Reconfigurable Upper Leg Support to Prevent Spinal Torsion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical frames struggle to accommodate patients of different sizes and prevent unwanted torsion of the spine during reconfiguration, which compromises surgical access and patient safety.

Innovation Solution

A reconfigurable upper leg support system that adjusts the position of the upper legs relative to a rotatable main beam, using telescoping shafts and arm portions to control the lumbar spine flexure and prevent torsion, allowing for flexible patient positioning without compromising spinal integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the upper leg support is reconfigured to accommodate patients of different sizes and facilitate surgical access, then the adaptability and ease of operation are improved, but unwanted torsion of the patient's spine occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of different patient sizesVSAvoidtorsion of patient's spine

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The upper leg support employs dynamic components including telescoping shafts that can extend and retract, and arm portions that can pivot and articulate. These dynamic elements allow the support structure to adapt to different patient sizes and positioning requirements while maintaining proper spinal alignment through coordinated movement of multiple degrees of freedom

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes geometric parameters including the length of telescoping shafts, the articulation angles of arm portions, and the position of the support plate to accommodate different patient sizes. By coordinating changes in multiple parameters simultaneously, the system achieves adaptability while preventing harmful spinal torsion through maintained geometric relationships

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the upper leg support is reconfigured to facilitate surgical access, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple telescoping shafts and arm portions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning and repositioning of upper legsVSAvoidmultiple telescoping shafts and arm portions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The upper leg support is divided into multiple independent segments including first and second arm portions, telescoping shafts, and a support plate. Each segment can be adjusted independently through its own actuators, allowing complex positioning to be achieved through simple, localized operations rather than moving the entire structure at once

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure employs nested telescoping shafts where one shaft is contained within another, allowing multiple adjustment functions to be integrated into a compact configuration. This nesting reduces the overall footprint and simplifies the mechanical structure while maintaining multiple degrees of freedom for positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the main beam is rotated to position the patient in different positions, then the adaptability is improved, but the stability of the patient's spine may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotational positioning of patientVSAvoidstability of patient's spine

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system coordinates changes in multiple parameters simultaneously including the rotation angle of the main beam, the extension length of telescoping shafts, and the articulation angles of arm portions. By maintaining proper geometric relationships between these parameters, the system enables rotational positioning while preserving spinal stability through coordinated adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250367052A1Reconfigurable upper leg support for a surgical frame

Publication Date: 2025.12.04 WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC INC

AI summary

A surgical frame and method for use thereof is provided. The surgical frame is capable of reconfiguration before, during, or after surgery. The surgical frame includes a main beam that can be rotated, raised/lowered, and tilted upwardly/downwardly to afford positioning and repositioning of a patient supported thereon. The surgical frame also includes a reconfigurable upper leg support for supporting portions of the upper legs, the hips, and the lower back of the patient to facilitate positioning and repositioning there during surgery. The upper leg support via reconfiguration thereof can accommodate patients of different sizes, can provide flexure of the patient's lumbar spine to facilitate surgical access thereto, and can prevent unwanted torsion of a patient's spine during such reconfiguration.