Bone Screw with Cannulated Insert for Targeted Medicament Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current devices for delivering substances to bones, such as medicaments, lack customization and control over delivery to specific areas within a bone, and cannot serve as both fixation screws and controlled delivery systems.

Innovation Solution

A bone screw with a cannulated portion and fenestrations that allows for the insertion of a separate cannulated insert to deliver substances, enabling targeted delivery and later occlusion with an occluding shaft to retain the substance, while also serving as a fixation screw.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If pre-fabricated metal pins or bone screws are used for medication delivery, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the ability to customize delivery to specific bone areas is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization capabilityVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into separate components: a bone screw for fixation and a separate insert for medication delivery. The insert can be customized with specific fenestration patterns and drug reservoir configurations, while the bone screw provides stable fixation. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component's function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The insert is placed inside the bone screw, with the insert's outer diameter fitting within the bone screw's inner diameter. The insert contains a hollow portion that can be filled with medication, and fenestrations allow controlled release. This nested configuration enables customized medication delivery without requiring a completely separate delivery device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Quantity of substance

If bone screws are adapted to deliver liquids such as bone cements, then fixation function is provided, but control over the amount of substance delivered is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol over medication amountVSAvoidoperational control

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The desired amount of medication is pre-loaded into the insert's hollow portion before insertion into the bone screw. This allows precise control over the quantity of medication to be delivered, as the loading process can be carefully monitored and controlled in a sterile environment before the actual surgical procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The fenestration design allows dynamic control of medication release. The fenestrations can be designed with specific sizes, shapes, and distributions to control the rate and pattern of medication delivery. Additionally, the insert can be designed to release medication in response to specific conditions such as changes in pressure or fluid flow within the bone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If delivery pins or needles are used to deliver medication into bone, then targeted delivery to specific bone areas is possible, but the device cannot serve as fixation screws

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedual function capabilityVSAvoidfabrication process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention combines two previously separate functions into a single integrated device: bone fixation (via the bone screw) and targeted medication delivery (via the insert with fenestrations). The bone screw provides mechanical fixation while the nested insert delivers medication to specific bone areas, eliminating the need for separate fixation and delivery devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bone screw insert system is designed to perform multiple functions: providing mechanical fixation, delivering medication to specific bone areas, and potentially serving as a template for bone growth. The fenestrated design allows the same structure to serve both as a fixation device and a controlled drug delivery system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Duration of action of moving object

If bone screws are used for one-time delivery of curable substances, then fixation is achieved, but the ability to regulate or control delivery is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrolled delivery durationVSAvoiddelivery control mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fenestration design creates local variations in the device structure to control medication release. Different regions of the insert can have different fenestration patterns, sizes, and distributions, allowing localized control over where and how medication is released. This enables tailored delivery profiles for different bone areas without requiring complex overall device redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9603644B2Methods and devices for delivery of medicine to bone

Publication Date: 2017.03.28 SPINAL GENERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A bone screw includes a shaft, a cannulated portion formed in the shaft, and a fenestration in the shaft connecting the cannulated portion to an exterior of the bone screw. A wall between the cannulated portion and the exterior of the bone screw includes a first wall portion having a different thickness than a second wall portion.