Navicular-Cuneiform Bone Fixation With Guided Screw Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions for fusing the navicular-cuneiform joint, such as interfrag screws and plates, face challenges of rigidity, interference, and difficulty in screw placement, particularly in a small area, necessitating improved bone fixation systems and methods.
Innovation Solution
A bone fusion system involving a template, alignment guide apparatus, and bone screws is used to prepare and secure a plate at the navicular-cuneiform joint, ensuring precise alignment and fixation without interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple interfrag screws are used to fuse the navicular-cuneiform joint, then the joint fusion is achieved, but screw interference and difficulty in placement occur in the small area
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation system is divided into modular components: a plate with multiple screw holes and separate interfrag screws. This segmentation allows the plate to be positioned first as a guide, and then screws are placed in sequence without interference, as each screw hole is defined by the plate's geometry rather than requiring precise freehand placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate serves as an intermediary tool during the surgical procedure. It is temporarily positioned on the navicular-cuneiform joint to define the exact locations for screw insertion, eliminating the need for multiple separate placement attempts. The plate acts as a mediator between the surgeon's intent and the final screw configuration.
2Strength
If a plate system is used to fuse the navicular-cuneiform joint, then rigidity is improved, but screw interference occurs when placing multiple screws in a small area
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is designed with discrete, separately located screw holes that are spaced to avoid interference. Each screw hole is an independent feature of the plate, allowing screws to be placed without risk of collision. This segmentation of the screw placement locations resolves the interference problem while maintaining the plate's overall rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate provides a two-dimensional surface that spreads out the screw placement locations across its area. By distributing screw holes in different dimensions (longitudinally and laterally) across the plate surface, the system avoids three-dimensional interference between screws while maintaining rigid fixation.
3Reliability
If interfrag screws are used to compress multiple joints, then joint fusion is achieved, but the construct is less rigid than plate systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the advantages of both interfrag screws and plate systems by combining them into a single integrated construct. The plate provides the rigid framework, while the interfrag screws provide compression across multiple joints. This merging creates a hybrid fixation system that achieves both rigidity and comprehensive joint fusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides rigid fixation, defines screw placement locations, and works in conjunction with interfrag screws to compress multiple joints. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve both the rigidity of a plate system and the comprehensive fusion of interfrag screw systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
Guides, implants, devices, instruments, systems, and assemblies for achieving bone fusion are disclosed. A bone fusion system, including an implant template, a guide wire for insertion through the implant template, a plate for receiving the guide wire, and an alignment guide apparatus for coupling to the plate. Methods of using a bone fusion system for achieving bone fusion are also disclosed.