Adjustable Bone Plate Joint for Custom Fracture Fixation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bone plates for fracture fixation are cumbersome to custom-fit to a subject's bone, often requiring time-consuming bending that can weaken the plate and is difficult to control, especially for in-plane deformation.

Innovation Solution

A bone plate system with a movable joint connecting two plates via a hinge, allowing rotation and translation relative to each other, featuring a screw slot and through hole for secure attachment and adjustable rotation range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a unitary bone plate is bent intraoperatively to custom-fit the bone, then the plate can be adapted to the patient's anatomy, but the bending process is time-consuming and weakens the bone plate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustom-fit capabilityVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The bone plate is divided into multiple segments that can rotate relative to each other about a pivot axis. This segmentation allows the plate to be customized to fit the patient's bone anatomy through rotation rather than time-consuming bending, while maintaining structural strength and reducing installation time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a unitary bone plate is bent intraoperatively, then customization is achieved, but the bone plate strength is weakened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustom-fit capabilityVSAvoidbone plate strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The bone plate is divided into multiple segments that can rotate relative to each other about a pivot axis. This segmentation allows the plate to be customized to fit the patient's bone anatomy through rotation rather than time-consuming bending, while maintaining structural strength and reducing installation time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If a unitary bone plate is bent intraoperatively, then some shape adjustment is possible, but in-plane deformation is particularly challenging and difficult to control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshape adjustabilityVSAvoiddeformation control
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bone plate incorporates a pivot axis that enables dynamic rotation between segments in the in-plane direction. This dynamic mechanism allows surgeons to easily control and adjust the shape of the bone plate to match the patient's anatomy without the difficulty and imprecision of manual bending.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12527607B2Adjustable joint optimizations
Publication Date: 2026.01.20 ACUMED
  • US12527607B2 patent drawing
  • US12527607B2 patent drawing
  • US12527607B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method of manufacturing an apparatus for fixing bone includes mating a first plate with a second plate, where the first plate includes a screw slot and the second plate includes a through hole corresponding to the screw slot; and placing a screw body into the screw slot and the through hole. The screw body includes a screw portion and an insertion portion. The screw body is placed into the screw slot using the insertion portion of the screw body. The method further includes removing the insertion portion of the screw body. The screw portion remains within the screw slot and the through hole after the insertion portion is removed.