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, necessitating multiple tulip element sizes and complicating surgical procedures by requiring attachment of the tulip element before bone fastener installation.

Innovation Solution

An orthopedic fixation device that allows bottom-loading of bone fasteners, featuring a coupling element with a bore for loading the fastener from below, a locking clamp assembly with angulation capabilities, and a tulip element that can be attached post-fastener placement, enabling the use of larger fasteners and reducing surgical complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If top-loading design is used, then bone fastener can be secured in tulip element, but multiple tulip element sizes are required and bone hooks cannot be used

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with different bone fastener typesVSAvoidnumber of tulip element sizes

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

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 inner bore to accommodate the fastener head and clamp element simultaneously, enabling a single tulip element size to work with various fastener types including bone hooks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If top-loading design is used, then bone fastener can be secured, but surgical visualization and site preparation are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical visualizationVSAvoidsurgical procedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the assembly process by allowing the bone fastener to be installed independently in the bone first, followed by attachment of the tulip element. This segmentation enables better surgical visualization and site preparation, as the fastener can be accurately positioned and prepared before the coupling element is attached, without requiring pre-attachment of the tulip element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Strength

If larger bone fasteners are used, then fixation strength is improved, but top-loading design requires larger tulip element bore

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixation strengthVSAvoidtulip element bore size

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By inverting the loading direction from top to bottom, the patent allows larger bone fasteners to be used without increasing the tulip element bore size. The bottom-loading mechanism enables the fastener to be inserted from below, where the bore only needs to accommodate the fastener shaft, not the entire fastener head and clamp assembly, thus maintaining a compact tulip element design while supporting larger fasteners for enhanced fixation strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP3569169B1Orthopedic fixation devices

Publication Date: 2021.07.07 GLOBUS MEDICAL INC

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AI summary

Orthopedic fixation devices and methods of installing the same. The orthopedic fixation device (2, 300) includes a coupling element (10, 310) and a bone fastener (4), whereby the bone fastener can be loaded into the coupling element through the bottom of a bore in the coupling element.