Adjustable-height Bone Plate System for Spinal Rod Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bone plate systems face challenges in attaching spinal rods between adjacent bony structures due to height offsets, such as between the lumbar spine and sacrum, which hinder secure interconnection.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable-height bone plate system with a plate body, neck, and screw portion that allows for upward and downward adjustment of the screw head to align properly with adjacent pedicle screw assemblies, facilitating secure attachment of spinal rods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed-height bone plate systems are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but the ability to accommodate height offsets between adjacent bony structures is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate system transitions from a fixed-height design to an adjustable-height design where the screw head portion can be positioned at multiple height levels. This is achieved through a threaded engagement mechanism that allows the screw head to be rotated to different heights relative to the plate body, enabling adaptation to varying anatomical offsets between adjacent bony structures while maintaining secure fixation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable-height mechanism is added, then adaptability to anatomical variations is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate system is divided into distinct functional components: a plate body portion for attachment to bone, a screw portion with threaded engagement, and a screw head portion that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the height adjustment function to be achieved through the relative movement between the screw head and plate body, rather than requiring a complex integrated adjustment mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The threaded engagement between the screw portion and the plate body serves as an intermediary mechanism that translates rotational movement into height adjustment. By rotating the screw head, the threaded engagement mediates the height positioning, providing a simple yet effective adjustment mechanism without requiring complex actuators or control systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If screw head height is fixed, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but proper alignment with adjacent pedicle screw assemblies cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows for change in the height parameter of the screw head portion through rotational adjustment. Instead of manufacturing multiple bone plates with different fixed heights, the same bone plate can be adapted to different height requirements by rotating the screw head to different positions on the threaded engagement, achieving precise alignment without complex manufacturing variations.
Data Source
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AI summary
An adjustable-height bone plate system that can be attached to a bony structure (e.g., the sacrum) is provided. The adjustable-height bone plate system affords height adjustment of a screw head portion to facilitate attachment of a receiver portion and a spinal rod at a proper, recommended, or desired height for secure interconnection of the spinal rod with a receiver of a pedicle screw assembly attached to an adjacent bony structure (e.g., L5 of the lumbar spine).