Team 28
New Born Tech, Inc.: Neonatal Bi-Directional Mandibular Distractor
New Born Tech, Inc.: Neonatal Bi-Directional Mandibular Distractor
Team Members: Miguel Almanza, Darci Botsch, Brandon Davison, Nathan Hui - SBHSE
Team Mentors: Garrison Leach - Creighton University School of Medicine
Denzil Mathew - Creighton University School of Medicine
Dr. Sydney Schaefer - SBHSE
YouTube Link: View the video link below before joining the zoom meeting
Zoom link: https://asu.zoom.us/j/91315728404
Abstract
Micrognathia is a condition in which the lower jaw of an infant does not develop enough in utero. Although this condition can be the result of numerous developmental problems, one disease noted for mandibular hypoplasia is the “Pierre Robin Sequence”. Addressing issues related to micrognathic jaw in infants is of utmost importance with regard to both infant aesthetic and functional health requirements, which often result in difficulty eating and breathing due to airway blockage, speech delays, and apneic spells. Current solutions on the market consist primarily of various models of single-vector mandibular distraction devices, manufactured predominately by Stryker Co. and the KLS Martin Group. These devices address micrognathia through surgical attachment as well as cuts made in the lower mandible, which can then be manipulated to slowly open a gap between the cuts. The resulting gap in the jawbone will promote osteogenesis, allowing the jaw to be extended to normal size over a period of many days. However, in patients that require both vertical and horizontal mandibular distraction osteogenesis, current devices pose a serious challenge: often, surgeons can often only address the most serious axis, which limits the potential recovery of infants, as well as the limitation of the few bi-directional devices due to size and attachment methodologies. Our company, New Born Tech Inc., is designing a neonatal bi-directional mandibular distractor that can address this issue through a two-vector distraction device that is both compact enough to be used on infants with micrognathia and can distract in multiple directions with a single device. Our solution offers an innovative approach to allow surgeons the ability to address micrognathic jaws in both the posterior and superior manner, while also reducing the risk for infants by limiting the number of surgeries required to distract in multiple axes and number of exposure sights that may cause infection.
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