Polyaxial Bone Anchoring System Modular Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current polyaxial bone anchoring devices lack simplicity in design and versatility in clinical applications, requiring complex assembly and multiple parts, which increases costs and reduces reliability.

Innovation Solution

A modular polyaxial bone anchoring system with a bottom-loading design featuring a receiving part and interchangeable bone anchoring elements with pre-assembled sleeve-like insert pieces, allowing for easy assembly and adjustment of pivot angles up to 45° or less, providing a flexible and cost-effective solution for various spinal applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If polyaxial bone anchoring devices are designed with enlarged angulation capability, then the adaptability for different clinical applications is improved, but the device complexity and number of parts increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability for different clinical applicationsVSAvoiddevice complexity and number of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving part is designed with a universal geometry that can accommodate multiple types of bone anchoring elements (screws, hooks, nails) with different functions and pivot angle requirements. The spherical seat and pressure member configuration allows the same receiving part to work with various anchoring elements, providing multi-functionality without requiring multiple specialized receiving parts for different applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The bone anchoring system is divided into separate modular components: the receiving part and the bone anchoring element. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining compatibility through standardized interfaces. The receiving part contains the spherical seat and pressure member, while the bone anchoring element has its own head geometry, enabling flexible combination and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple parts are used to achieve enlarged pivot angle, then the versatility is improved, but the ease of assembly and manufacturing cost are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveversatilityVSAvoidease of assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The spherical seat and pressure member are merged into a single integrated receiving part structure. The spherical seat is formed as part of the receiving part's internal geometry, and the pressure member is positioned to work in conjunction with it, eliminating the need for separate assembly of these components. This merging simplifies the assembly process while maintaining the versatility to accommodate different bone anchoring elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If more parts are included in the system, then the adaptability for various applications is improved, but the reliability and fixation safety are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability for various applicationsVSAvoidfixation safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having multiple specialized receiving parts each optimized for specific anchoring elements, the design inverts the approach by creating a single universal receiving part that adapts to multiple anchoring element types. This reduces the number of potential failure points associated with interfacing multiple specialized components while maintaining adaptability through the spherical seat geometry that naturally accommodates different head shapes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Adaptability or versatility

If asymmetric construction is used to enable enlarged pivot angle, then the pivot angle capability is improved, but the manufacturing precision and design simplicity are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepivot angle capabilityVSAvoiddesign simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The spherical seat geometry provides inherent asymmetry in its interaction with different bone anchoring element heads, allowing enlarged pivot angles without requiring asymmetric external features on the receiving part. The spherical shape naturally permits rotation and pivoting in multiple directions, providing the needed asymmetry for versatile application while maintaining symmetric, simple external receiving part geometry that is easier to manufacture with high precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS9277938B2Polyaxial bone anchoring system

Publication Date: 2016.03.08 BIEDERMANN TECH GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A polyaxial bone anchoring system includes a receiving part having an accommodation space, a first anchoring element having a first head, a sleeve-like insert piece configured to be arranged around a portion of the first head and to be arranged in the accommodation space, a second anchoring element having a second head, and a pressure member configured to exert pressure onto the first head or the second head, wherein when one of the first anchoring element or the second anchoring element is connected to the receiving part, the connected anchoring element is pivotable relative to the receiving part and can be locked at an angle relative to the receiving part by exerting pressure with the pressure member onto the respective head of the connected anchoring element, and wherein the first bone anchoring element and the second bone anchoring element are configured to be interchangeably connectable to the receiving part.