Bottom-Loading Orthopedic Fixation Device with Modular Locking Clamp
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthopedic fixation devices require top-loading of bone fasteners, which limits the use of larger fasteners and excludes bone hooks, and necessitates installing the fastener with the tulip element, leading to increased inventory needs and reduced surgical visualization.
Innovation Solution
An orthopedic fixation device that allows bottom-loading of bone fasteners, using a locking clamp assembly with a wedge element to secure the fastener within the tulip element, enabling the use of larger fasteners without increasing tulip element size and allowing independent placement and attachment of the tulip element post-fastener installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If top-loading design is used, then bone fastener can be passed through tulip element, but tulip element inner bore must be larger than combined size of bone fastener head and clamp element or bone fastener diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional top-loading approach by implementing bottom-loading, where the bone fastener is inserted from the bottom of the tulip element rather than from the top. This allows the fastener to be loaded after the tulip element is positioned, eliminating the need for a large inner bore and reducing the variety of tulip element sizes needed.
2Ease of operation
If top-loading design is used, then bone fastener must be installed in bone while attached to tulip element, but this reduces surgical visualization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the installation process into two separate steps: first installing the bone fastener into the bone independently, then attaching the tulip element to the already-installed fastener. This segmentation allows the surgeon to have clear visualization during fastener installation without the tulip element obstructing the view.
3Adaptability or versatility
If top-loading design is used, then different sizes of tulip element must be used based on diameter of bone fastener, but this increases inventory needs
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom-loading design creates a universal tulip element that can accommodate bone fasteners of various diameters through a single standardized inner bore size. The tulip element serves multiple functions with different fastener sizes without requiring multiple tulip element variants, thereby reducing inventory requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Orthopedic fixation devices, assemblies, and methods. The orthopedic fixation devices may comprise coupling elements, hook components, and/or bone fasteners. The bone fastener may be loaded into the coupling element through the bottom of a bore in the coupling element. The orthopedic fixation devices may include modular locking clamp assemblies that can be fixed onto fasteners that are already implanted in bone. The modular locking clamp assemblies can include polyaxial locking clamp assemblies, as well as monoaxial locking clamp assemblies. The hook components may include a female hook component slidably coupled to a male hook component.