Orthopaedic Implant Plug Structure for Joint Compression-Distraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fusion surgeries using orthopaedic implants often result in unnatural biomechanics due to excessive shortening of bones and inadequate compression at the fusion site, leading to potential failure of bone fusion.
Innovation Solution
An orthopaedic implant system featuring a plug opening larger than fixation openings, allowing a plug to be inserted to cause compression distraction of bones, maintaining length integrity and supporting fusion across the joint line.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plate is used to perform fusion surgery, then the bones can be fused together, but the plate must cross over the natural joint space causing excessive shortening of bones and unnatural biomechanics
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into distinct components: a plate portion for fixation and a separate plug portion for maintaining bone length. The plug is inserted through a plug opening in the plate, allowing independent function of each component. This segmentation enables the plate to provide fixation while the plug maintains the joint space and prevents bone shortening.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug acts as an intermediary element between the two bones at the fusion site. It is inserted through the plate structure and provides distraction force to maintain the joint space, mediating between the fixation function of the plate and the length maintenance requirement. The graft material within the plug serves as a mediator to promote fusion while maintaining spacing.
2Ease of manufacture
If fusion surgery is performed without adequate compression, then the procedure is simpler, but fusion between bones may not occur due to lack of compression at the fusion site
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is designed to be dynamically adjustable in terms of compression force. Different plug sizes and configurations can be selected to provide appropriate distraction and compression forces. The plug can be inserted to varying depths to achieve the desired compression effect, allowing dynamic adaptation to different patient anatomies and fusion requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for parameter changes in compression force through selection of different plug diameters, lengths, and graft material types. The plug opening diameter in the plate can be varied to accommodate different plug sizes, enabling adjustment of the compression/distraction parameters to optimize both surgical simplicity and fusion reliability.
3Length of moving object
If the plug opening is made larger to accept the plug for compression distraction, then bone length integrity is maintained, but the plug opening diameter becomes greater than fixation openings requiring additional structural consideration
Solution Approach 1:
The plate structure is designed with multi-functionality: it provides fixation through screw holes, maintains bone length through the plug opening, and supports the plug insertion. The same plate structure serves multiple purposes, reducing the need for additional separate components and minimizing overall device complexity despite the larger plug opening.
Data Source
AI summary
An orthopaedic implant system includes an orthopaedic implant having a plurality of fixation openings and a plug opening defining a plug opening diameter that is greater than a diameter of any of the fixation openings. The plurality of fixation openings include at least one first fixation opening configured to accept a fixation element inserted in a first bone and at least one second fixation opening configured to accept a fixation element inserted in a second bone. The plug opening is configured to accept a plug inserted in a joint space between the first bone and the second bone to cause compression distraction of the first bone and the second bone.