Bone Plate Aiming Guide Assembly for Minimally Invasive Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plating systems for bone fractures require extensive incisions, leading to soft tissue stripping and increased wound complications, and existing aiming guide systems lack ease of use and effective distal connections with bone plates.
Innovation Solution
Aiming guide systems with adjustable aiming arms and connection assemblies that allow for precise alignment and fixation of bone plates, incorporating polyaxial locking holes and tissue protection sleeves for minimally invasive surgery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If full open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) is performed with extensive incisions, then accurate placement of bone plates and screws is achieved, but soft tissue stripping and wound complications increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an aiming guide assembly as an intermediary tool that bridges the gap between minimally invasive incisions and accurate plate placement. The guide assembly includes a guide body with aiming holes that direct screws and a guide arm that can be positioned through small incisions, allowing precise placement without extensive soft tissue dissection.
Solution Approach 2:
The aiming guide assembly is divided into separate components including a guide body, guide arm, and connection assembly. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently - the guide body provides aiming holes for screw placement, the guide arm extends to reach distal plate holes, and the connection assembly secures them together, enabling accurate placement through minimal incisions.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive surgical approach is used with small incisions, then soft tissue damage is reduced, but accurate alignment and connection of aiming guide with bone plate becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The connection assembly serves multiple functions: it connects the guide arm to the bone plate, provides alignment features through matched geometric shapes (circular opening with circular protrusion), and secures the distal end of the guide arm to the distal end of the bone plate. This multi-functionality simplifies the overall alignment and connection process while maintaining minimally invasive benefits.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If distal femur plates are inserted through one small incision at the knee, then soft tissue stripping is minimized, but connection of aiming guide to plate requires precise distal alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The guide body is pre-configured with aiming holes at specific angles and positions that correspond to the desired screw trajectories. The connection assembly includes pre-formed alignment features (circular opening and circular protrusion) that automatically establish correct orientation when connected, eliminating the need for complex distal alignment procedures during surgery.
Data Source
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AI summary
An aiming guide system configured for connection to a bone plate including an aiming arm and a connection assembly. The aiming arm has a rigid body extending from a proximal end to a distal end with a plurality of aiming holes defined through the rigid body between the proximal end and the distal end thereof. The distal end defines an attachment slot through the body. The connection assembly is configured to engage an attachment screw hole of the bone plate and the attachment slot such that the aiming arm is fixed in position relative to the bone plate with each of the aiming holes aligned with a respective hole along the bone plate.