3D-Printed Lattice Titanium Plate for Radiotherapy-Compatible Jaw Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional reconstruction plates for mandibular bone reconstruction interfere with radiation therapy planning and delivery, leading to issues such as osteoradionecrosis, local recurrence, and reconstructive failure due to unmodeled backscatter, which negatively impact patient pain, oral function, and quality of life.
Innovation Solution
A patient-specific, semi-radiolucent titanium lattice plate with a lattice structure and mounting holes, designed using computer-aided methods to optimize radiolucency and structural strength, minimizing radiation interference while providing biomechanical support, fabricated through 3D printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a traditional solid reconstruction plate is used for mandibular bone reconstruction, then structural strength and biomechanical support are provided, but radiation therapy planning and delivery are interfered with due to unmodeled backscatter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a lattice structure with porous characteristics to the reconstruction plate, creating a semi-radiolucent design that allows radiation to pass through while maintaining structural integrity. The lattice pattern provides both mechanical strength and radiolucency, resolving the contradiction between needing a strong plate and needing it to be radiolucent for therapy planning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite construction combining titanium material with a lattice structural pattern. This composite approach integrates the strength properties of titanium with the radiolucent geometry of the lattice structure, achieving both mechanical support and radiation transparency simultaneously.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a solid reconstruction plate is used to provide biomechanical support, then structural integrity is maintained, but accurate dose delivery during radiation therapy is compromised due to radiation scatter
Solution Approach 1:
The lattice structure creates a porous configuration that reduces radiation scatter while maintaining structural integrity. The open-cell design allows radiation beams to pass through with minimal interference, enabling accurate dose delivery to the tumor target while the plate continues to provide stable biomechanical support.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a radiolucent plate design is used to minimize radiation interference, then accurate dose delivery is enabled, but structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The lattice structure optimizes the balance between radiolucency and strength by creating a porous pattern that allows radiation passage while maintaining mechanical integrity through the geometric arrangement of struts and nodes. The porous design reduces radiation scatter without compromising the plate's ability to provide structural support.
4Reliability
If a custom patient-specific plate is designed to optimize radiolucency and strength, then dosimetric characteristics and structural strength are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses computational methods to optimize parameters of the lattice structure, such as cell size, strut thickness, and node configuration, to achieve desired dosimetric characteristics and structural strength. By systematically varying these parameters during the design phase, the complex custom plate can be optimized efficiently before manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
A plate for fixating bone, the plate comprising: a plurality of ribs defining a plurality of openings, wherein a first portion of the plurality of ribs define a lattice structure and a second portion of the plurality of ribs define at least four mounting holes. Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for tailoring a plate for fixating bone. The method can include determining an initial design of the plate. The method can include analyzing radiation through the initial design. The method can include determining, based on analyzed radiation, if dosimetric characteristics are desirable. The method can include analyzing structural strength of the initial design. The method can include determining, based on the analyzed structural strength, if structural strength is sufficient.