Bone Fixation Forceps with Temporary Elements

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bone fixation systems face challenges in retaining reduced bone segments in position due to interference between compression forceps and bone plates, making it difficult to close gaps between bone segments effectively during fracture reduction or arthrodesis.

Innovation Solution

A bone fixation system comprising a bone plate with apertures for bone anchors and a temporary fixation element, along with forceps having levers and jaws that allow the temporary fixation element to translate relative to the bone plate, enabling adjustment of bone segment positions without interference from the bone plate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If compression forceps are attached to bone segments to close gaps, then bone segment displacement is achieved, but the forceps and bone plate interfere with each other making it difficult to retain reduced bone segments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebone segment positioning accuracyVSAvoidoperation difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The forceps system is divided into separate functional components: a bone plate with apertures for permanent fixation elements, and forceps with jaws for temporary compression. This segmentation allows the compression function and fixation function to operate independently without interference, resolving the contradiction between achieving precise bone segment positioning and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bone plate is pre-positioned and secured to the bone segments using permanent fixation elements through apertures before the actual compression operation. This preliminary fixation establishes a stable foundation that prevents interference between the forceps and bone plate during the compression phase, enabling both accurate positioning and easy operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If a bone plate is fixed to bone segments in the same region as compression forceps, then bone segment stabilization is achieved, but interference occurs making it difficult to close gaps effectively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebone segment stabilityVSAvoidgap closure precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The compression function is extracted from the bone plate structure and assigned to a separate forceps system. The bone plate retains only its stabilization function through permanent fixation elements, while the forceps provide the compression capability. This extraction eliminates interference between stabilization and gap closure functions, allowing both bone segment stability and gap closure precision to be achieved simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Temporary fixation elements serve as intermediaries between the forceps jaws and the bone segments during compression. These elements allow the forceps to apply compressive force without direct interference with the permanently fixed bone plate, enabling precise gap closure while maintaining bone segment stability throughout the procedure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If permanent fixation elements are used to secure the bone plate, then bone plate stability is achieved, but the bone plate cannot move to allow bone segment adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebone plate stabilityVSAvoidbone segment adjustability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs a dynamic sequence where the bone plate is initially stable during compression, then becomes adaptable for adjustment. The permanent fixation elements secure the bone plate to provide stability during the compression phase, while the removable temporary fixation elements allow the bone plate to be repositioned or adjusted if needed, achieving both stability and adaptability at different stages of the procedure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bone plate is preliminarily secured with permanent fixation elements to establish a stable platform for compression. This preliminary stabilization allows the compression forceps to effectively close gaps, while the design inherently permits subsequent adjustment if the preliminary positioning requires modification, thus achieving both stability during operation and adaptability for refinement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2563252B1Bone fixation systems
Publication Date: 2016.04.27 SYNTHES GMBH
  • EP2563252B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2563252B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2563252B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A bone fixation system that may be configured to move at least one of a first bone segment and a second bone segment relative to the other, is disclosed. The system may include a first lever and a second lever pivotally coupled to the first lever. The first lever may include a first handle, a first jaw extending from the first handle, and an aperture extending through the first jaw. The aperture may be configured to receive a fixation element to thereby fixedly couple the first lever to a bone plate. The second lever may include a second handle, a second jaw extending from the second handle, and an aperture extending through the second jaw. The aperture may be configured to receive a temporary fixation element to operatively couple the second lever to the second bone segment.