Bone Plate With Continuous Oblong Hole For Screw Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bone plates have limited flexibility in screw insertion due to separate holes with distinct functionalities, making it difficult to use standard cortical screws effectively and requiring precise placement to avoid misalignment.
Innovation Solution
A bone plate design featuring continuous oblong holes with partial thread segments and smooth-wall support structures, allowing for secure locking and tilting prevention of bone screws through a combination of thread and smooth-wall engagement, enabling easy sliding and secure anchoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate holes with different diameters are used in prior art bone plates, then each hole can have its own functionality (threaded for headed screws, smooth for standard cortical screws), but it becomes difficult to use standard cortical screws at the threaded side and requires precise placement to avoid misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the threaded portion and smooth-wall portion into a single continuous oblong hole, allowing both functionalities (threaded screw fixation and smooth cortical screw insertion) to coexist in one hole. This merging eliminates the need for separate holes and resolves the contradiction by enabling versatile screw options while maintaining ease of operation through a unified hole structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous oblong hole is designed to serve multiple functions: it can accommodate both threaded bone screws (for stable fixation) and standard cortical screws (for compression and angle variability). This multi-functionality within a single hole structure directly addresses the contradiction by providing adaptability without compromising ease of operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If standard cortical screws are used in prior art bone plates with separate holes, then compression and angle variability are achieved, but precise placement is required to ensure the screw is located on the proper side of the continuous hole
Solution Approach 1:
The smooth-wall portion of the continuous oblong hole acts as an intermediary guide structure that directs standard cortical screws into the correct position. This intermediary smooth section facilitates easy insertion and proper alignment before the screw engages with the bone, eliminating the need for precise pre-placement while maintaining compression and angle variability capabilities.
3Reliability
If thread flights are provided only over a part of the depth of the oblong hole, then smooth-wall support structure can be provided above and/or below the threads for positive fit with screw head, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous oblong hole is segmented into distinct functional zones: a smooth-wall upper portion for guiding and supporting the screw head, a threaded middle portion for secure fixation, and potentially a smooth lower portion for additional support. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally while together forming a unified structure that enhances reliability without excessive complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention proposes a bone plate comprising a bottom side that is to rest against the bone and an upper side opposite to the bone as well as a plurality of holes located along the longitudinal axis of the plate, through which bone screws can be inserted to be anchored to a bone. At least one of these holes is a continuous oblong hole comprising a longitudinal axis running in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the plate. A retaining structure, is provided in a partial area of the lateral side of the oblong hole for engaging the threads of said bone screw to archive an angle-stable fixation of said bone screw in said oblong hole.