Contoured Anterior Clavicle Plate for Better Fit and Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anterior clavicle plates have a less than desired fit or conformance on the anterior and lateral surfaces of a patient's clavicle, leading to increased tissue irritation and limited fixation, often necessitating a second surgery to remove the hardware.
Innovation Solution
A contoured anterior clavicle plate with a shape that conforms to the patient's clavicle anatomy, featuring bends, varying heights, and angled screw openings, along with an insertion instrument to facilitate precise screw placement, reducing tissue irritation and enhancing fixation strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a typical anterior clavicle plate is used, then the installation is simpler, but the fit or conformance on the anterior and lateral surfaces of the clavicle is poor, leading to increased tissue irritation
Solution Approach 1:
The plate incorporates multiple curved surfaces including a superior surface with first and second curvatures, an inferior surface with corresponding curvatures, and lateral surfaces with third and fourth curvatures. These curved surfaces are designed to match the anatomical contours of the clavicle, providing superior conformance and reducing tissue irritation compared to flat or simple curved plates.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate is divided into multiple sections along its longitudinal axis, with each section having different curvature characteristics. The superior and inferior surfaces have different curvatures in different regions, allowing the plate to conform to the complex three-dimensional anatomy of the clavicle while maintaining structural integrity.
2Strength
If a typical anterior clavicle plate is used, then the device is easier to manufacture, but the fixation strength is limited due to poor conformance
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple curved surfaces create optimal contact between the plate and clavicle bone, distributing fixation forces more evenly across the bone surface. This improved conformance enhances fixation strength by preventing plate migration and reducing stress concentrations at the bone-plate interface.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the plate have locally optimized curvature characteristics matched to specific anatomical regions of the clavicle. The superior surface has different curvatures than the inferior surface, and lateral surfaces have unique curvatures, allowing each region to provide optimal fixation for its corresponding anatomical location.
3Reliability
If a non-conforming plate is used, then installation is faster, but tissue irritation increases leading to second surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is pre-contoured with multiple curved surfaces that match the anatomical shape of the clavicle before surgery. This preliminary shaping eliminates the need for intraoperative bending or shaping procedures, allowing the plate to be installed quickly while providing superior conformance that reduces tissue irritation and the need for second surgery.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides new and innovative anterior clavicle plates and systems for clavicle fracture fixation. The provided anterior clavicle plate is shaped to better conform to or fit the anterior and lateral surfaces of a patient's clavicle as compared to typical anterior clavicle plates. This improved conformance can help reduce the incidence of tissue irritation, which reduces the chances of a second surgery being needed for removal of the anterior clavicle plate. The improved conformance can also result in an anatomically better fracture reduction than typical anterior clavicle plates and an increased fixation strength. Additionally, an instrument provided by the present application can help a surgeon install the provided anterior clavicle plate more quickly and with increased flexibility and consistency than typical systems.