Bone Plate with Sliding Elements for Elastic Osteosynthesis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Locked plating constructs for bone fractures are overly stiff, altering load distribution and suppressing interfragmentary motion, which can delay or prevent natural fracture healing and lead to implant breakage or screw loss.
Innovation Solution
An osteosynthesis plate with elastically suspended sliding elements that allow controlled displacement parallel to the longitudinal axis while maintaining stability in other directions, using a spring element and elastomeric material to facilitate motion and reduce stiffness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If locking plates are used to provide stable fixation, then fixation strength is improved, but interfragmentary motion is suppressed which delays fracture healing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static locking plate into a dynamic system by introducing sliding elements that can move along the longitudinal axis within recesses. This dynamic capability allows the plate to permit controlled interfragmentary motion while maintaining fixation strength, thereby resolving the contradiction between stable fixation and fracture healing promotion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical parameter of stiffness by allowing longitudinal displacement of sliding elements within recesses. This parameter modification enables the plate to provide appropriate motion for fracture healing while maintaining sufficient fixation strength, addressing the contradiction between these two requirements
2Reliability
If locking plates with high stiffness are used, then fixation durability is improved, but load distribution is altered causing bone resorption or stress risers
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding elements introduce dynamic adaptability to the fixation system, allowing it to adjust load distribution by permitting longitudinal motion. This dynamic behavior prevents excessive stress concentration and bone resorption while maintaining fixation durability, resolving the contradiction between reliability and harmful effects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the stiffness parameter through the sliding mechanism, enabling the plate to distribute loads more physiologically by allowing controlled displacement. This parameter change reduces stress risers and bone resorption while preserving fixation durability, addressing the identified contradiction
3Duration of action of moving object
If traditional compression plating is used, then interfragmentary motion is permitted for healing, but fixation stability is insufficient in weak osteoporotic bone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic fixation system where sliding elements can move longitudinally to permit healing motion while the locking mechanism provides stability against lateral displacement. This dynamic design addresses weak osteoporotic bone by providing angle-stable fixation while still allowing the interfragmentary motion needed for fracture healing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines locking mechanisms (for stability in osteoporotic bone) with sliding elements (for permitted motion) within a single plate system. This composite approach integrates both rigid and flexible characteristics, resolving the contradiction between fixation stability and healing motion requirements
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
This design promotes fracture healing by allowing necessary motion at the fracture site, reducing bone resorption, and enhancing load distribution, thereby improving construct strength and preventing implant-related complications.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element that suspends the sliding element and determines an amount of translation of the sliding element relative to the plate in response to a load acting in a longitudinal direction of the plate
Implementation Method 2
The sliding element is suspended within a recess of the plate by an elastomeric material that comprises an elastomer lumen
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments provide a method and device for plate osteosynthesis of a bone fracture that allows angle-stable fixation of the bone fracture, while permitting elastic axial motion at the fracture site in a controlled, symmetric manner to stimulate fracture healing. Embodiments pertain to a bone plate having an outer surface and a bone-facing surface. The bone plate incorporating internal sliding elements containing a threaded receiving hole for bone screws that have a correspondingly threaded screw head. The sliding elements undergo controlled displacement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plate but are substantially constrained against displacement perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the plate. The bone screws with threaded heads may be rigidly fixed to the threaded receiving holes in the sliding elements without compressing the bone plate onto the bone surface. Sliding elements are elastically suspended inside the bone plate and undergo dynamic motion.