Adaptable Bone Fixation Plate with Segmented Rib-Groove Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bone fixation systems lack flexibility and adjustability, particularly in anterior spinal correction, where the alignment and positioning of bone plates and screws can be challenging due to the complex anatomy of the spine, leading to suboptimal fixation and stability.
Innovation Solution
A bone fixation system comprising two plate sections that are movable and lockable, with ribs and grooves on one section mating with corresponding grooves and ribs on the other, allowing for adjustable positioning and secure locking, enabling flexible alignment and stable fixation on vertebral bodies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional bone fixation systems use fixed rigid plates, then manufacturing and installation are simple, but adaptability to complex spinal anatomy is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The bone fixation plate is divided into multiple modular sections that can be independently positioned and locked relative to each other. Each section can be adjusted to accommodate different anatomical configurations of vertebral bodies, allowing the plate to adapt to complex spinal anatomy while maintaining a relatively simple basic plate design
Solution Approach 2:
The plate incorporates movable sections with ribs and grooves that allow dynamic adjustment of plate position and orientation before final locking. This enables the fixation system to adapt to varying spinal anatomies during surgery, transitioning from a static rigid structure to a dynamically adjustable one
2Adaptability or versatility
If bone plates are made rigid and fixed in position, then structural stability is high, but adjustability for precise alignment is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The plate design incorporates movable sections with ribs and grooves that enable adjustment of plate position and orientation before final locking. Once positioned optimally, the sections are locked together to provide structural stability, thus achieving both adjustability and stability
Solution Approach 2:
By dividing the plate into multiple lockable sections, the system allows individual sections to be adjusted for precise alignment while maintaining overall structural integrity when locked, resolving the contradiction between adjustability and stability
3Reliability
If conventional fixation systems use simple single-plate designs, then device complexity is low, but ability to provide stable fixation on vertebral bodies is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation system uses multiple plate sections that can be stacked and locked together to distribute fixation forces across multiple vertebral bodies. This segmented approach enhances fixation reliability by providing multiple attachment points while keeping each individual plate section relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple plate sections are combined through the rib-groove locking mechanism to create a unified fixation structure that provides enhanced stability. The merging of multiple simple components achieves the reliability of a complex fixation system
Data Source
AI summary
An adaptable bone fixation plate and bone fixation system are configured to provide an anterior spinal plate with anterior pedicle screws includes a first plate section adjustably coupled to a second plate section using an arrangement that provides both superior-inferior adjustability of the plate sections as well as lateral adjustability of the plate sections to orient the first and second plate sections with respect to the desired orientation and disposition of two or more bone screws.