Bone Anchor With Threaded Protrusion Recess
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bone anchor systems require additional devices to secure surgical components and often protrude beyond the bone surface after installation, complicating surgical procedures and reducing holding power.
Innovation Solution
A self-drilling, self-tapping bone anchor with a threaded protrusion recess and a driver that allows for frictional coupling, enabling secure fixation of fiducial marker components within the bone without the need for additional devices and ensuring the anchor is flush-mounted within the bone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate device is used to hold medical components in place, then the medical components can be securely held, but the device complexity increases and additional devices are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the bone anchor function with the component retention function into a single integrated device. The protrusion with recess thread is built into the bone anchor itself, eliminating the need for a separate retention device. This merging of functions directly resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable component holding while reducing the total number of devices required.
2Strength
If the anchor device is fully inserted into the bone, then the anchoring strength is maximized, but part of the device extends beyond the bone surface requiring additional management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a shoulder feature at a specific location on the bone anchor. The shoulder is positioned at a precise distance from the tip, creating a localized stop that ensures the protrusion end becomes flush with the bone surface when the screw portion is fully inserted. This localized structural feature simultaneously achieves maximum anchoring strength and proper flush mounting without requiring additional devices.
3Manufacturing precision
If the protrusion has a maximum width less than the screw portion diameter, then a shoulder is formed for proper positioning, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bone anchor into distinct functional zones: the screw portion for penetration and anchoring, and the protrusion with smaller diameter for component retention and flush positioning. This segmentation creates the necessary shoulder feature through a simple geometric transition rather than complex machining, achieving precise positioning accuracy while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
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 solution provides secure fixation of surgical components with reduced procedural complexity and improved holding power, eliminating the need for additional devices and ensuring a flush-mounted anchor, thereby enhancing surgical efficiency and stability.
Implementation Method 1
self-drilling, self-tapping bone anchor
Implementation Method 2
screw portion configured to penetrate a bone
Implementation Method 3
retention thread extending at least part of a length of the screw portion
Implementation Method 4
recess thread configured to retain a component at least partially in the protrusion recess
Implementation Method 5
driver and the bone anchor may be frictionally coupled together
Data Source
AI summary
A bone anchor includes a screw portion configured to penetrate a bone. The screw portion includes a retention thread extending at least part of a length of the screw portion and a tip at a first end of the screw portion. The bone anchor includes a protrusion adjacent a second end of the screw portion. The second end is opposite the first end of the screw portion. The protrusion comprises a plurality of external sides forming a shape and a rounded interior surface enclosing a protrusion recess. The rounded interior surface includes a recess thread configured to retain a component at least partially in the protrusion recess. The protrusion has a maximum width that is less than a maximum diameter of the screw portion such that a shoulder is formed where the protrusion meets the second end of the screw portion.