Bone Plate Extender for Fracture Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for treating bone fractures, such as casts and traditional surgical nails, screws, and plates, are cumbersome, provide inadequate internal fixation, and struggle with accurately aligning and stabilizing displaced bone fragments, especially in complex fractures like the distal radius.

Innovation Solution

A bone plate extender system comprising a bone plate extender and a bone fixation element, which can be affixed to a fractured bone portion and associated with a second bone plate to facilitate alignment and stabilization, featuring a planar or angled design with intercalating portions to accommodate varying bone morphologies and allow for adjustable alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional surgical nails, screws, and plates are used for bone fracture treatment, then internal fixation is provided, but the devices are hard to apply and not easily manipulated for appropriate reduction and fixation of bone fragments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinternal fixation capabilityVSAvoidease of application and manipulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bone plate extender is divided into distinct functional segments: a bone plate engagement portion for attaching to the primary bone plate, an intercalating portion for spanning the fracture site, and a bone fixation portion for securing to the distal bone fragment. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall ease of application and reliable fixation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If casts are used for bone fracture treatment, then immobilization is provided, but they are big, bulky and only allow a small degree of motion of associated joints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimmobilization capabilityVSAvoidbulkiness and restricted motion

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the external mechanical immobilization system (casts) with an internal biological fixation system (bone plate extender with fixation elements). This substitution eliminates the bulkiness and joint restriction of casts while providing stable internal fixation that allows for earlier mobilization and rehabilitation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If traditional fixation devices are used for displaced bone fragments, then fixation is provided, but they are not suited for reducing fragments that are displaced from the main loci of the fracture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixation capabilityVSAvoidsuitability for displaced fragments

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The bone plate extender incorporates an intercalating portion that extends between the primary bone plate and the distal bone fragment in the longitudinal dimension, while the bone fixation portion can be positioned in a different spatial plane to reach displaced fragments. This multi-dimensional configuration allows the device to effectively reduce and fix fragments that are displaced from the main fracture loci.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The intercalating portion serves as an intermediary element that connects the primary bone plate to the distal bone fragment, spanning the fracture site and providing a bridge for force transmission. This intermediary structure enables the bone plate extender to reach and stabilize displaced fragments that would be inaccessible to traditional fixation devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If multiple separate devices are used for complex fracture treatment, then comprehensive fixation is provided, but the treatment complexity and number of components increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomprehensive fixationVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges three separate functional components (bone plate engagement portion, intercalating portion, and bone fixation portion) into a single integrated bone plate extender device. This consolidation provides comprehensive fixation for complex fractures while reducing the total number of components and simplifying the surgical procedure compared to using multiple separate devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8652179B2Bone plate extender and extension system for bone restoration and methods of use thereof

Publication Date: 2014.02.18 UPEX HLDG

AI summary

The disclosure includes a bone plate extender and extension system. The system includes a first bone plate extender and may additionally include a bone fixation element and/or an additional bone plate. The bone plate extender may be affixed to a bone portion at one end, for instance, a fractured bone portion, via a bone fixation element, and associated with a second bone plate at an opposite end, so as to facilitate alignment and stabilization of the bone and thereby correct and treat a bone fracture. The bone plate extender may include an extended body, which includes a bone plate engagement portion, a bone fixation portion, and an intercalating portion there between. In certain variations, the extended body is planar, and in certain variations the extended body is angled, curved or arced. Methods of using such bone plate extension systems for the reduction, restoration and treatment of bone fractures are also provided.