Bone Plate Elongate Hole for In-Place Length Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bone plate systems require decoupling from the bone to adjust length, which disrupts fracture reduction and necessitate additional instrumentation, potentially sacrificing bone fixation openings.
Innovation Solution
A bone plate with a length adjusting elongate hole that allows length adjustment without decoupling from the bone, maintaining fracture reduction and preserving bone fixation openings through a central longitudinal axis offset or aligned with bone fixation openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the bone plate is decoupled from the bone to adjust length, then the length adjustment is enabled, but the fracture reduction is disrupted and additional instrumentation is required
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate incorporates an elongate hole that allows dynamic adjustment of the bone plate's position along the bone. The bone fixation device can be repositioned within the elongate hole to adjust length while maintaining continuous coupling to the bone, enabling length adjustment without decoupling and thus preserving fracture reduction stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The bone plate is segmented into multiple functional regions including the elongate hole and multiple bone fixation openings. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of length through the elongate hole while maintaining stable fixation at other points, resolving the contradiction between adjustability and operational ease.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional instrumentation such as bone clamps or compression screws is used to enable translation, then length adjustment is possible, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate integrates multiple functions into a single device: the elongate hole provides both initial positioning and length adjustment capabilities, while the bone fixation openings provide stable attachment. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate bone clamps or compression screws, reducing device complexity while maintaining length adjustment capability.
3Strength
If cortical bone screws are used to compress the bone plate, then stable fixation is achieved, but the screw holes may overlap with provisional fixation holes, reducing the number of available bone fixation openings
Solution Approach 1:
The design moves the length adjustment function from the dimension of screw hole overlap to a separate elongate hole feature. This dimensional separation allows cortical bone screws to be used for stable fixation in the bone fixation openings without overlapping with provisional fixation locations, as the elongate hole provides a dedicated path for adjustment that does not compete for the same screw hole space.
Data Source
AI summary
A bone plate incorporating a length adjusting elongate hole formed in a shaft portion thereof, along with corresponding methods of use. In one embodiment, the length adjusting elongate hole is configured to receive one or more bone fixation devices (e.g., bone screws). The bone fixation device positioned within the length adjusting elongate hole may be partially loosened, without removal, to enable the patient's bone to be adjusted (e.g., loosening the bone fixation device within the length adjusting elongate hole allows the surgeon to adjust the position of the patient's bone, and hence the bone fixation device coupled thereto, relative to the bone plate). Once properly adjusted, the bone fixation device positioned within the length adjusting elongate hole may be retightened. In various embodiments, the length adjusting elongate hole is arranged and configured so that, in use, each of the plurality of bone fixation openings remains available to a surgeon.