Slender Spanning Bone Fixation via External Wire

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current bone fixation methods, such as bone plates and pins, face challenges in elderly individuals with poor bone quality, where bone plates can damage bones and pins may not be adequately anchored, leading to instability and prolonged healing times.

Innovation Solution

A multi-spanning fixation system using a pair of slender spanning members that span a fracture outside the bone, providing stable fixation while allowing micro-motion for better callus formation and reduced stress on the bone.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If bone plates with locked bone screws are used to fasten bone, then the bone fixation is more stable, but the bone structure becomes very rigid and damages bone in response to bone loading, thereby loosening the bone plate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone fixation stabilityVSAvoidbone damage and loosening

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible wire spanning member instead of a rigid bone plate to provide bone fixation. The wire spanning member can flex and deform under bone loading, allowing the bone to move naturally while maintaining fixation stability. This flexibility prevents the rigid structure from damaging the bone and causes loosening, resolving the contradiction between fixation stability and bone preservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Stability of the object's composition

If pins are inserted into bone to span a fracture, then the bone fixation is more flexible and allows micro-motion, but the pins may not be adequately anchored to bone and thus may slip, permitting too much movement of bone fragments for proper healing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone fixation flexibilityVSAvoidpin anchoring reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the fixation system into multiple components: a wire spanning member that spans the fracture and a separate bone anchor that engages with the bone. This segmentation allows the wire to provide flexible spanning while the anchor ensures reliable bone engagement, preventing slippage and excessive movement while maintaining the flexibility needed for micro-motion and healing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If bone plates are used to fasten bone near the ends of bones in elderly individuals, then the bone fixation is achieved, but the bone quality is poor (e.g., osteoporosis or osteopenia) making fastening difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone fixation achievementVSAvoidfastening difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a wire spanning member as an intermediary element that bridges the fracture without requiring direct fastening to the bone at the fracture site. The wire can be anchored to the bone at locations with better bone quality, avoiding the difficult fastening problem in elderly individuals with poor bone quality near the fracture ends, while still achieving effective fixation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8475504B2Method of bone fixation with slender spanning members disposed outside bone

Publication Date: 2013.07.02 ACUMED

AI summary

System, including methods, apparatus, kits, and components, for bone fixation using a pair of slender spanning members to span a fracture outside bone.