Absorbable-Tip Orthopedic Screw for Secondary Penetration Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for proximal humerus fractures using bone screws and PMMA cement risk secondary screw penetration into the shoulder joint, leading to prolonged surgeries and high costs, and existing cannulated bone screws do not adequately address this issue.
Innovation Solution
An orthopedic screw with a threaded shaft made of non-absorbable material and a tip made of absorbable material, connected positively, providing initial stability and absorption at the rate of bone healing to prevent long-term complications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cannulated bone screws with PMMA cement are used to prevent secondary screw penetration, then screw penetration risk is reduced, but surgery time and cost increase due to leakage testing and washing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful function of the screw tip by making it absorbable, allowing the tip to dissolve after serving its temporary purpose of preventing penetration during healing, thereby eliminating the need for PMMA cement and associated leakage testing procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter of the screw tip from non-absorbable to absorbable, fundamentally altering the screw's behavior over time - initially providing penetration resistance, then gradually dissolving to eliminate long-term complications without requiring cement augmentation
2Strength
If bone screws are used for fracture fixation, then initial stability is achieved, but secondary screw penetration occurs after bone sintering causing joint injury
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the screw tip absorbable so that its properties change over time - initially providing structural support and penetration resistance, then gradually dissolving as bone heals, automatically adapting to the healing process without causing long-term complications
Solution Approach 2:
The absorbable tip is designed to be temporarily retained during the critical healing period and then discarded through biological absorption once its stabilizing function is no longer needed, eliminating the source of secondary penetration injury
3Strength
If the screw tip is placed further into the second cortex for increased stability, then fracture fixation strength improves, but the risk of secondary penetration and long-term complications increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic absorbable tip allows the screw to be placed deeper for initial stability while automatically reducing its presence over time, eliminating the long-term risk associated with deep placement since the tip dissolves after serving its temporary stabilizing function
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 screw offers stable initial fracture fixation with reduced risk of secondary penetration, allowing longer placement and improved surgical confidence, while the absorbable tip ensures temporary stabilization without long-term complications.
Implementation Method 1
A tip (3) made of an absorbable material
Implementation Method 2
absorbed by the body over time
Data Source
AI summary
An orthopedic screw includes a threaded shaft made of a non-absorbable material and a tip made of an absorbable material. The shaft and the tip are positively connected.