Mandibular Fixation Plate with Tool Engagement Notch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mandibular bone fixation plates are difficult to manipulate during orthognathic surgeries due to their flat shape, leading to stress and potential displacement, which increases the risk of injury to the patient during positioning.
Innovation Solution
A mandibular bone fixation plate with an elongated shape and specific design features, including a notch on the front side for cooperation with an ancillary tool, allowing for easier handling and positioning without risking patient injury, along with a kit comprising a plate and ancillary for precise placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the plate is made flat for easy manufacturing, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because the practitioner must bend the plate during surgery, creating stresses and shifting risks
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is designed with a pre-formed curvature that matches the anatomical contour of the mandible, eliminating the need for bending during surgery. This curved design allows the plate to adapt to the patient's anatomy without creating stresses or shifting risks associated with post-manufacturing bending.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate incorporates a notch that segments the front side structure, creating a specific engagement point for the ancillary tool. This segmentation enables precise manipulation and positioning of the plate during surgery while maintaining the overall structural integrity and pre-formed shape.
2Ease of operation
If the practitioner uses pliers or screwdriver to manipulate the plate for positioning, then ease of operation is improved, but object-affected harmful factors worsen due to limited space and risk of injuring the patient
Solution Approach 1:
An ancillary tool is introduced as an intermediary device between the practitioner and the plate. This ancillary engages with the notch on the plate, providing a safe and effective means of manipulation that eliminates the need to use pliers or screwdrivers near the patient's mouth, thereby removing the injury risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The notch provides a new dimensional engagement point on the plate's front side, allowing the ancillary tool to interact with the plate from a different spatial dimension. This enables safe manipulation without requiring the practitioner to insert tools into the limited space within the patient's mouth.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the plate is designed with mirror image shapes for right and left sides, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity worsens due to multiple plate variants
Solution Approach 1:
The plate design incorporates asymmetric features, including the position and orientation of the notch, that are specifically configured for either the right or left side of the mandible. This asymmetric design provides side-specific adaptability while maintaining a unified plate structure, reducing the complexity of managing multiple symmetric variants.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1D
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~6A
AI summary
The present invention relates to a plate for fixing jawbones, with elongate shape, having an inner surface (40) intended for engaging with the jawbones and an opposing outer surface. The plate includes a front side (42) and a rear side (43) connected by a bottom side (44) and a top side (45), and wherein at least three openings (46 to 49) are bored, at least one opening (46, 47) at the rear of the plate, one opening (48) at the front of the plate and one oblong opening (49) located between the at least one rear opening (47) and the front opening (48) and extending substantially in the longitudinal direction L. The plate includes a notch (5) provided in the front side (42) of the plate, said notch being arranged to engage with the distal end of an ancillary tool.