Ultrasonic Applicator for Bone Screw Augmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic applicators for augmenting bone screws in fractured bones suffer from unreliable and uneven distribution of fixation cement due to variable manual pressure, leading to inconsistent augmentation.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic applicator with an adjustable and lockable housing system that utilizes an elastic element and a sonotrode tip to apply consistent pressure and ultrasonic vibrations, ensuring reliable and even fluidization of polymer material into the bone screw, independent of screw length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual compression force is applied to jet fixation cement into the bone screw, then the fixation cement can be advanced into the bone, but the distribution of fixation cement is neither reliable nor even due to variable manual pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical compression system with an ultrasonic vibration system. The ultrasonic applicator uses high-frequency vibrations to fluidize and advance the fixation cement into the bone screw, eliminating the variability of manual pressure application while ensuring consistent and reliable cement distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the fixation cement by applying ultrasonic vibrations, which alter the material's viscosity and fluidity characteristics. This parameter change allows the cement to be evenly distributed through the bone screw without requiring variable manual pressure, thus improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the bone screw length varies, then the device must accommodate different screw lengths, but the manual pressure system cannot provide consistent cement distribution across different lengths
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasonic applicator is designed as a universal device that can accommodate bone screws of various lengths. The ultrasonic vibration mechanism provides consistent energy delivery regardless of screw length, ensuring uniform cement distribution across different implant sizes while maintaining adaptability to various surgical requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the first housing is made adjustable to accommodate different screw lengths, then the device becomes more versatile, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first housing is designed with adjustable length capability, allowing the device to adapt to different bone screw lengths. The housing can be extended or retracted to match the required screw length, providing versatility while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical adjustment mechanism that does not significantly increase overall device complexity.
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 solution provides consistent and reliable augmentation of bone screws by ensuring a predefined amount of polymer material is fluidized with precise pressure and ultrasonic vibrations, enhancing the stability and evenness of the augmentation process.
Implementation Method 1
An elastic element is arranged between an outer end portion of the converter housing and the second housing, so that a restoring force may apply on the converter housing by virtue of a movement of the converter housing relative to the second housing
Implementation Method 2
a predefined amount of polymer material is fluidized by a predefined pressure together with ultrasonic vibrations
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic applicator includes an ultrasonic converter accommodated within a converter housing, a first housing, and a second housing. A rear end portion of the first housing is located in the second housing and an inner end portion of the converter housing is located in the rear end portion of the first housing. A length of the rear end portion of the first housing is adjustable. An outer end portion of the converter housing is connected with the second housing via an elastic element, so that a restoring force may be applied on the converter housing by virtue of a movement of the converter housing relative to the second housing.