Resorbable Bone Plates with Adhesive Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current craniomaxillofacial surgery fixation methods are cumbersome and require drilling, screws, and bulky equipment, which can damage bone, complicate procedures, and hinder healing, especially in pediatric patients and conditions with limited access or tissue substrate depth.
Innovation Solution
A system using a biocompatible, heat-meltable adhesive applied directly to bone segments or combined with a bone plate, eliminating the need for mechanical fixation, with an applicator device for controlled dispensing and a resorbable, porous plate impregnated with bone-healing substances like growth factors for enhanced healing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical fixation systems (screws and plates) are used, then bone segments can be stabilized, but the procedure becomes labor-intensive and complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical screw-and-plate fixation system with an adhesive bonding system. The adhesive is applied directly to the bone surface and cures to form a strong bond, eliminating the need for drilling holes, inserting screws, and securing plates. This substitution of mechanical fastening with chemical bonding simplifies the procedure while maintaining reliable bone stabilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the unnecessary components of the traditional fixation system - specifically the screws, plates, drilling equipment, and associated complex procedures. By using adhesive alone to bond bone segments, all these extraneous elements are removed, leaving a simplified procedure that achieves the same stabilization goal.
2Reliability
If screws and drilling equipment are used, then bone fixation can be achieved, but bone tissue is damaged and healing is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanically invasive drilling and screw insertion process with a non-invasive adhesive application process. The adhesive is applied to the bone surface without penetrating or removing bone tissue, thereby eliminating the harmful effects of drilling while achieving reliable fixation through chemical bonding.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive acts as an intermediary substance that bonds bone segments together without requiring direct mechanical penetration of the bone tissue. Instead of forcing screws through the bone, the adhesive mediates the connection by forming a bonding layer on the bone surface, thus protecting the bone from mechanical damage.
3Reliability
If resorbable polymer plates and screws are used, then corrosion is avoided and stress shielding is reduced, but the devices remain bulky and require cumbersome equipment for implantation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the bulky resorbable plates and screws from the fixation system. By using adhesive alone to bond bone segments, all the cumbersome implant components and the specialized equipment needed to implant them are removed, while maintaining biocompatibility and allowing natural bone healing without foreign body interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical resorbable plate-and-screw system with a non-mechanical adhesive bonding system. This eliminates the need for drilling, tapping, and securing resorbable fasteners, thereby removing the requirement for bulky implantation equipment while achieving reliable fixation that allows natural bone remodeling.
4Reliability
If conventional plating systems are used, then bone stabilization is achieved, but surgical time and operating room costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the time-consuming steps of conventional plating systems - drilling holes, tapping threads, inserting and securing screws, and attaching plates. By using adhesive alone, these multiple sequential steps are reduced to a single application and curing step, dramatically reducing surgical time while maintaining effective bone stabilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the multi-step mechanical fixation process with a single-step adhesive application process. The adhesive is applied directly to the bone surface and cures to provide stabilization, eliminating the need for drilling, screw insertion, and plate attachment, thereby significantly reducing the time required for the surgical procedure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method simplifies bone fixation, reduces surgical time and complications, promotes bone healing, and allows for flexible plate designs, eliminating the need for screws and drilling, while providing controlled delivery of healing agents, thus improving patient recovery and reducing the risk of adverse healing conditions.
Implementation Method 1
applying an adhesive in a melted state to a first bone segment and a second bone segment in abutment with the first bone segment
Implementation Method 2
curing the adhesive thereby affixing the first bone segment to the second bone segment
Data Source
AI summary
A bone fixation system, device and method are provided herein. A system may include a bone plate. The bone plate is adapted to be affixed to a bone surface, and comprises a bioactive porous portion. The porous portion is adapted to, include bone healing-promoting substances, such as hollow microparticles containing the bone healing-promoting substances embedded in the porous portion. The bone plate father includes at least one attachment portion. In some embodiments, the attachment portion includes a face, which defines indentations, such as dimples, to retain an amount of adhesive.