Divergent Leg Orthopedic Fasteners for Uniform Bone Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for compressing bone portions or bone and implant together in orthopedic procedures lack efficient solutions for achieving stable fixation and uniform compression, particularly in osteotomies and arthrodesis, which can lead to complications such as bone migration and inadequate healing.
Innovation Solution
The development of specialized fasteners and instruments, including divergent leg fasteners and hole forming guides, that allow for precise alignment and compression of bone portions, with features like divergent inboard surfaces and adjustable leg lengths to accommodate varying bone thicknesses, ensuring uniform compression and resistance to migration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fasteners with parallel legs are used, then the device structure is simple, but uniform compression and resistance to bone migration are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener employs asymmetric leg configurations with divergent inboard surfaces that angle toward each other, creating non-parallel geometry. This asymmetry enables the legs to converge and compress bone portions uniformly while resisting migration, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inboard surfaces of the legs are specifically engineered with divergent geometry and variable thickness profiles (thicker at distal ends, thinner at proximal ends). This localized variation in structural properties allows the fastener to achieve uniform compression at the bone interface while maintaining overall structural integrity, addressing the reliability requirement without excessive complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed leg length fasteners are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but adaptability to varying bone thicknesses is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener design incorporates variable leg lengths and adjustable positioning mechanisms that allow the same fastener type to accommodate different bone thicknesses. The legs can be positioned at different depths and angles, changing the effective compression parameters to match specific anatomical requirements, thereby achieving adaptability without requiring entirely different fastener designs for each case.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener system allows for dynamic adjustment of leg positioning and compression force during implantation. The legs can be independently positioned and the compression degree can be adjusted intraoperatively, providing adaptability to varying bone thicknesses while maintaining a standardized fastener body design that simplifies manufacturing.
3Reliability
If compression is applied during osteotomy or arthrodesis, then healing is facilitated, but bone migration and inadequate fixation may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is designed to establish preliminary stable fixation through its divergent leg geometry that engages bone portions before full compression is applied. The legs are positioned to prevent migration pathways in advance, and the compression mechanism is activated only after proper positioning is confirmed, thereby preventing harmful effects while achieving the desired compression for healing.
Solution Approach 2:
The divergent leg configuration creates preliminary counter-forces that resist bone migration before compression is fully engaged. The geometry of the inboard surfaces is designed to oppose potential migration directions, providing preliminary anti-action against harmful movements while enabling subsequent uniform compression to facilitate healing.
4Reliability
If permanent fixation devices are used, then stable fixation is achieved, but tissue irritation and removal difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener incorporates dynamic features such as adjustable leg positioning and compression mechanisms that can be reversed or released. This allows the device to provide stable fixation during the healing period while enabling easy removal afterward by reversing the compression action or disengaging the legs, thereby reducing tissue irritation and simplifying removal procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples of the invention relate to methods, implants, and instruments for compressing first and second bone portions or a bone portion and an implant together.