Internal Beam Plate Structure for Stronger Bone Fusion Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical devices lack effective methods for stabilizing and aligning bones or bone fragments during procedures like arthrodesis and bone fracture, particularly in correcting bone abnormalities such as bunions and fractures, with a focus on enhancing strength and stiffness at fusion sites.
Innovation Solution
The use of internal beam plates with integrated beams and associated cutting/prep guides that allow for precise bone preparation and fixation, including a single-piece structure with a protruding beam for increased strength and rigidity, and surgical methods involving K-wires and cutting devices for repositioning and fixing bones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional bone plates are used for stabilization, then bones can be fixed, but the strength and stiffness across fusion sites are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate is divided into distinct segments: a plate body portion and a beam portion. The beam portion extends from the plate body and is specifically designed to receive a beam implant, creating a segmented structure that distributes mechanical loads more effectively across the fusion site while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a third dimension to traditional bone plates by incorporating a vertical beam portion that extends perpendicular to the plate body. This dimensional addition creates a three-dimensional structural framework that significantly increases stiffness and strength across the fusion site compared to conventional two-dimensional plates.
2Measurement precision
If bone alignment tools are introduced, then positioning precision improves, but the number of instruments and procedure complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting/prep guide combines multiple functional elements into a single integrated instrument: it includes guide slots for K-wire positioning, channels for cutting tool guidance, and reference surfaces for bone alignment. This merging of functions into one device achieves precise bone alignment without requiring multiple separate instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting/prep guide is designed to perform preliminary alignment and positioning actions before the actual cutting or implant placement. By establishing precise bone positioning and alignment in advance through the guide's reference surfaces and guide slots, subsequent surgical steps can proceed more efficiently with fewer additional instruments required.
Data Source
AI summary
Internal beam plates and associated instrumentation may be utilized for performing arthrodesis procedures, bone fracture procedures, osteotomy procedures, etc. Exemplary surgical methods that may be performed using the internal beam plates and associated instrumentation include, but are not limited to, lapidus bunionectomy procedures, metatarsophalangeal (MTP) procedures, chevron procedures, fracture repair procedures, etc. The exemplary internal beam plates incorporate an integral beam that is configured to increase strength and stiffness across a fusion site. The exemplary cutting/prep guides are configured to allow surgeons to reduce, prepare, and cut bones for receiving the beam of the internal beam plate using one or more guides.