Shape-Memory Bone Plate for Sustained Fracture Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bone plates used in fractured long bone repair often lose compression before the healing process is complete, leading to suboptimal outcomes.
Innovation Solution
An orthopedic fixation system with an implant transitionable between natural and insertion shapes, constrained by an implant retainer that stores and delivers energy to maintain compression during healing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bone plate with blade-shaped portion is used for fractured long bone repair, then the bone fracture can be fixed and stabilized, but the compression at the fracture zone is lost before healing completion
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate incorporates a shape memory alloy that enables dynamic shape transformation between a first shape (for insertion) and a second shape (for compression). This dynamic capability allows the plate to adapt its configuration during the healing process, transitioning from an insertion-friendly shape to a compression-maintaining shape, thereby resolving the contradiction between initial fixation and sustained compression throughout healing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes shape memory alloy properties to change the physical shape parameters of the bone plate in response to temperature or stress changes. This parameter transformation enables the plate to maintain compression forces throughout the healing process, addressing the reliability issue while accommodating the duration of healing by automatically adjusting its mechanical properties over time.
2Reliability
If the implant is made transitionable between natural and insertion shapes to store and deliver energy, then compression is maintained during healing, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs shape memory alloy to achieve shape transformation through changes in physical parameters (temperature or stress) rather than complex mechanical mechanisms. This approach maintains reliability by enabling automatic shape change for compression maintenance while minimizing device complexity, as the alloy's inherent shape memory property provides the transformation capability without requiring additional actuators or control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The shape memory alloy implant performs its own shape transformation and compression delivery functions autonomously in response to physiological conditions, eliminating the need for external control mechanisms. This self-service capability maintains compression reliability while keeping the device structure relatively simple, as the material itself provides the intelligent response function.
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
The system maintains compression throughout the healing process, ensuring optimal repair of fractured long bones by preventing premature energy delivery.
Implementation Method 1
The implant is made of a shape memory alloy and is transitionable between a natural shape and an insertion shape whereby a transition of the implant from the natural shape to the insertion shape stores deliverable energy and a transition of the implant from the insertion shape to the natural shape delivers stored energy.
Data Source
AI summary
An orthopedic fixation system includes an implant transitionable between a natural shape and an insertion shape and an implant retainer. The implant includes a plate segment, a blade segment extending from the plate segment, a transition section within the blade segment, and a retainer receiver traversing the transition section. The transition section deforms to move the implant between the natural shape and the insertion shape. The implant retainer, upon transition of the implant from the natural shape to the insertion shape, engages the implant at the retainer receiver. The implant retainer upon engagement with the implant spans the transition section such that the implant retainer constrains the implant and holds the implant in the insertion shape thereby preventing a transition of the implant from the insertion shape to the natural shape.