Bone Fusion Device With Differential Teeth Forces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bone fusion devices provide only a single acting force, leading to unstable engagement and insufficient bone stimulation, hindering efficient bone growth and fusion.

Innovation Solution

A bone fusion device comprising a main body with first and second teeth, and a movable frame with differential acting forces, where the second teeth can be elastically expanded or retracted to provide a complementary second acting force, enhancing stability and stimulating bone fusion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single acting force is provided to two bones, then the device structure is simple, but the engagement stability is insufficient and bone stimulation is inadequate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengagement stabilityVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into a main body and a movable frame, with the movable frame containing second teeth that can be elastically expanded or retracted. This segmentation allows the device to provide differential acting forces (first acting force from first teeth, second acting force from second teeth) on the two bones, improving engagement stability and bone stimulation while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The movable frame is designed to be movable relative to the main body, allowing the second teeth to be elastically expanded or retracted. This dynamic capability enables the device to adjust the second acting force independently from the first acting force, providing differential stimulation to the bones and enhancing engagement stability without requiring a completely complex mechanical structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If a single acting force is provided to two bones, then the device structure is simple, but bone growth efficiency is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebone growth efficiencyVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the device into a main body with first teeth and a movable frame with second teeth, the invention enables differential acting forces to be applied to the two bones. This segmentation allows for optimized bone stimulation that can expedite bone fusion and improve bone growth efficiency while keeping the device structure manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The movable frame's ability to be elastically expanded or retracted provides dynamic adjustment of the second acting force, creating differential stimulation between the two bones. This dynamic capability enhances bone-conducted stimulation and accelerates bone fusion without requiring overly complex device architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the second teeth are elastically expanded or retracted to provide differential acting forces, then engagement stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengagement stabilityVSAvoidmovable frame structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The movable frame is designed with elastic expansion and retraction capability, allowing the second teeth to be dynamically adjusted. This dynamic feature enables the provision of differential acting forces (first acting force from first teeth, second acting force from second teeth) that improve engagement stability, while the elastic mechanism keeps the structural complexity relatively low compared to rigid adjustment systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 differential and complementary acting forces improve the stability of bone engagement and expedite bone fusion by providing additional stimulation, addressing the limitations of prior devices.

Implementation Method 1

The upper portion and the lower portion can be elastically expanded or retracted with the first end as a fulcrum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3210577B1Bone fusion device
Publication Date: 2018.04.18 OSSAWARE BIOTECH
  • EP3210577B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3210577B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3210577B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A bone fusion device includes a main body (1) and a movable frame (2). The main body (1) has an accommodation hole (15) penetrating a top surface (13) and a bottom surface (14) thereof. The top surface (13) and the bottom surface (14) are provided with a plurality of first teeth (181, 182). The movable frame (2) is located in the accommodation hole (15). The movable frame (2) has a through hole (25) longitudinally penetrating a first surface (23) and a second surface (24) thereof. A first end (21) of the movable frame (2) is fixed to the front end (11) of the main body (1), and a second end (22) is suspended relative to the rear end (12) of the main body (1). The first surface (23) and the second surface (24) are provided with a plurality of second teeth (281, 282). The movable frame (2) is transversely formed with a groove (29) to define an upper portion (20A) and a lower portion (20B), enabling the upper portion (20A) and the lower portion (20B) to be elastically expanded with the first end (21) as a fulcrum. When the main body (1) is implanted between two bones (S1, S2), the first teeth (181, 182) provide a first acting force, the second teeth (281, 282) provide a second acting force, and the second acting force is not equal to the first acting force. Accordingly, the second acting force of the second teeth (281, 282) to act on the two bones (S1, S2) and the first acting force of the first teeth (181, 182) to act on the two bones (S1, S2) are differential and complementary to strengthen the stability of engagement and to slightly stimulate the two bones for expediting fusion of the two bones (S1, S2).