Bone Plates with Dynamic Nitinol Elements for Fracture Healing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fixation systems for stabilizing bones and soft tissues fail to provide effective continuous mechanical load or stress across discontinuities, such as fractures or osteotomies, leading to inadequate healing and stability.
Innovation Solution
The development of bone fixation systems incorporating dynamic elements like staples, elbow pegs, and straight pegs made from superelastic materials like nitinol, which apply continuous compressive or tensile loads across tissue discontinuities, integrated with bone plates that allow for adjustable and secure attachment using locking and non-locking screws.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fixation systems are used to stabilize bones and tissues, then mechanical stability is achieved, but continuous mechanical load or stress across discontinuities is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates dynamic elements (springs, elastomeric materials, shape memory alloys) into the fixation system that actively generate and maintain continuous mechanical load across bone discontinuities. These elements transition from static to dynamic functionality, providing progressive or sustained force as bones heal, thereby resolving the contradiction between stability and continuous loading.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes materials and mechanisms that change their mechanical parameters over time or in response to loading conditions. Shape memory alloys change phase and stiffness, springs transition between compressed and relaxed states, and elastomeric materials exhibit time-dependent viscoelastic behavior. These parameter changes enable the system to provide continuous adaptive loading, improving healing while maintaining stability.
2Reliability
If dynamic elements are added to provide continuous load, then healing effectiveness improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the dynamic load-providing elements directly into the fixation plate structure itself, rather than adding separate complex mechanisms. Springs, elastomeric layers, and shape memory elements are integrated within the plate's architecture, combining stabilization and continuous loading functions into a single unified component, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic elements in the patent are designed to automatically generate and regulate mechanical load without requiring external power sources, control systems, or additional actuators. Shape memory alloys self-activate in response to temperature or stress, springs naturally rebound to provide continuous force, and elastomeric materials autonomously dissipate and store energy. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex control mechanisms.
3Stability of the object's composition
If fixation systems provide stable mechanical support, then bone stabilization is achieved, but adaptability to different healing stages is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic elements that automatically adapt their mechanical properties throughout the healing process. Springs provide high initial support that gradually decreases as bones unite, shape memory alloys transition between soft and stiff phases in response to physiological conditions, and elastomeric materials adjust their damping characteristics. This dynamic behavior provides stable support early in healing while automatically reducing constraints as bones strengthen, enhancing adaptability without compromising stabilization.
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 enhance bone healing by providing stable, adjustable mechanical loads across tissue discontinuities, promoting effective fusion and stabilization while allowing for dynamic movement, 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
Plates with dynamic elements may be used to stabilize and apply continuous load to hard tissues such as bone
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 1E
AI summary
Bone fixation systems include various combinations of stabilizing members (102), dynamic elements (104), fasteners (108), and locking mechanisms (106). Bone plates receive dynamic bone staples and bone screws. Other dynamic elements include elbow pegs, straight pegs, and wire pegs.