Interconnected Bone Implants for Fracture Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current joint replacement and fracture repair systems lack sufficient implant stability and interoperability, particularly in cases involving fractures of the greater trochanter following hip replacement or revision procedures.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a fastener spanning the fracture, an intramedullary nail with a nail receiver, and a bone plate that includes a plate aperture to receive the fastener, allowing for lateral motion and featuring adjustable attachment interfaces to secure the bone plate to the intramedullary nail, with threadable engagement to stabilize and compress the fracture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a bone plate is used to secure the greater trochanter, then stability of the implant is improved, but the lateral motion of the fastener through the greater trochanter may be blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate is divided into a proximal portion and a distal portion that are separable from each other. The proximal portion can be removed or repositioned independently, allowing the fastener to maintain lateral motion capability while the distal portion provides stable fixation to the greater trochanter. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing different parts of the implant to serve different functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The bone plate is designed with flexible or movable connections between the proximal and distal portions, allowing dynamic adjustment during surgery. The proximal portion can be positioned to avoid blocking the fastener's lateral motion path, while still providing stable fixation when needed. This dynamic design enables the implant to adapt to different surgical requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate implants are used for joint replacement and fracture repair, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate is integrated with the intramedullary nail through attachment interfaces, merging two separate implants into a unified system. This integration maintains versatility for both joint replacement and fracture repair applications while reducing operational complexity by eliminating the need to manage completely separate implant systems. The combined system shares common components and attachment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The intramedullary nail and bone plate are designed with universal attachment interfaces that can accommodate various fastener types and configurations. The system can be adapted for different fracture patterns and joint replacement scenarios using the same core components, improving versatility without requiring entirely different implant sets for each application.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for repairing a first fracture and a second fracture of a bone associated with a joint may include a fastener configured to span the first fracture. The fastener may include a first end, configured to engage the bone on a first side of the first fracture, and a second end, configured to engage the bone on a second side of the first fracture. The system may also include an intramedullary nail. The intramedullary nail may include a nail receiver configured to slidably receive the fastener. The system may further include a bone plate. The bone plate may include a plate aperture, configured to receive the fastener, and a bone engagement surface, securable to the bone on either side of the second fracture. With the fastener slidably received in the nail receiver, a longitudinal axis of the fastener may pass through the plate aperture.