Dynamic Bone Fixation Element With Textured Shaft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rigid bone fixation methods often lead to excessive stress on bones, hindering proper healing and callus formation, as they restrict micro-movement necessary for bone fragments to align and fuse effectively.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic bone fixation system comprising a bone engaging component with a lumen and a load carrier engaging component, allowing for micro-movement by incorporating a shaft portion with a press fit connection and textured surfaces, enabling parallel movement of bone fragments across a fracture site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If rigid fixation is used to stabilize bone fragments, then stability is improved, but stress on the bone increases and micro-movement is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation element incorporates a lumen with a shaft portion that allows dynamic movement between the bone engaging component and load carrier engaging component. This dynamic structure enables controlled micro-movement of bone fragments while maintaining stability, resolving the contradiction between rigid stability and flexible stress distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The lumen diameter is designed to be greater than the shaft portion diameter, creating a specific clearance that allows controlled movement. This parameter change enables the system to transition from rigid to semi-rigid fixation, reducing stress while maintaining adequate stability for bone healing.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid fixation is used to stabilize bone fragments, then stability is improved, but micro-movement necessary for healing is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation element incorporates a lumen with a shaft portion that allows dynamic movement between the bone engaging component and load carrier engaging component. This dynamic structure enables controlled micro-movement of bone fragments while maintaining stability, resolving the contradiction between rigid stability and flexible stress distribution.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the lumen diameter is increased to allow shaft movement, then micro-movement capability is improved, but connection strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The lumen diameter is designed to be greater than the shaft portion diameter, creating a specific clearance that allows controlled movement. This parameter change enables the system to transition from rigid to semi-rigid fixation, reducing stress while maintaining adequate stability for bone healing.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixation element combines different functional components (bone engaging component with threads, lumen, shaft portion, and load carrier engaging component) into a composite structure. Each component is optimized for its specific function, with the threaded portion providing strong bone anchorage and the lumen-shaft interface providing controlled movement capability.
4Reliability
If textured surfaces are added to the shaft portion to increase contact pressure, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Textured surfaces are applied locally to specific portions of the shaft portion rather than the entire surface. This localized texturing increases contact pressure and connection reliability at critical interfaces while minimizing the overall complexity of the device structure.
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
Facilitates better bone healing by allowing micro-movement, promoting callus formation and reducing stress on bones, while maintaining stability through a secure press fit and textured surface contact, enhancing the integration of bone fragments.
Implementation Method 1
The textured surfaces are preferably elastically deformable so that the textured surfaces deform as the shaft portion is being inserted into the lumen. Thereafter the textured surfaces preferably return to their larger original size so that the textured surface press against the inner surface of the lumen to increase a contact pressure between the outer surface of the shaft portion and the inner surface of the lumen.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to dynamic bone fixation elements and a surgical method to stabilize bone or bone fragments. The dynamic bone fixation elements preferably include a bone engaging component and a load carrier engaging component. The bone engaging component preferably includes a plurality of threads for engaging a patient's bone and a lumen. The load carrier engaging component preferably includes a head portion for engaging a load carrier (e.g., bone plate) and a shaft portion. The shaft portion preferably at least partially extends into the lumen. Preferably at least a portion of an outer surface of the shaft portion is spaced away from at least a portion of an inner surface of the lumen via a gap so that the head portion can move with respect to the bone engaging component. The distal end of the shaft portion is preferably coupled to the lumen.