Flexible Bone Anchorage With Rigid Backup Against Pullout
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bone anchorage systems exhibit issues such as excessive rigidity, propensity for pulling out from bone, and weakening, leading to suboptimal healing and possible corrective surgeries, particularly in spinal and long bone applications.
Innovation Solution
A bone anchoring system featuring a flexible member with a fixation element and a rigid member that can withstand lateral tension, where the flexible member is designed to fail before the rigid member, utilizing a tensioning mechanism for limited access and iterative correction, and includes a cannulated bone screw or grommet for far cortex fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid fixators (rods, plates) are used to provide stability for bone healing, then mechanical support and stability are improved, but excessive rigidity causes pulling out from bone, weakening, and destabilization of fixation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the rigidity parameter of the fixation system by introducing a telescoping mechanism that allows the distal segment to move relative to the proximal segment. This controlled movement transforms the system from completely rigid to semi-rigid, reducing stress concentration and preventing pullout while maintaining adequate mechanical support for bone healing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic elements through the telescoping mechanism with movable connections between segments. This allows the fixation device to adapt to bone healing processes and accommodate physiological movements, preventing destabilization while providing necessary mechanical support throughout the healing process.
2Stability of the object's composition
If far cortex fixation is used to reduce stiffness of the anchoring system, then flexibility and reduced stress on bone are improved, but fixation strength and stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the fixation device into multiple segments (proximal and distal segments) connected by a telescoping mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to contribute differently to the overall fixation - the far cortex anchors provide flexibility and stress distribution, while the segmented structure maintains adequate fixation strength through the interconnected components.
Data Source
AI summary
A bone anchoring system having a flexible member with a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A fastener provided at a first end of the flexible member for retaining the flexible member within a bone. A rigid member is provided to ensure movement or pull-through of the flexible member does not occur.