Bone Fixation Assembly With Load-Sharing Under Bending Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bone screws and fasteners fail to provide sufficient fixation and strength to withstand bending loads, multi-axial forces, and off-axis loading scenarios during the healing process, leading to potential loosening and loss of fixation.
Innovation Solution
A bone fixation assembly comprising a male and female member with load-sharing features that allow for sliding and rotational engagement, utilizing low tensile modulus materials to distribute loads and enhance fixation, and including bone retention features for secure coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional bone screws and fasteners are used, then the device complexity is low, but the fixation strength and reliability are insufficient under bending loads and multi-axial forces
Solution Approach 1:
The bone fixation device is divided into a male member and a female member that can be assembled together. The male member includes a shaft, head, and threading, while the female member includes a receiver, body, and threading. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for strength while maintaining manageable device complexity during surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The male member is inserted into and nested within the female member, with the male shaft fitting into the female receiver and body. This nested configuration creates a unified fixation construct that distributes loads across both components, enhancing overall fixation strength without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Reliability
If traditional bone screws are used, then the ease of operation is high, but the reliability of fixation under off-axis loading is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The male and female members are designed with complementary threading and engagement features that allow for dynamic adjustment during assembly. The male member can be rotated and inserted into the female member at various orientations, providing flexibility in surgical placement while ensuring reliable fixation under off-axis loading conditions through the interlocking thread geometry.
3Stability of the object's composition
If bone fixation devices with improved strength are used, then the fixation reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The male and female members are merged into a unified fixation construct through threaded engagement. The male shaft and female receiver are designed to interlock securely, creating a stable composite structure that resists bending loads and multi-axial forces. This merging provides fixation stability while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through standardized components.
Data Source
AI summary
A bone fixation assembly may include a male member removably couplable with a female member. The male member may include a male load-sharing feature having at least one male load-sharing surface. The female member may include a female load-sharing feature having at least one female load-sharing surface. The female load-sharing feature may be positioned and shaped to receive the male load-sharing feature therein. In response to a bending load acting on the bone fixation assembly, at least one of the male member and the female member may bend such that, at least a portion of the at least one male load-sharing surface engages with at least a portion of the at least one female load-sharing surface to distribute the bending load between the male member and the female member.