Contoured Patella Bone Plate for Distal Fracture Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bone plate fixation techniques for patella fractures are limited to the anterior portion, making it difficult to achieve full and secure compression, especially on the distal portion of the patella, which poses challenges due to the small size and softness of the patella and the need to avoid interference with articulating surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A patella bone plate system with an anterior portion and a hook portion configured to extend along the posterior side, featuring a distal opening for a fastener and a contoured body with offset fixation screw paths, allowing secure fixation across the patella, including the distal end, and incorporating a mesh for enhanced support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional bone plate fixation techniques are used on the anterior portion only, then the procedure is simple, but full and secure compression of the fracture is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate extends from the anterior surface into the interior of the patella, utilizing the depth dimension to achieve fixation. The plate has a front surface for anterior attachment and a rear surface that contacts the interior surface of the patella, allowing compression forces to be applied in multiple directions rather than solely from the anterior aspect.
Solution Approach 2:
The bone plate is divided into distinct functional portions: a front surface for anterior fixation, a body portion extending into the patella, and a rear surface for interior surface contact. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function in achieving comprehensive fracture compression and stability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the patella's small size and softness are considered, then careful placement is required, but achieving secure coupling hardware is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate features a contoured body portion with specific curvature designed to match the interior surface of the patella. This local adaptation allows the plate to conform to the specific geometry of the patellar interior, distributing forces evenly and achieving secure coupling without requiring excessive compression that could damage the soft bone.
Solution Approach 2:
The bone plate incorporates curved and contoured surfaces that match the spherical/oval geometry of the patella's interior surface. This curvature allows the plate to wrap around and conform to the patella's shape, maximizing contact area and coupling strength while accommodating the small size of the bone.
3Device complexity
If compression is applied only from the anterior portion, then the fixation method is straightforward, but full compression of the fracture is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate utilizes the interior dimension of the patella by extending into the bone and contacting the interior surface. This allows compression forces to be applied from both the anterior surface and the interior surface, achieving full fracture compression without requiring complex multi-approach surgical procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are examples of a patella bone plate. In some examples, the patella bone plates may include a contoured body with a longitudinal axis, and with a radius of curvature, a plurality of contoured arms and extending superiorly from the contoured body, the plurality of contoured arms spaced apart from the longitudinal axis, the plurality of contoured arms, a plurality of holes, a hook, the hook having a radius of curvature configured to allow the hook to extend around an apex of the patella, a hole located on the hook, the hole defining a distal fixation screw path that is substantially parallel to and offset from the longitudinal axis. In various examples, the contoured body may have a single arm with a staggered hole arrangement. The plurality of holes may include variable angle holes, locking holes, fixation holes, slots, or a combination thereof.