Orthopedic Stabilization Implant With Modular Ball-and-Socket Joint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthopedic plates often mismatch the bone contour, leading to increased stress concentration at the fracture site and complicating surgical operations due to shape discrepancies.
Innovation Solution
An implant comprising a first plate with a stem and ball, a second plate with a cavity, and an interconnecting plate forming a ball and socket joint, allowing for partial mobility and flexibility to accommodate complex bone contours.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If pre-contoured plates matching the shape of the bone are used, then the shape match between bone and plate is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and difficulty of achieving precise contour matching increase
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into multiple modular components (plates, stems, interconnecting elements) that can be independently manufactured and then assembled. This segmentation allows each component to be produced using standard manufacturing processes while the overall system achieves complex contour matching through modular configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant incorporates movable joints and articulating elements that allow dynamic adjustment of the implant configuration to match the complex contours of the bone. This dynamic adaptability enables the implant to conform to varying bone shapes without requiring custom manufacturing for each specific contour.
2Ease of manufacture
If straight metal plates are used for bone stabilization, then the manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but the ability to accommodate complex bone contours deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The implant system is segmented into multiple standardized components that can be assembled in various configurations. This allows the use of simple manufacturing processes for each individual component while achieving complex overall shapes through modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular implant components are designed with universal interfaces and standardized geometries that allow the same basic components to be used for different bone contours and locations. This universality maintains manufacturing simplicity while providing adaptability to various anatomical shapes.
3Strength
If the bone has to bear increased stress due to shape mismatch, then the structural integrity of the plate is maintained, but the stress concentration at the fracture location increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implant design distributes mechanical stress evenly across the bone-implant interface by using contoured surfaces that match the bone geometry. This equipotential distribution of stress prevents concentration at specific fracture locations while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant features locally adapted contours and geometries at the bone interface that match the specific bone shape at each location. This local quality matching ensures optimal stress distribution across different regions of the implant-bone interface, preventing stress concentration while maintaining plate strength.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an implant (100) for orthopedic stabilization. The implant (100) facilitates partial mobility between a pair of bones of a joint. The implant includes a first plate (10) on operative portion of first bone of the joint, a stem (15) extending from operative surface of first plate (10), a ball (42) formed on operative end of stem (15). A second plate (20) mounted on operative portion of second bone of the joint. The first cavity (44) configured on operative surface of second plate (20). An interconnecting plate (30) mounted on operative portion of second plate (20). The second cavity (45) configured on operative portion of interconnecting plate (30). A recess is formed by attaching second plate (20) and interconnecting plate (30). The recess configured to receive ball (42) therein facilitates partial mobility between the pair of bones in operative configuration of implant (100).