Resorbable Bone Fixation Plate and Screw Composite
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bone fixation systems using resorbable polymers face challenges with stability and visibility during post-operative follow-up, as they lack the mechanical strength and radiopacity of metal systems, leading to potential secondary fractures and migration issues.
Innovation Solution
A resorbable plate-screw system composed of a composite mixture of polymers and ceramics, where the plate and screws have different Young's moduli, providing improved mechanical properties and radiopacity, allowing for secure fixation and controlled degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If resorbable polymers are used for bone fixation, then complete resorption and elimination from the body is achieved, but mechanical resistance and bending strength are insufficient requiring oversized plates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining resorbable polymers with resorbable ceramic particles (such as beta-tricalcium phosphate or hydroxyapatite). This composite structure allows the material to maintain adequate mechanical strength during the bone consolidation period while remaining fully resorbable. The ceramic particles reinforce the polymer matrix, providing the necessary mechanical resistance without sacrificing the resorbable nature of the implant.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If resorbable polymers are used for bone fixation, then complete resorption is achieved, but radiopacity is lost making post-operative follow-up difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates radiopaque resorbable ceramic particles (such as beta-tricalcium phosphate or hydroxyapatite) into the polymer matrix. These ceramic particles are inherently radiopaque, allowing the composite material to maintain visibility on X-rays and other radiological imaging modalities throughout the resorption process. This enables continuous post-operative monitoring of implant position and bone healing without compromising the complete resorbability of the device.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an osteosynthesis device that is resorbable and also radiopaque and that is made using materials that degrade gradually. The device comprises at least one plate and a set of screws made of resorbable material, wherein said plate is made of a first material consisting of a composite mixture comprising i) a resorbable polymer or copolymer compound and ii) a mineral charge composed of at least one resorbable ceramic, and said screws are made of a second material consisting of at least one resorbable polymer or copolymer compound, said first and second materials having different compositions, such that the respective Young's moduli are different. The device is totally resorbable and radiopaque, and it offers a high level of safety, ensuring stable and lasting fixation of the screws to the plate and in the bone throughout the period of time necessary for setting the bone.