Telescopic Osteodistraction Device for Bone Lengthening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bone lengthening techniques, such as external fixators and intramedullary implants, are either costly, invasive, or cause significant discomfort and complications for patients, including infection, pain, and limited mobility.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid solution involving an intra-corporal telescopic osteodistraction device and an extra-corporal force producing device, which allows for controlled, unidirectional bone lengthening with torsional and axial stability, reducing the need for multiple surgeries and minimizing complications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If external fixators are used for bone lengthening, then the treatment is accessible and low cost, but the treatment is painful and inconvenient for the patient with high infection rates and disturbed sleep
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two functional parts: an internal telescopic nail component that provides stable bone lengthening and an external adjustable frame component that applies controlled force. This segmentation allows the internal component to minimize infection risk while the external component remains adjustable and removable, reducing patient discomfort and improving sleep quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary adjustable frame that connects the external force application system to the internal telescopic nail. This intermediary structure distributes the mechanical load more evenly, reduces stress concentration at pin sites, and allows for easier adjustment without increasing infection risk.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If intramedullary implants are used for bone lengthening, then the treatment is convenient and causes less complications, but the treatment is very expensive and accessibility is low
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the expensive intramedullary implant function into a simpler, more affordable internal telescopic nail component. By segmenting the system, the patent achieves the convenience and low complication rate of intramedullary implants while using more cost-effective materials and manufacturing processes for the internal component.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal telescopic nail is designed as a disposable or easily replaceable component that can be manufactured at lower cost. This allows the system to achieve the reliability of expensive intramedullary implants without the high cost, using economical materials and simplified construction for the internal element.
3Productivity
If Lengthening Over Nail (LON) approach is used, then bone lengthening can be achieved, but two surgeries are required with high risk of severe infections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the lengthening nail and the force application frame into a single integrated system that can be implanted and adjusted in one surgery. The internal telescopic nail and external adjustable frame work together as a unified device, eliminating the need for separate surgical procedures and reducing infection risk associated with multiple operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed with pre-configured features that allow for single-surgery implantation and subsequent self-adjustment. The internal nail is pre-formed with telescopic sections and locking mechanisms that enable lengthening without requiring additional surgical intervention, performing the lengthening action preliminarily prepared within the single implantation procedure.
4Productivity
If Lengthening And Then Nailing (LATN) approach is used, then bone lengthening is completed, but invasive surgery is required to insert intramedullary nail after lengthening with extra safety measures
Solution Approach 1:
The intramedullary nail is implanted and configured for lengthening during the initial surgery, before the bone lengthening process begins. This preliminary placement eliminates the need for subsequent invasive surgery to insert the nail after lengthening, reducing the risk of infection from repeated pin tract manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The force application mechanism is merged with the intramedullary nail structure, allowing the nail itself to serve as both the structural support and the lengthening actuator. This integration eliminates the need for separate external fixation devices with their own pin tracts, reducing overall infection risk.
5Productivity
If Lengthening Over Plate (LOP) approach is used, then bone lengthening is achieved, but a second surgery is required to insert distal screws for plate stabilization
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic nail integrates both the lengthening function and the stabilization function into a single component. The internal nail structure combines the external force application mechanism with internal structural support, eliminating the need for separate plates and screws that would require additional surgical procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal telescopic nail serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, enables controlled lengthening, and maintains bone stability during the healing process. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate stabilization components that would require additional surgeries for insertion and adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is about an intra-corporal telescopic osteo-distraction device for locking the length of the bone and for providing axial, torsional and bending stability; an extra-corporal force producing device for producing a force for extension causing a lengthening of the intra-corporal device and the bone; a method for bone lengthening and a bone lengthening arrangement utilizing the devices of the invention.