Tendon Fixation Plate Wobble Joint Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for fixing tissue to bone in surgical procedures are time-consuming, costly, and prone to instability, requiring precise placement and often necessitating repeat interventions due to the size and complexity of existing implants, which can lead to necrotic processes and increased patient strain.

Innovation Solution

A novel implant design featuring a clamping surface with a large contact area, adjustable fastening means, and a wobble joint mechanism that allows for flexible orientation and minimally invasive insertion, along with barbs and conical fixing means to ensure secure attachment and promote blood flow, reducing the need for precise placement and minimizing necrotic risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the implant is designed with a large contact surface and symmetric shape, then the stability and healing effectiveness are improved, but the implant size increases making minimally invasive surgery difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of tissue fixationVSAvoidimplant size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The implant is divided into two functional parts: a larger clamping surface component for stable tissue fixation and a separate smaller fastener for bone anchoring. This segmentation allows the clamping surface to be optimized for stability while the fastener minimizes insertion trauma, resolving the contradiction between fixation reliability and implant size for minimally invasive surgery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the implant requires precise placement with specific position, angle and orientation, then secure fixation is achieved, but the surgical time and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity of tissue holdVSAvoidsurgical procedure time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The fastener incorporates a wobble joint mechanism that transforms the rigid placement requirement into a dynamic adaptation process. During insertion, the wobble joint allows the fastener to self-align and adapt to varying bone surfaces and angles, eliminating the need for precise pre-planning of position and orientation while maintaining secure fixation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The wobble joint enables the implant to self-align during insertion without requiring precise external positioning. The mechanism automatically adjusts the fastener's orientation to match the bone surface, allowing the implant to find its optimal position independently, thereby reducing surgical time and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the implant is designed for secure fixation, then tissue stability is improved, but incorrect insertion can cause detachment requiring additional procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of tissue-bone connectionVSAvoidease of insertion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The wobble joint mechanism replaces the need for precise manual positioning with a mechanical self-alignment system. This substitution ensures that even if insertion角度 or position varies, the implant automatically adjusts to achieve proper alignment, preventing detachment and eliminating the need for corrective procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Stress or pressure

If the clamping surface has large contact area, then even contact pressure is achieved, but the implant complexity and handling difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevenness of contact pressureVSAvoidimplant structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stress or pressureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the clamping surface from the fastening mechanism, the design allows the clamping surface to be simple and symmetric for easy handling, while the fastener contains the complex wobble joint mechanism. This segmentation maintains even contact pressure through the large clamping surface area without increasing overall device complexity or handling difficulty.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4149389B1Tendon fixation plate
Publication Date: 2024.05.15 INOVEDIS GMBH
  • EP4149389B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4149389B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4149389B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an implant IM for the flat connection of tissue to bone, the implant IM comprising a clamping face (1), wherein the clamping face (1) comprises an outer edge (3) and an inner edge (4), the outer edge (3) being connected at least partially to the inner edge (4) at least partially by means of at least one connecting bridge (5), and/or the clamping face (1) comprises an outer edge (3) and at least one opening (7', 7'') arranged inside the clamping face (1), the opening (7', 7'') being connected at least to a portion of the outer edge (4) of the clamping face (1) by means of at least one connecting bridge (5). The clamping face (1) has a circular or oval or polygonal circumference, in particular a rotationally symmetrical and/or mirror-symmetrical contour. The clamping face (1) has an opening (7', 7''), the opening (7', 7'') being designed to receive a fastener (2'), the fastener (2') comprising a pin (10), a head (8) and a neck (9).