Anterior Cervical Plate With Integrated Rotating Locks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Anterior cervical plates face issues with screw loosening and migration due to anatomical forces and bone degeneration, leading to instability and potential damage to surrounding tissues, necessitating a solution that prevents screw backout and promotes bone integration.

Innovation Solution

An anterior cervical plate system with integrated locks and a textured surface for bone growth, featuring a lock component that rotates to cover screw heads, preventing backout and enhancing bone integration, while maintaining a low profile to avoid tissue irritation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional cervical plates are used with bone screws, then the plate can be attached to vertebral bodies, but the screws may loosen or back out due to anatomical forces and vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescrew stabilityVSAvoidplate structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the plate and locking mechanism into a single integrated unit. The lock features are built directly into the plate structure through additive manufacturing, eliminating the need for separate locking components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining screw stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism is nested within the plate structure itself. The lock features are embedded in the plate body, with locking surfaces and engagement features that accept and secure the bone screws without requiring external locking hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Strength

If bone screws are used to secure the plate, then the plate can be firmly attached to the spine, but the screws may migrate or impinge on surrounding tissue causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The plate design includes pre-formed lock features that prevent screw backout and migration before harmful effects can occur. The locking mechanism actively counteracts the forces that would cause screw loosening, preventing tissue impingement and damage before they happen.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated lock features act as an intermediary between the bone screw and the plate. This intermediate locking structure provides a secure interface that distributes forces evenly, preventing direct screw-to-tissue contact that could cause damage while maintaining strong attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the plate profile is increased to enhance stability, then screw loosening may be prevented, but the plate may irritate adjacent tissue such as the esophagus

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplate stabilityVSAvoidtissue irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the locking mechanism into the plate structure, the design achieves enhanced stability without requiring additional protruding components. The integrated locks provide secure screw retention while maintaining a compact plate profile that minimizes contact with and irritation to surrounding soft tissues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If multiple separate locking components are added to prevent screw backout, then screw stability improves, but the device complexity and difficulty of implantation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescrew retentionVSAvoidimplantation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple locking functions into a single integrated plate structure. The additive manufacturing process allows complex three-dimensional lock features to be built directly into the plate, eliminating the need for multiple separate locking components and simplifying the implantation procedure to a single-step process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated plate design performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, incorporates locking mechanisms for screw retention, and maintains a low profile for tissue compatibility. This multi-functionality is achieved through the unified additive manufacturing process that combines all features into one component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11547457B2Anterior cervical plate with integrated locks

Publication Date: 2023.01.10 CORDARO NICHOLAS

AI summary

An anterior cervical plate system with integrated locks which is additively manufactured as one component is disclosed. The anterior cervical plate system comprises a plate having at least one through hole configured to receive a bone screw for attaching the plate to a patient's bone. The plate includes a lock component adjacent to the at least one through hole. The lock component is connected to the plate such that the lock component is permitted to rotate with respect to the plate. The lock component has an unlocked position in which the locking ends of the lock component do not cover the head of the bone screw inside the through hole, and a locked position in which at least part of the locking ends engage the head portion of the bone screw to prevent the bone screw from backing out of the through hole.