Asymmetric Bone Plate with Deformable Bridges for Anatomical Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current orthopedic plates require extensive and costly inventories for various bone sizes and anatomical adaptations, particularly in veterinary settings where luxury cannot be justified, and existing veterinary plates are not well-suited to anatomical contours.
Innovation Solution
A set of bone plates with a 't' design, featuring a straight body and cross arm with nodes and deformable bridges, allowing for adaptation to different bone sizes and shapes through reshaping and bending, accommodating both left and right anatomies with a limited set of designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If anatomical plates are designed for each specific bone and anatomical location, then adaptability to bone contours is improved, but inventory complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is divided into multiple modular segments or links that can be independently positioned and connected. Each segment can be adjusted to match specific anatomical contours, allowing the same plate design to adapt to various bone shapes and sizes without requiring multiple specialized plate designs in inventory.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate design incorporates universal features such as standardized connection interfaces, adjustable segment configurations, and symmetric or reversible designs that allow a single plate type to serve multiple anatomical locations and bone types, replacing the need for numerous bone-specific plate variants.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple specialized plate designs are maintained for different bones and anatomical locations, then treatment precision is improved, but storage cost and inventory management burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The plate incorporates dynamic adjustment mechanisms that allow it to be configured in multiple positions and orientations during surgery. This dynamic adaptability enables a single plate design to achieve treatment precision previously requiring multiple static, bone-specific designs, thereby reducing the quantity of different plate types needed in inventory.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate design allows for parameter changes such as adjustable segment angles, variable connection configurations, and repositionable components. These parameter adjustments enable the same plate to be precisely adapted to different anatomical requirements, maintaining treatment precision while reducing inventory quantity.
3Quantity of substance
If basic general-purpose plates are used in veterinary medicine, then inventory cost is reduced, but anatomical fit and treatment effectiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is divided into multiple modular segments that can be independently positioned to match veterinary bone anatomies. This segmentation allows a single general-purpose plate design to achieve custom anatomical fit for different animal species and bone types without requiring species-specific plate inventories.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate is pre-designed with symmetric or reversible configurations and standardized adjustment mechanisms that enable preliminary adaptation to various anatomies. This preliminary preparation allows the plate to be quickly customized intraoperatively for different veterinary cases, maintaining anatomical fit while using a limited inventory.
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
Enables efficient and cost-effective treatment of various bone fractures by allowing a single plate design to be customized for different bone sizes and shapes, reducing inventory costs and improving adaptability for both human and veterinary use.
Implementation Method 1
The plate may be further shaped to the bone by plastic deformation of the plate at the bridges between the nodes
Implementation Method 2
The end of the clamping bolt is convex and sized to seat against the countersink of a threaded screw hole
Data Source
AI summary
A bone plate is asymmetric and includes a straight body and a cross arm. The plate has first and second sides, each with the same structure. The body and cross arm include nodes separated by deformable bridges. Each node defines a screw hole, and wings extending laterally therefrom. The wings taper in thickness between the first and second sides. Screw holes are threaded into the nodes. Each of the first and second sides of the body and cross arm define longitudinal channels in the nodes. The plate can be shaped to the bone by deformation at the bridges or removal of portions of the plate at bridges. A pair of benders, each with clamp bracket and clamping bolt threadedly coupled within a threaded hole of the bracket, is also provided for shaping the plate.