Orthopaedic Implant Plug Opening for Joint Compression-Distraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Fusion surgeries often result in unnatural biomechanics due to excessive shortening of bones and inadequate compression at the fusion site, leading to potential failure of bone fusion.
Innovation Solution
An orthopaedic implant system featuring a plug opening larger than fixation openings, allowing a plug to be inserted to cause compression distraction of bones, maintaining length integrity and supporting fusion across the joint line.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plate is used to perform fusion surgery, then the bones can be fused together, but the overall length of the involved bones is excessively shortened
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into multiple functional segments: compression-distraction screws for length adjustment, a plate for structural support, and a graft for bone fusion. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, maintaining bone length through the screws while enabling fusion through the graft.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression-distraction screws provide dynamic adjustment capability, allowing the surgeon to control the compression force and distraction force applied to the bone ends. This dynamic control enables precise length maintenance during the fusion process, preventing excessive shortening while ensuring proper contact for fusion.
2Reliability
If compression is not applied at the fusion site, then bone fusion may not occur, but excessive compression can lead to unnatural biomechanics
Solution Approach 1:
The compression-distraction screws provide controlled feedback mechanisms that allow the surgeon to apply and adjust compression forces in real-time during surgery. The screw mechanism translates rotational motion into precise linear compression, enabling controlled application of force that maintains natural biomechanics while ensuring sufficient compression for fusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for parameter changes in compression force through the adjustable screw mechanism. The surgeon can modify the compression-distraction parameters during surgery to optimize both fusion conditions and biomechanical naturalness, transitioning between different compression levels as needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An orthopaedic implant system includes an orthopaedic implant having a plurality of fixation openings and a plug opening defining a plug opening diameter that is greater than a diameter of any of the fixation openings. The plurality of fixation openings include at least one first fixation opening configured to accept a fixation element inserted in a first bone and at least one second fixation opening configured to accept a fixation element inserted in a second bone. The plug opening is configured to accept a plug inserted in a joint space between the first bone and the second bone to cause compression distraction of the first bone and the second bone.