Bone Plates with Dynamic Nitinol Elements for Fracture Healing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fixation systems fail to provide effective dynamic loading across tissue discontinuities, such as fractures or osteotomies, which is essential for optimal healing and stabilization.
Innovation Solution
The development of bone plates with integrated or separate dynamic elements, including staples, elbow pegs, and straight pegs made from elastic materials like nitinol, that apply continuous mechanical load or stress across tissue portions, allowing for deformation and stress distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If traditional rigid fixation systems are used, then stability is provided, but dynamic loading across tissue discontinuities is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate incorporates dynamic elements such as elastic staples and deformable pegs that can dynamically adjust their mechanical properties. These elements transition from a compressed elastic state during insertion to a relaxed state that applies continuous dynamic loading across the fracture site, resolving the contradiction between providing initial stability and enabling long-term dynamic loading for healing.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic elements utilize changes in elastic modulus and mechanical compliance over time. The elements are inserted in a high-compliance elastic state and gradually transition to a lower-compliance state as they relax, providing varying degrees of stability and dynamic loading at different stages of healing. This parameter change allows the system to satisfy both stability requirements initially and dynamic loading requirements subsequently.
2Strength
If rigid fixation is applied, then immediate stabilization is achieved, but therapeutic dynamic stress is not applied to promote healing
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate system employs different mechanical properties in different regions and at different times. The dynamic elements provide high compliance and elastic deformation capacity at the fracture site while maintaining sufficient fixation strength through their engagement with the bone and plate structure. This local differentiation of mechanical properties allows simultaneous achievement of fixation strength and therapeutic dynamic stress.
3Duration of action of moving object
If elastic dynamic elements are used, then continuous dynamic load is applied, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic elements are integrated directly into the bone plate structure, merging the function of the plate with the function of the dynamic loading mechanism. The staples and pegs are either pre-formed elastic elements or components that work in conjunction with the plate to provide continuous dynamic loading, eliminating the need for separate complex mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining continuous loading capability.
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
These systems provide stable constructs that facilitate healing by applying therapeutic levels of dynamic loading, enhancing the union of bone fragments or tissue portions while accommodating deformation, thus improving healing outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
The dynamic elements may be made from any elastic material, preferably a highly elastic metal, preferably a superelastic metal, preferably nitinol.
Implementation Method 2
The dynamic elements may be made from any elastic material, preferably a highly elastic metal, preferably a superelastic metal, preferably nitinol.
Data Source
AI summary
Bone fixation systems include various combinations of stabilizing members, dynamic elements, fasteners, and locking mechanisms. Bone plates receive dynamic bone staples and bone screws. Other dynamic elements include elbow pegs, straight pegs, and wire pegs.