Ball-and-Socket Surgical Fastening for Bone Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical retaining systems face issues with deformation and loose connections due to screw tightening, which prevents plate repositioning and can cause bone instability, as screws press the plate against the bone.
Innovation Solution
A fastening apparatus featuring a ball-and-socket joint with a clamping element allows for adjustable positioning of surgical plates and screws, enabling free-angle screw insertion and independent locking, allowing for bone repositioning and stable connection without pressing the plate against the bone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If screws are tightened to secure the plate to the bone, then the connection stability is improved, but the plate position cannot be corrected and the bone may give way
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is divided into separate functional components: a retaining element (plate) that maintains position, and fastening elements (screws) that provide securement. The ball-and-socket joint separates the positioning function from the locking function, allowing the plate to be positioned independently before final securing.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball-and-socket joint introduces dynamic adjustability to the fastening system. The joint allows rotational movement during positioning, then can be locked in the desired position. This dynamic capability enables the plate to be repositioned by loosening and retightening the clamping element without replacing components.
2Strength
If screws press the plate against the bone to secure it, then the fixation strength is improved, but the bone may give way leading to loose connection
Solution Approach 1:
The ball-and-socket joint acts as an intermediary between the screw and the plate, changing the force transmission mechanism. Instead of direct axial pressure from the screw onto the plate, the joint allows angular adjustment and distributes forces more evenly, reducing stress concentration on the bone-plate interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows changing the insertion angle and positioning parameters of the screws relative to the plate and bone. The ball-and-socket joint enables adjustment of the screw angle independent of the plate position, optimizing the mechanical load distribution and reducing harmful stress on the bone.
3Manufacturing precision
If the plate position is adjusted by loosening and retightening screws, then the positioning accuracy is improved, but the fastening screws and plate may need replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The ball-and-socket joint with clamping element provides reversible, adjustable locking without component replacement. The joint can be loosened for repositioning and relocked in the new position, maintaining the same hardware throughout multiple adjustment cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball-and-socket joint serves multiple functions: it enables initial positioning, allows for corrections and adjustments, and provides final securement - all with a single integrated mechanism that eliminates the need for different components for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A fastening apparatus for surgical retaining systems includes at least one retaining element and a fastening element, which are mechanically connected to each other. A joint socket of the retaining element and a correspondingly shaped joint head of the fastening element form a ball-and-socket joint. A movement of the ball-and-socket joint can be locked by turning an eccentrically shaped clamping element.