Slotted Periprosthetic Plate With Slidable Insert
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in treating distal femoral and periprosthetic fractures lies in the difficulty of adjusting the bone plate location to fit varying bone anatomies, which increases operation time and costs due to the need for multiple designs accommodating different intramedullary nail and plate placements.
Innovation Solution
A bone plate system with a slidable insert and locking screw mechanism that allows for adjustable positioning relative to the intramedullary nail without removing the screw, enabling precise alignment and fixation without interference, using a bone plate with an elongated opening and sliding ledges for easy repositioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple bone plate designs are used to accommodate varying intramedullary nail and plate placements, then adaptability to different patient anatomies is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate is designed with a universal elongated opening that can accommodate multiple positions and angles of intramedullary nails. The opening extends along the longitudinal axis and can receive fixation elements at various locations, allowing a single plate design to serve multiple placement scenarios that would traditionally require different plate designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The bone plate incorporates a slidable insert within the elongated opening that can be adjusted to different positions along the opening's length. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the fixation element to be positioned at multiple locations within the same opening, providing adaptability to varying anatomical requirements without requiring multiple static plate designs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If case-by-case adjustment of plate location is performed to fit each patient, then adaptability to varying bone anatomy is improved, but operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slidable insert mechanism allows for quick intraoperative adjustment of the fixation element position along the elongated opening. The insert can be smoothly moved to the desired position and locked in place, significantly reducing the time required for case-by-case adjustments compared to traditional methods that may require removing and replacing entire plate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The elongated opening and slidable insert mechanism are pre-configured in the bone plate to facilitate easy adjustment. The opening is shaped and positioned in advance to guide the intramedullary nail and fixation elements, and the insert is designed to slide smoothly along predetermined paths, reducing the complexity and time of intraoperative customization.
3Device complexity
If fixed position bone plates are used to simplify the design, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to varying bone anatomy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate is segmented into a fixed plate body and a movable slidable insert. The plate body maintains a simple, standardized design for ease of manufacture, while the insert provides the necessary adjustability. This segmentation allows the fixed structural components to remain simple while the adjustable component provides flexibility in placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The slidable insert introduces a dynamic element to an otherwise fixed plate structure. The insert can move along the elongated opening to accommodate different positioning requirements, while the main plate body remains a simple, standardized component that is easy to manufacture and implant.
Data Source
AI summary
A bone plate comprises a body including an elongated opening extending therethrough, the opening being open at a distal end of the body and including a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion having a width smaller than a width of the proximal portion, the width being a dimension between two longitudinal sides of the opening extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body, the body further including an insert including a head portion and a base portion, the base portion being shaped to be slidably mounted within the proximal portion of the opening, a diameter of the base portion being larger than a width of the distal portion of the opening such that the base portion is prevented from exiting the opening through the distal portion thereof, the insert further including a central fixation element receiving hole configured to receive a bone fixation element therethrough.