Anterior Cervical Spine Plate Locking Mechanism Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional anterior cervical spine plates do not effectively address foreign body sensation experienced by patients post-surgery and lack reliable mechanisms to prevent bone screw separation from the plate.
Innovation Solution
A cervical plate design featuring rotatably mounted locking elements with a resilient locking wing and specific curvature and thickness profiles to minimize foreign body sensation and ensure secure bone screw fixation, including reinforcing parts, seat parts with reduced thickness, and a bending clearance for improved fit and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking element is installed to prevent bone screw separation, then the reliability of fixation is improved, but the foreign body sensation felt by the patient worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element is nested within the bone screw head, with the locking wing rotating inside the bone screw head to engage with the locking element hole. This nested configuration allows the locking mechanism to be compact and integrated, reducing the overall volume of foreign objects in the patient's body while maintaining reliable fixation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element is divided into distinct functional segments: the locking wing with rotation body for engagement, the locking element hole for positioning, and the integrated fixation structure. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while minimizing the overall foreign body burden through optimized geometry.
2Strength
If the cervical plate is made thicker to improve structural strength, then the strength is improved, but the foreign body sensation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The cervical plate features localized thickness variations with thicker regions at the ends for structural strength and anchoring, and thinner regions in the middle section to reduce foreign body sensation. The locking element hole is positioned in the thinner middle region, allowing the locking mechanism to function effectively without requiring uniform plate thickness, thus maintaining strength while minimizing patient discomfort.
3Reliability
If the locking element is made larger to improve locking reliability, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation during surgery worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism employs a rotatable locking wing that can dynamically transition between locked and unlocked states. The rotation body within the bone screw head allows the locking wing to rotate and engage with the locking element hole, providing reliable locking while maintaining ease of operation through simple rotational motion that can be performed with standard surgical tools.
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
The design reduces foreign body sensation and enhances the reliability of bone screw fixation, preventing separation and improving surgical outcomes by maintaining the cervical plate's position and stability.
Implementation Method 1
a locking element configured to maintain the bone screws while being inserted into the bone screw holes, respectively, wherein the locking element is rotatably mounted in the plate body
Implementation Method 2
a resilient locking wing and specific curvature and thickness profiles
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an anterior cervical spine plate which is used to perform anterior fixation surgery on a cervical spine in orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery, which includes: a plate body formed to extend in a longitudinal direction thereof; two or more bone screw holes formed in the plate body to support head parts of bone screws; and a locking element configured to maintain the bone screws while being inserted into the bone screw holes, respectively. The locking element is rotatably coupled to the plate body, and the plate body has reinforcing parts formed at outer circumferences thereof.