Bone Screw with Collecting Channels for Low Torque Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Typical bone screws compress and damage surrounding bone material during insertion, requiring high torque for insertion, which is undesirable for reducing bone damage and improving surgical outcomes.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates bone collecting channels along the screw shaft, which cut and collect bone material, reducing friction and torque required for insertion, using implant-grade materials like carbon fiber and titanium alloys, and can be cannulated or uncannulated, with channels extending in helical or straight paths to capture bone fragments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If typical bone screws are inserted into bone, then the screw achieves fixation, but the screw compresses and damages surrounding bone material and requires high torque for insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful bone material that would otherwise be compressed and damaged by the screw threads. Bone collecting channels are formed in the screw shaft to capture and remove bone material during insertion, preventing the bone compression and damage that normally occurs with conventional screws while maintaining fixation reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The bone collecting channels act as an intermediary mechanism between the screw threads and the bone material. Instead of direct compression and damage, the channels provide a pathway for bone material to be captured and removed, mediating the interaction between the screw and bone to reduce harmful effects
2Reliability
If typical bone screws are inserted into bone, then the screw achieves fixation, but high torque is required for insertion
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting bone material through the bone collecting channels during insertion, the patent reduces the friction and resistance that normally require high torque for screw insertion. The removal of bone material creates a cleaner insertion path, reducing the force needed while maintaining fixation reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The bone collecting channels enable the screw to serve itself during insertion by automatically capturing and removing bone material that would otherwise create resistance. This self-service mechanism reduces the torque required for insertion without requiring external assistance or additional surgical steps
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 reduces bone compression and insertion torque, allowing for easier screw placement with lower peak torque forces, promoting faster healing and reducing the risk of screw loosening by minimizing bone material displacement, as demonstrated in comparative studies on bovine condyles.
Implementation Method 1
reducing friction and torque required for insertion
Data Source
AI summary
A bone screw apparatus and method. The bone screw may include one or more bone collecting channels. The channels may include one or more cutting edges/surfaces. The bone screw channels may capture a variety of displaced bone materials. The bone screw may have a reduced insertion torque. The one or more bone collecting channels may have a curved bottom.