Bone Fracture Mini-Plate with Sliding Screw Rings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bone fracture fixation plates are inflexible and do not allow for adjustments during the healing process, leading to potential misalignment or non-union of bone fragments.
Innovation Solution
A mini-plate with three linearly configured rings, featuring aligned gaps in the second and third rings to allow the screw shank to slide forward as the fracture heals, promoting a tighter bone union, and an additional gap in the third ring to reduce drag and facilitate smooth transition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional plates are fixed by screws, then the fracture site is stabilized, but adjustments cannot be made during the healing process
Solution Approach 1:
The plate incorporates movable rings with gaps that allow the fixation screw to slide forward dynamically as the fracture heals. This transforms the static, fixed configuration into a dynamic system that automatically adapts to the healing process, resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate is divided into multiple rings (first ring, second ring, third ring) with gaps between them. This segmentation allows the screw to move through defined gaps in sequence, enabling staged adjustment during healing while maintaining continuous stabilization, thus achieving both stability and adaptability.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional plates remain fixed in configuration, then installation is simple, but gaps in the healed fracture are reduced poorly
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic sliding mechanism allows the screw to progressively move forward through the gaps in the rings, automatically achieving precise gap reduction as the bone heals. This eliminates the need for complex adjustment procedures while improving gap closure precision.
3Device complexity
If the screw is fixed immediately, then the plate structure is simple, but the healing process cannot be accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is segmented into multiple rings with defined gaps, creating a relatively simple structure that enables the screw to move through predetermined paths. This segmentation provides adaptability to the healing process without requiring complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The gaps in the rings create a dynamic system where the screw can slide forward as healing progresses. This simple dynamic mechanism accommodates the healing process effectively without adding significant structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The mini-plate for bone fracture fixation is a plate for internal fixation on a bone fracture having three linearly configured rings defined therein. The second and third rings have aligned gaps defined therein dimensioned and configured to permit the shank of the fixation screw below the screw head to gradually slide forward into the second ring as the fracture heals, narrowing the gap between the two sections or fragments of the fractured bone, leading to a more tightly knit union of the fractured bone. The third ring may have another gap defined therein at the free end of the plate to reduce drag and allow the shift from the third ring to the second ring to occur smoothly. The mini-plate installs quickly, requiring only two fixation screws, and promotes a more secure, stable union and reducing gaps in the healed fracture.