Plantar Plate Augmentation Kit for Tear Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for repairing plantar plate tears are complex and difficult to perform, relying on suture-based techniques rather than graft augmentation, which are challenging for physicians to master.
Innovation Solution
A single-use plantar plate augmentation kit and method using an FDA-approved soft tissue graft, a plantar plate drill guide, joint distractor, K-wires, interference-type screws, and a screw driver to facilitate a fast and effective repair of plantar plate tears through graft augmentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If suture-based repair techniques are used for plantar plate tears, then the repair can be performed with traditional surgical tools, but the procedure becomes complicated and difficult for physicians to master
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable single-use implant device that eliminates the need for complex suture-based repair techniques. The implant is a pre-formed structural component that can be inserted directly into the plantar plate tear site, replacing the need for lengthy suturing procedures and reducing surgical complexity while maintaining repair effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The implant serves as an intermediary structural support between the torn edges of the plantar plate. This mediator provides immediate mechanical stability and facilitates healing by bridging the gap between torn tissue edges, simplifying the surgical procedure compared to traditional suture techniques that require precise knot-tying and tensioning
2Reliability
If graft augmentation is used to repair plantar plate tears, then the repair becomes more effective and straightforward, but requires specialized tools and procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the graft material and the implant structure into a single integrated component. The implant itself is formed from graft material (such as demineralized bone matrix or other biocompatible graft substances) that has been pre-shaped and prepared to provide both structural support and biological integration capabilities, eliminating the need for separate graft harvesting and implantation steps
Solution Approach 2:
The graft material is pre-processed and pre-shaped into the final implant configuration before surgery. This preliminary preparation includes forming the graft into the specific geometric shape needed for the plantar plate repair, pre-sterilizing the material, and preparing it for immediate insertion, thereby simplifying the surgical procedure while maintaining high repair effectiveness
Data Source
AI summary
A plantar plate augmentation kit assembly with a plantar plate joint distractor with two members operably configured to move with respect to one another to have an open position configured to separate tissue and a closed position along a spreader opening path, a graft material, two wires configured to attach to the graft material, a graft passer having a handle portion and a portion of the graft passer configured to facilitate in the handling of the graft material, at least two interference screws with screw threads for securing the two wires and graft material into place, and a drill bit for repairing plantar plate tears through graft augmentation.