Deflecting Screw Locking Protrusions Prevent Backout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implant locking systems face challenges such as difficulty in correctly inserting screws due to anti-rotation protrusions engaging side walls before recesses and weakening of connections due to compressing and uncompressing securing elements, leading to potential instability and inefficiency in bone implantation.
Innovation Solution
A screw with a locking head and deflecting portions on its drive receiving portion, which undergo inward deflection during insertion and remain deflected, providing a secure fit within the implant's securing hole, and featuring locking protrusions that engage recesses to prevent backout, ensuring a stable and efficient locking mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If anti-rotation protrusions are provided on fasteners to prevent backout, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in correct insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The recesses are pre-formed with anti-rotation surfaces that will automatically engage the protrusions when the fastener is inserted in the correct orientation. This preliminary preparation of the engagement geometry ensures that proper insertion naturally leads to locking, eliminating the need for complex insertion procedures while maintaining anti-backout reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The recesses act as an intermediary element between the protrusions and the fastener body. By providing a mediating structure with specific geometric features (anti-rotation surfaces), the system enables reliable engagement while guiding the insertion process, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
2Reliability
If recesses are positioned to engage anti-rotation protrusions, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in viewing engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The recesses are positioned and shaped to provide visual indicators of engagement status. The geometric configuration of the recesses allows the surgeon to observe whether the protrusions have properly engaged the anti-rotation surfaces, providing visual feedback without compromising the reliability of the locking mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If securing elements are compressed and uncompressed during implantation, then ease of operation is improved for insertion, but reliability deteriorates due to weakening of connection
Solution Approach 1:
The deflecting portions are pre-configured with elastic properties that allow them to automatically deflect during insertion and then maintain a permanent deflected state. This preliminary design of the elastic structure enables insertion without repeated compression cycles, preserving connection strength while facilitating ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflecting portions transition from a static structure to a dynamic one that can deflect elastically during insertion. This dynamic behavior allows the securing element to adapt to the insertion process without compromising the final connection strength, as the material maintains its elastic properties after deflection.
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 described screw system enhances the stability and efficiency of bone implantation by ensuring correct engagement and maintaining a secure connection, reducing the risk of screw backout and improving the overall retention mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one deflecting portion is configured to undergo inward deflection during insertion through the securing hole in the implant and wherein at least one deflecting portion may remain deflected following insertion
Data Source
AI summary
An implant system is disclosed. The implant system includes a securing member configured to fasten an implant to a bone. The securing member includes a drive receiving portion with at least two deflecting portions that are configured to undergo inward deflection during insertion of the securing member into a securing hole of the implant. The deflecting portions also include locking protrusions that are configured to engage locking recesses on an outer rim of the securing hole.