Bottom-Loading Orthopedic Fixation Device

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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 the tulip element to be larger than the fastener, complicating surgical procedures and increasing inventory needs.

Innovation Solution

An orthopedic fixation device that loads the bone fastener from the bottom of the tulip element, using a locking clamp assembly with a saddle and retention member to secure the fastener, allowing polyaxial movement before locking, and reducing the need for multiple tulip element sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If top-loading design is used, then bone fastener can be secured in tulip element, but tulip element must be larger than fastener diameter, increasing device size and inventory complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecuring of bone fastenerVSAvoidtulip element size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

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 inversion allows the fastener to be secured without requiring the tulip element's inner bore to be larger than the fastener diameter, thus reducing the tulip element size while maintaining secure fixation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If top-loading design is used, then bone fastener can be attached to tulip element, but bone hooks cannot be used as they will not pass through the tulip element

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with different bone fastener typesVSAvoidinstallation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By inverting the loading direction from top to bottom, the patent enables bone hooks to be properly installed. The bottom-loading approach allows the hook portion of the bone fastener to engage with the retention member without needing to pass through the tulip element's inner bore, thus expanding compatibility to include bone hooks while simplifying the installation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If top-loading design is used, then bone fastener can be secured, but bone fastener must be installed in the bone while attached to the tulip element

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecuring of bone fastenerVSAvoidsurgical procedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the installation process into two independent steps: first, the bone fastener is installed into the bone separately; second, the tulip element is attached to the pre-installed bone fastener. This segmentation allows surgeons to optimize each step independently, improving overall surgical ease of operation while maintaining secure fastener attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by having the bone fastener installed into the bone before the tulip element is attached. This preliminary installation of the bone fastener allows for proper positioning and engagement with the bone, and then the tulip element is subsequently attached to secure the fastener, simplifying the overall surgical procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple tulip element sizes are used to accommodate different bone fastener diameters, then all fastener sizes can be secured, but inventory costs and surgical complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with different bone fastener sizesVSAvoidinventory management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality by designing a single tulip element size that can accommodate multiple bone fastener sizes and types through the bottom-loading mechanism. The retention member's engagement with the bone fastener head, rather than requiring the fastener to pass through the tulip element, allows one tulip element design to serve multiple functions across different fastener diameters, reducing inventory complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3351194B1Orthopedic fixation devices

Publication Date: 2022.10.12 GLOBUS MEDICAL INC

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AI summary

Orthopedic fixation devices and methods of installing the same. The orthopedic fixation device may include a coupling element and a bone fastener, whereby the bone fastener can be loaded into the coupling element through the bottom of a bore in the coupling element and a retention member is configured to allow polyaxial rotation of the bone fastener and also to lock the bone fastener in place upon application of a force on a saddle and clamp in the coupling element.