Phalangeal Head Plate with Triangular Contour and Elongated Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bone plate systems for fracture fixation are limited in placement and orientation, particularly on phalangeal bones, as they are often restricted to dorsal placement, which may not optimize fracture fixation and can interfere with surrounding ligaments and tissues.
Innovation Solution
A bone plate with a triangular head and shaft design, featuring variable angle fixation holes and a contoured surface to conform to the anatomy of phalangeal bones, allowing for adjustable placement and minimization of interference with ligaments and tissues, enabling closer seating to the bone and improved fracture reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional bone plate is used for fracture fixation, then the plate can be placed on the bone, but the placement is limited to dorsal position only, preventing optimization for the specific fracture location
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate incorporates an elongated hole in the shaft portion that allows dynamic adjustment of the plate's position along the bone. The elongated hole permits the plate to be seated at different locations (closer to or farther from the fracture site) while maintaining secure fixation, enabling optimization of placement for various fracture patterns without requiring multiple plate designs
Solution Approach 2:
The bone plate is designed with a triangular head configuration and elongated holes that allow it to serve multiple functions: it can be placed on different surfaces of the phalangeal bone (dorsal, lateral, medial), positioned at various locations along the bone, and used for different fracture patterns. This universal design eliminates the need for multiple specialized plates for different placement scenarios
2Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional bone plate with fixed hole positions is used, then the structure is simple, but the angle of screw insertion is fixed, limiting optimization for variable fracture patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate features elongated holes instead of circular holes, allowing screws to be inserted at variable angles within the elongated aperture. This dynamic capability enables the surgeon to adjust the screw insertion angle to optimize fixation for different fracture patterns and bone geometries, while the elongated hole design itself remains a simple structural modification
Solution Approach 2:
The plate incorporates elongated holes with specific dimensions and orientations that allow change in the insertion angle parameter. The elongated holes are designed with lengths and orientations that provide optimal angular variability for different fracture scenarios, enabling parameter adjustment without requiring multiple plates with different hole configurations
3Manufacturing precision
If a bone plate with standard geometry is used, then manufacturing is simple, but the plate cannot conform to the contoured anatomy of phalangeal bones, reducing fixation accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate incorporates a contoured surface on the head portion that specifically conforms to the anatomy of the phalangeal bone. This localized contouring provides anatomical conformity where it is most needed (at the bone contact surface) while the rest of the plate maintains a simpler geometry for ease of manufacture. The contour is designed to match the specific curvature and shape of the phalangeal head or shaft
Data Source
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AI summary
A bone plate sized and shaped for fixation to a phalangeal bone includes a head extending from a first end to a second end and having first, second and third fixation element holes extending therethrough and arranged in a triangular configuration on the head, an outer wall of the head having a triangular shape corresponding to the triangular configuration, a bone contacting surface of the head being contoured to conform to the anatomy of a lateral surface of a phalangeal head and a shaft extending from the head, the shaft including fourth and fifth plate holes separated from one another by an elongated fixation element hole elongated in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.