Modular Bone Plate With Interchangeable Inserts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bone plate systems have a limited field of application due to their specific design for particular types of bone injuries, restricting their versatility in treating various bone fragmentation cases.

Innovation Solution

A bone plate system featuring a bone plate with insert receiving portions that allow for the insertion of anatomically pre-shaped inserts, which can be releasably secured and configured for different bone contact areas, enabling a wider range of applications by providing adjustable contact surfaces and independent fixation mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If bone plates are designed for specific types of injuries, then fixation reliability is improved, but adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation reliabilityVSAvoidadaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The bone plate is divided into modular components: a base plate with receiving portions and interchangeable inserts. Each insert can be independently selected and attached to match specific injury patterns, allowing the system to maintain reliable fixation for each injury type while adapting to different clinical scenarios through component interchangeability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base plate is designed with multiple receiving portions that can accommodate different types of inserts (e.g., contact inserts, non-contact inserts, inserts with varying contact areas). This universal receiving structure allows a single base plate design to serve multiple injury types and treatment approaches, resolving the contradiction between specialized fixation reliability and general adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If inserts are releasably secured in insert receiving portions, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insert removal function is extracted as a separate, simple operation: a surgical instrument is inserted through the base plate to directly disengage the insert from its receiving portion. This extraction of the release mechanism as a simple, dedicated action minimizes the added complexity while preserving full adaptability for insert exchange.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A removable insert acts as an intermediary element between the base plate and the bone surface. It provides the adaptive contact interface while being independently exchangeable, allowing the system to adapt to different bone surfaces without complicating the overall fixation mechanism. The insert mediates between the fixed base plate structure and the variable surgical requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3278752B1Bone plate system with inserts for contacting an adjacent bone surface
Publication Date: 2022.05.25 STRYKER EUROPEAN OPERATIONS HOLDINGS LLC
  • EP3278752B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1d
  • EP3278752B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3278752B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a bone plate system, comprising: a bone plate having a bone facing side, a front side being arranged substantially opposite to and facing away from the bone facing side, and at least one insert receiving portion, the bone plate system further comprising at least one insert defining a contacting region for contacting an adjacent bone surface and being releasably receivable in said insert receiving portion, wherein the insert is insertable into the insert receiving portion from the bone facing side.