Dynamic Bone Fracture Plate With Spring Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bone plates used for stabilizing fractures have a high modulus of elasticity, limiting their ability to apply controlled compressive forces, which can impede bone healing, and typically bear most of the stress rather than the bone, hindering the healing process.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic bone fracture plate assembly comprising a female and male plate portion connected by a spring mechanism, allowing for linear movement and adjustable compressive force application, with ratchet teeth and pawls for locking and unlocking positions, enabling controlled compression and stabilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional rigid metal bone plates are used, then stabilization and fracture fixation are achieved, but the high modulus of elasticity limits the ability to apply controlled compressive force and impairs bone healing
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate incorporates a dynamic element (spring mechanism) that allows the plate to transition from a static rigid structure to a dynamic system capable of controlled movement and compression. The spring allows the plate to apply gradual, controlled compressive forces while maintaining stabilization, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the mechanical parameters of the bone plate by introducing a spring mechanism with specific stiffness characteristics. This allows the plate to exhibit different mechanical behaviors (rigid stabilization vs. controlled compression) depending on the loading conditions, enabling both stabilization and controlled compression capabilities.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional static bone plates are used, then structural stability is maintained, but the ability to provide controlled compressive load across the fracture is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The static bone plate is transformed into a dynamic system by adding a spring mechanism that can gradually apply compressive forces. The spring allows controlled force application while maintaining overall structural stability, enabling the plate to provide both stability and controlled compression.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring acts as an intermediary element between the rigid bone plate structure and the fracture site. It mediates the force transmission, allowing controlled compression to be applied gradually while the rigid plate maintains structural stability. The spring translates the rigid plate's structural integrity into controlled compressive loading.
3Reliability
If rigid metal plates with high modulus of elasticity are used, then fracture fixation is achieved, but most stress is borne by the plate rather than the bone, hindering the healing process
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the stiffness parameter of the bone plate system by introducing a compliant spring element. This allows the overall system to have lower effective stiffness, enabling stress to be transferred to the bone rather than being shielded by the rigid plate. The spring's compliance parameter is selected to optimize stress transfer while maintaining fixation reliability.
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 dynamic bone fracture plate assembly applies a controlled compressive load to facilitate bone healing by distributing stress more effectively across the fracture site, promoting rapid healing and stabilization.
Implementation Method 1
A spring dynamically connects the plate portions by applying a compressive load therebetween
Implementation Method 2
The arm has a plurality of ratchet teeth grouped together... and a pawl for engaging the ratchet teeth
Data Source
AI summary
A bone fracture plate assembly including female and male plate portions. The female plate portion has a post, a female dovetail, and an extending arm with a group of ratchet teeth. The male plate portion has two upstanding posts, a male dovetail for coupling to the female dovetail so that the plate portions move linearly with respect to each other, a slot for the arm, and a pawl for engaging the ratchet teeth. A spring, coupled to the posts of the plate portions, dynamically connects the plate portions by applying a compressive load therebetween. The spring has a pair of elongated ears, each defining a slot to allow for relative movement of the plate portions. The ratchet teeth are engaged by the pawl to retain the plate portions together, and the spring mounts on the posts of the plate portions such that the spring biases the plate portions together.