Rib Plate Alignment via Suture Mediator and Curved Profile
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Solution Overview
Problem
The placement of rib plates on fractured ribs from the posterior side can be challenging due to difficulties in aligning the plate and maintaining alignment for proper fastening, especially when trying to minimize tissue aggravation and palpability.
Innovation Solution
The use of a rib plate with a curved anterior portion and a suture system that can be pulled through bores in the rib to align the plate, combined with a placement tool for secure positioning and drilling, facilitates the alignment and fastening process while reducing tissue irritation and palpability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the rib plate is installed on the posterior portion of the rib, then palpability and tissue aggravation are reduced, but alignment and fastening difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
A suture is used as an intermediary tool to facilitate alignment. The suture is connected to the plate and pulled through a bore in the rib to align the plate to the rib for fastening, serving as a mediator between the surgeon and the implant to achieve precise positioning from the posterior approach
Solution Approach 2:
The suture is pre-connected to the plate before insertion, and the alignment is established preliminarily by pulling the suture through the rib bore before the actual fastening process begins, preparing the implant in the correct position in advance
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the rib plate is installed on the posterior portion of the rib, then palpability is reduced, but fastening alignment difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suture acts as a mediator to transfer alignment forces and positioning information from the surgeon's manipulation to the implant, enabling precise fastening alignment to be achieved despite the challenging posterior approach
Solution Approach 2:
Alignment is established in advance by pulling the pre-connected suture through the rib bore, preparing the implant in the correct positional and orientational alignment before the fastening operation commences
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a curved anterior portion is added to the rib plate, then tissue aggravation is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rib plate incorporates a curved anterior portion instead of a flat surface, allowing the implant to conform to the natural curvature of the rib and surrounding tissues, thereby reducing tissue aggravation and improving biocompatibility
Data Source
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AI summary
An implant for a human rib can include an elongate body, a plurality of bores, and a placement tool interface. The elongate body can include a first portion including a flat outer face where the elongate body can be curved along a plane perpendicular to the flat outer face. The second portion can extend from the first portion to form a curved outer face. The plurality of bores can extend through the flat outer face of the first portion and into the second portion. The bores can extend partially into the curved outer face of the second portion. The placement tool interface can extend into the body.