanism provides controlled dynamic lengthening while maintaining stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If intramedullary implants are used for bone lengthening, then the treatment is more convenient and causes less complications, but the treatment becomes very expensive with low accessibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient convenience and complication reductionVSAvoidcost and accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into two separate components: an implantable telescopic mechanism inside the bone and an external battery pack worn on clothing, allowing the expensive implantable part to be simple and durable while the external part handles the complex power and control functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A wireless power and data transmission system acts as an intermediary between the external battery pack and the implantable telescopic mechanism, enabling communication and energy transfer without physical connections that would compromise sterility or comfort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If hybrid solutions like Lengthening Over Nail (LON) are used, then the treatment combines implantable and external components, but the treatment requires two surgeries with high risk of severe infections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehybrid solution flexibilityVSAvoidinfection risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The intramedullary nail with telescopic mechanism is implanted first and prepared for future lengthening, then the external battery pack is attached later when the surgical wound has healed, eliminating the need for reaming and distal screw fixation surgeries

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The distal locking screws and reaming procedures are completely removed from the treatment protocol, leaving only the essential intramedullary nail implantation and external battery attachment, thereby reducing infection pathways

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Stability of the object's composition

If traditional intramedullary implants are used, then the treatment provides stable fixation, but the treatment does not allow full weight bearing and extensive physiotherapy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixation stabilityVSAvoidweight bearing and physiotherapy capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fixed-length intramedullary nail is replaced with a telescopic mechanism that can dynamically extend during lengthening while maintaining structural integrity, allowing the bone to heal in a lengthened position without compromising stability or restricting rehabilitation activities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11160588B2System for stabilizing or lengthening bone

Publication Date: 2021.11.02 SYNOSTE OY

AI summary

The present invention is about an intra-corporal telescopic osteodistraction device 1 for locking the length of the bone 3 and for providing axial, torsional and bending stability; an extra-corporal force producing device 4a, 4b for producing a force for extension causing a lengthening of the intra-corporal device 1 and the bone 3; a method for bone lengthening and a bone lengthening arrangement utilizing the devices 1 and 4a, 4b of the invention.