Flexible Bone Alignment Implant for Growth Plate Realignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for realigning angular and rotational deformities in long bones, such as osteotomy and epiphyseal stapling, are invasive and risk damaging active growth plates, with existing staples being rigid and prone to fracture or deformation, complicating placement and stability during bone realignment.

Innovation Solution

An orthopedic bone alignment implant system using a guide wire to locate the growth plate, with a link and bone fasteners that function as tethers between bone segments, allowing controlled growth and rotation to guide bone alignment without disrupting the physis, featuring flexible components to accommodate movement and reduce the risk of implant failure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rigid epiphyseal staples are used to constrain bone growth for realignment, then the bone can be guided to realign over time, but the implants are prone to fracture or deformation under bone growth forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplant stabilityVSAvoidresistance to bone growth forces

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the mechanical parameter of the implant from rigid to flexible. The flexible implant can deform elastically under bone growth forces rather than fracturing, while still maintaining its constraining function. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by allowing the implant to withstand bone growth forces without breaking while continuing to guide realignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a static rigid staple to a dynamic flexible implant that can adapt its shape and flexibility in response to bone growth forces. The implant's flexibility allows it to dynamically accommodate the changing mechanical environment during bone realignment, reducing stress concentrations that lead to fracture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If rigid epiphyseal staples are used to constrain bone growth, then realignment can be achieved, but the planning and placement become overly complicated due to constraints on implant stiffness and strength

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverealignment effectivenessVSAvoidplacement planning complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By changing the implant material parameter from rigid to flexible, the patent eliminates the need for complex calculations regarding implant stiffness and strength. The flexible nature of the implant provides inherent mechanical compliance, simplifying the selection and placement process while maintaining realignment effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If rigid epiphyseal staples are used to constrain bone growth, then the bone can realign, but the implants can deform and weaken the bone-to-implant interface, risking migration and soft tissue damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverealignment outcomeVSAvoidimplant migration risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the mechanical parameter of the implant from rigid to flexible, which fundamentally alters how the implant interacts with bone growth forces. The flexible implant distributes stresses more evenly, preventing the deformation and interface weakening that occurs with rigid implants, thereby reducing migration risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible implant acts as a cushioning element that absorbs and dissipates bone growth forces before they can cause damage to the bone-to-implant interface. This beforehand cushioning prevents the harmful effects of stress concentration and interface weakening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Manufacturing precision

If osteotomy is performed to realign bones, then bone alignment can be corrected, but the procedure is invasive and risks damaging active growth plates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone alignment correctionVSAvoidgrowth plate damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the realignment function from the invasive osteotomy procedure and implements it through a less invasive epiphyseal stapling method. By placing the implant across the growth plate rather than cutting the bone, the patent achieves bone realignment while avoiding damage to the growth plate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible implant serves as an intermediary mechanism that achieves bone realignment without direct bone cutting. The implant mediates the realignment process by constraining growth on one side of the growth plate, allowing the bone to realign through differential growth while protecting the growth plate from surgical trauma.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7811312B2Bone alignment implant and method of use

Publication Date: 2010.10.12 MORPHOGRAPHICS L C

AI summary

A bone alignment implant includes a first bone fastener with a first bone engager that is adapted for fixation into the metaphyseal bone and a second bone fastener with a second bone engager that is adapted for fixation into the metaphyseal bone. A link connecting the two fasteners spans across the physis. These implants act as a flexible tethers between the epiphyseal and the metaphyseal sections of bone during bone growth. These implants are designed to adjust and deform during the bone realignment process. When placed on the convex side of the deformity, the implant allows the bone on the concave side of the deformity to grow. During the growth process the bone is then realigned. A similar procedure is used to correct torsional deformities.