Osteotomy Plate Holding Portion Angular Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current osteotomy fixation plates fail to effectively realign and securely join bone sections after a closing-wedge osteotomy procedure, as the thin hinge of bone can twist or break, making it difficult to maintain the initial angular alignment of the proximal and distal bone sections.
Innovation Solution
A fixation plate with a design featuring a first and second fixation portion, where the second fixation portion includes a holding portion with arms that conform to the outer surface of the bone, providing a snug fit and indicating the correct angular orientation, and fastener holes for secure attachment, ensuring proper alignment and stability of the bone sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current fixation plates are used to secure bone sections, then the bone sections can be attached together, but the thin hinge of bone can twist or break making it difficult to maintain angular alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The holding portion's geometry is specifically designed to conform to the bone's outer surface at a predetermined angular orientation. By changing the geometric parameters of the holding portion to match the bone's curvature and shape, the system provides a snug fit that maintains proper angular alignment between bone sections, preventing twisting and making realignment straightforward.
2Ease of operation
If the thin hinge of bone is used to maintain alignment during closure, then the proximal and distal bone sections can be brought into abutment, but the thin hinge may twist or break
Solution Approach 1:
The holding portion is pre-configured with a geometry that matches the bone's outer surface at the desired predetermined angular orientation. This preliminary design ensures that when the bone sections are closed, the holding portion naturally guides and maintains the correct alignment, preventing the thin hinge from twisting or breaking during the closure process.
3Ease of manufacture
If current osteotomy techniques are used, then bone sections can be joined, but there is no solution to readily realign the bone sections if misalignment occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The holding portion's geometry automatically guides the bone section into the correct predetermined angular orientation through its snug fit with the bone's outer surface. This self-aligning feature eliminates the need for complex realignment procedures, allowing the bone sections to be readily realigned by simply repositioning them into the holding portion's conforming geometry.
Data Source
AI summary
A fixation plate for securing together adjacent first and second bone sections of a bone with a bone cut extending thereinbetween, the fixation plate comprising: a first fixation portion having a bone interface side superposable against the first bone section and a second fixation portion extending away from the first fixation portion, the second fixation portion including a holding portion shaped to conform to an outer surface of the second bone section when superposed thereto and when the first and second bone sections are at a predetermined angular orientation relative to each other such that a snug fit of the second bone section with the holding portion provides an indication that the first and second bone sections are at the predetermined angular orientation relative to each other.