Segmented External Fixation Plates for Bone Deformity Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current external bone fixation systems for treating bone deformity and trauma are uncomfortable, inconvenient, and unstable, with limited weight-bearing capability and difficulty in accessing the wound for cleaning, especially due to the need for oversized rings and temporary fixation until definitive treatment.
Innovation Solution
A customizable external fixation system using various fixation plates (C Plate, N Plate, J Plate, K Plate, Foot Plate, Z Plate, and UT Plate) configured in single, stacked, or cascade arrangements, coupled with posts, rods, and telescoping struts to provide stability and access for edema and wound care, allowing for customized attachment to the patient's anatomy using wires and pins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If circular rings are used to surround the patient's limb, then the fixation system can provide stability, but the rings must be oversized to accommodate swelling which makes the system uncomfortable and inconvenient for wound access
Solution Approach 1:
The circular ring is segmented into two separate plates (first plate and second plate) positioned on opposite sides of the limb. This segmentation allows each plate to be smaller and more comfortable while collectively providing the stabilizing effect of a full ring, and creates space for wound access between the plates
Solution Approach 2:
The posterior portion of the traditional circular ring is extracted/removed to create an opening. This opening provides direct access to the limb for wound cleaning and dressing changes, while the remaining anterior plates continue to provide fixation stability
2Area of stationary object
If oversized rings are used to accommodate large extremities, then the fixation system can cover larger areas, but the system becomes more uncomfortable and less convenient
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using one large oversized ring, the system segments the coverage into multiple smaller plates (first plate, second plate, and additional plates) positioned at different locations. This allows adequate coverage of large extremities while each individual plate remains comfortable and manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a two-dimensional circular ring to a three-dimensional configuration with plates positioned at different orientations and locations around the limb. This dimensional change allows comprehensive coverage while maintaining comfort through strategic plate placement rather than uniform circumferential coverage
3Device complexity
If temporary fixation is used until definitive treatment is determined, then the system can be simpler, but the fixation becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The plate and rod configuration serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides immediate stable fixation for acute trauma, allows for adjustable positioning, and can accommodate subsequent definitive treatment requirements. The modular design enables the same structure to fulfill both temporary and definitive fixation needs
Solution Approach 2:
The fixation system incorporates adjustable elements that allow dynamic modification of the configuration. The rods can be repositioned, and additional plates can be added or removed as treatment evolves, enabling the system to transition from temporary to definitive fixation without complete removal and reapplication
4Reliability
If the fixation system is designed for stability, then weight-bearing capability is limited, but mobility is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation load is segmented and distributed across multiple plates and rods rather than concentrated in a single structure. This distribution allows the system to bear weight more effectively while maintaining stability, as each component shares the mechanical load
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed with pre-configured rod placements and plate orientations that optimize both stability and weight-bearing capacity from the outset. The anterior positioning of plates and strategic rod placement create a structure that naturally accommodates weight-bearing forces while maintaining fixation integrity
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an apparatus and component parts of a system for the external fixation of bones. The component parts include fixation plates such as a C-shaped Plate, an N-shaped Plate, a J-shaped Plate, a K-shaped Plate, an I-shaped Plate, a Foot Plate, a Z-shaped Plate, a T-shaped Plate, a UT-shaped Plate and an oval shaped Plate. Two or more fixation plates are configured along an axis, the two or more fixation plates; a plurality of telescoping adjustable struts that connect a first fixation plate along the axis with a second fixation plate of the plurality of fixation plates along the axis, wherein the first and second fixation plates are adjacent plates along the axis; and a plurality of posts, each post connecting two adjacent fixation plates of the plurality of fixation plates along the axis.