Medial Column Bone Plate with Variable Angle Holes and Compression Slots

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conditions such as Charcot foot and severe arthritis weaken bones and cause joints to collapse, leading to foot deformities that make walking difficult, and existing bone plates do not effectively stabilize the medial column of the foot.

Innovation Solution

A bone plate designed for the medial column of the foot with variable angle holes and compression slots to allow for independent compression of joints, enabling precise alignment and stabilization of the navicular, medial cuneiform, and first metatarsal bones.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing bone plates are used to fix bones of the foot, then bone fixation is achieved, but the joints cannot be independently compressed and alignment precision is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejoint stabilizationVSAvoidindependent joint compression capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bone plate is divided into multiple portions (proximal, middle, distal) with separate compression slots for each joint space. This segmentation allows independent compression of each joint while maintaining overall structural integrity, directly resolving the contradiction between reliable stabilization and ease of independent joint compression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The compression slots are designed to allow dynamic adjustment and independent compression of each joint space. The slots enable the surgeon to apply compression forces independently to each joint, providing dynamic control over joint stabilization rather than rigid fixed compression, thus improving both reliability and operational ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If fixed angle holes are used in bone plates, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different bone angles and patient anatomy is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone plate fabricationVSAvoidalignment customization

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The bone plate combines both fixed angle holes (for standardized fixation points) and variable angle holes (for customizable alignment). This merging of fixed and variable features allows the plate to be manufactured with precision while simultaneously adapting to different bone angles and patient anatomies, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bone plate is designed with multi-functional hole configurations that can accommodate different screw angles and orientations. The variable angle holes provide universal adaptability to various anatomical configurations, while the fixed angle holes provide standardized manufacturing benefits, making the plate versatile for different clinical scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If compression slots are added to enable independent joint compression, then joint stabilization is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejoint compression capabilityVSAvoidbone plate structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The compression slots are strategically placed only in the middle portion of the bone plate where joint compression is clinically needed. This localized addition of complexity only where necessary improves joint stabilization without unnecessarily complicating the entire device structure, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Adaptability or versatility

If variable angle holes are used throughout the bone plate, then adaptability to different anatomies is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanatomical customizationVSAvoidhole angle variability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making all holes variable angle (which would maximize adaptability but also maximize manufacturing complexity), the design uses variable angle holes only where anatomical variation is most critical and fixed angle holes where standardization is sufficient. This partial application of variable angle features provides adequate anatomical customization while maintaining reasonable manufacturing precision requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3157450B1Medial column fusion plates

Publication Date: 2020.01.08 DEPUY SYNTHES PROD INC

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AI summary

A medial column bone Plate includes (a) first portion (FP) which, when Plate is positioned along a medial column of a foot in a desired position, extends along a navicular, FP including first variable angle holes extending therethrough, each of first variable angle holes receives a bone fixation element therethrough at a user-selected angle relative to a central axis thereof; (b) second portion (SP) extending distally from FP so that when Plate is in the desired position, SP extends along a medial cuneiform, SP including at least one second variable angle hole receiving the element therein and a first compression slot extending therethrough; and (c) third portion (TP) extending distally from SP so that TP extends along a first metatarsal of the medial column in the desired position, TP including a third variable angle hole receiving the element therein and a second compression slot extending therethrough.