Adjusted-Stiffness Orthopaedic Implants to Reduce Bone Fracturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthopaedic implants often fail due to insufficient strength, leading to high failure rates and adverse patient events, with issues arising from implants being either too stiff or not stiff enough to support anatomical structures without causing abnormal bone fracturing or inadequate support.
Innovation Solution
Orthopaedic implants with adjustable stiffness through distinct porous ingrowth material regions and an intermediate region with varying stiffness, reinforced by features like through-openings and reinforcing elements, allowing customization to match patient requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the implant is made with high stiffness to provide sufficient strength and support, then the implant can support anatomical structures, but it may cause abnormal bone fracturing
Solution Approach 1:
The implant incorporates distinct regions with different stiffness properties: a first porous ingrowth material region, a second porous ingrowth material region, and an intermediate region with different stiffness. This local differentiation allows the implant to provide structural support where needed while reducing stress concentration that could cause bone fracturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant uses composite porous ingrowth material regions that combine multiple materials with different mechanical properties. The composite structure enables the implant to achieve both sufficient strength for support and reduced stiffness in specific areas to prevent bone fracturing.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the implant is made with low stiffness to reduce stress on bone, then abnormal bone fracturing is reduced, but the implant cannot provide sufficient support
Solution Approach 1:
The implant provides high stiffness in the porous ingrowth material regions for structural support while the intermediate region has different stiffness to reduce stress transmission. This local quality differentiation simultaneously achieves both support capability and stress reduction.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single stiffness value is used for the entire implant, then manufacturing is simplified, but the implant cannot match specific patient requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into distinct segments (first porous ingrowth material region, second porous ingrowth material region, and intermediate region) that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. This segmentation enables customization of stiffness properties for different patient needs while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through modular construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant allows for variation in stiffness parameters across different regions and between different implants. The intermediate region can be manufactured with different stiffness values to match specific patient requirements, while the overall manufacturing process remains systematic and scalable.
Data Source
AI summary
An orthopaedic implant includes: a first porous ingrowth material region; a second porous ingrowth material region coupled to the first porous ingrowth material region; and an intermediate region disposed between the first porous ingrowth material region and the second porous ingrowth material region. The intermediate region has a stiffness that differs from at least one of the first porous ingrowth material region or the second porous ingrowth material region.