Bone Fixation Plate With Nitinol Retaining Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bone fixation assemblies often have complex locking mechanisms that can fail, leading to multiple screws being left unsecured, which compromises the stability of the bone attachment.
Innovation Solution
A novel bone fixation assembly with a locking mechanism featuring a bendable retaining member made of Nitinol, which transitions from a normally-open to a closed position to securely engage with a slot passage, preventing screw backout by utilizing its superelastic properties to maintain the screw in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional locking mechanisms are used, then screws are secured, but the locking mechanism becomes complex and may fail, leaving multiple screws unsecured
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into individual retaining members for each bore, where each retaining member independently secures one screw. This segmentation ensures that failure of one retaining member does not affect others, improving reliability while keeping each individual component simple
Solution Approach 2:
The complex multi-screw locking mechanism is extracted and replaced with simple individual retaining members that can be independently inserted and removed. Each retaining member is a separate, simple component that performs a single function of securing one screw, eliminating the complexity of interconnected locking systems
2Device complexity
If simple locking mechanisms are used, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to prevent screw backout may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining members are made from Nitinol, a material with unique superelastic properties. This parameter change in material selection allows the simple retaining member structure to achieve high reliability through the material's ability to deform and return to its original shape, providing secure screw retention without complex mechanisms
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 a simpler and more reliable locking mechanism that effectively secures screws, reducing the risk of backout and enhancing the stability of bone attachment, while allowing for easy removal and reinsertion of screws as needed.
Implementation Method 1
at least one retaining member insertable into the at least one slot from the at least one bore, wherein the at least one retaining member is bendable between a normally-open position having a width greater than the width of the at least one slot passage and a closed position having a width less than the width of the slot passage
Data Source
AI summary
A bone fixation assembly comprising a bone fixation plate having an outer surface, a bone contact surface, and at least one bore sidewall defining at least one bore extending between the outer surface and the bone contact surface, the outer surface being located outwardly of the bone contact surface; at least one slot sidewall defining at least one slot formed in the bone fixation plate, the at least one slot being adjacent to the at least one bore sidewall and between the outer surface and the bone contact surface, the at least one slot having at least one slot passage adjacent to a corresponding bore and a slot opening adjacent to the slot passage; at least one stop formed by the at least one sidewall, the at least one stop positioned opposite of the slot passage from the corresponding bore; and at least one retaining member insertable into the at least one slot from the at least one bore, wherein the at least one retaining member is bendable between a normally-open position having a width greater than the width of the at least one slot passage and a closed position having a width less than the width of the slot passage.