Expandable Wedge Implant with Pivoting Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wedge implants for osteotomies lack the ability to adjust to variations in bone resection and patient anatomy, limiting their effectiveness in fitting and supporting the bone joint.
Innovation Solution
An expandable wedge implant with pivotally coupled components and an expansion control mechanism, utilizing a threaded shaft and ball system to allow for height adjustment, along with anchoring members like bone screws for secure fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-size wedge implant is used to fill the wedge-shaped void, then the implant structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to variations in bone resection and patient anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into two separate components: a wedge-shaped base component and a movable cover component. The base component remains fixed while the cover component can pivot independently, allowing the implant to adapt to anatomical variations without requiring the entire structure to be complex or adjustable.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover component is designed to pivot relative to the base component around a pivot axis, transforming the static implant into a dynamic structure. This pivoting motion allows the implant to accommodate variations in wedge void geometry and patient anatomy while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the wedge implant needs to accommodate variations in wedge void geometry, then adaptability improves, but the risk of intraoperative fracture increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implant components are designed with predetermined geometric features including the pivot axis location, component thicknesses, and structural reinforcements. These preliminary design decisions optimize the implant's ability to accommodate anatomical variations while maintaining structural integrity and minimizing fracture risk during insertion and adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the implant components have different structural properties optimized for their specific functions. The base component has enhanced structural features in critical areas to prevent fracture, while the cover component has optimized geometry for pivoting and adaptation, allowing localized strength where needed without compromising overall adaptability.
3Reliability
If anchoring members are inserted through the implant components, then fixation stability improves, but the complexity of the implant system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anchoring members serve multiple functions: they secure the cover component to the base component, provide additional structural support to prevent fracture, and facilitate the pivoting motion. This multi-functionality allows the implant system to achieve high fixation stability without requiring separate components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity.
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 expandable wedge implant effectively adapts to the wedge-shaped void created by osteotomy, providing adjustable support and stability to the bone joint, accommodating anatomical variations and enhancing the implant's fitting precision.
Implementation Method 1
The expansion control construct has a threaded shaft extending between first and second ends of the first component, and a threaded ball received on the threaded shaft. Rotation of the threaded shaft linearly translates the threaded ball along the threaded shaft
Implementation Method 2
The expandable wedge implant has first and second components that are pivotally coupled to one another, and an expansion control construct that effects implant height change by pivotal movement between the first and second constructs
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable wedge implant for wedge osteotomies of the extremities has first and second components which are pivotally attached to each other such that up and down pivoting of the two components relative to one another causes increase and decrease of implant height. A pivot control structure is operably coupled to and between the two components to effect pivoting. Linear movement of a threaded ball on a threaded shaft associated with the first component while the threaded ball is concurrently constrained within an angled channel of the second component causes pivoting of the second component relative to the first component. Anchoring members associated with the first and second components attach the implant to adjacent vertebral bodies.