Thin Modular Bone Plates for Fracture Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bone fixation technologies, such as bone plates and screws, are cumbersome, require multiple surgeons, and cause irritation due to their thickness, complicating the surgical process and patient recovery.
Innovation Solution
Development of modular, thinner implants with adjustable geometry and hole configurations that can be pre-formed or shaped during surgery to align and stabilize bone fragments, allowing a single surgeon to apply them with reduced tissue irritation, using materials like metals, alloys, and surface treatments for better integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If thicker bone plates are used to provide sufficient stabilization to bone fragments, then the stabilization strength is improved, but the irritation to surrounding soft tissues increases causing inflammation and pain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies thin film technology by using bone plates with thickness of 0.38mm to 1.2mm, which is significantly thinner than conventional plates. These thin plates provide sufficient stabilization through optimized geometry and material properties while minimizing soft tissue irritation and inflammation, directly resolving the contradiction between strength and tissue irritation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures combining metal alloys with specialized surface treatments and coatings. This allows the thin plates to achieve necessary mechanical strength and bone integration without requiring increased thickness, thereby maintaining stabilization strength while reducing soft tissue irritation.
2Reliability
If existing bone plate and bone screw technology is applied to the patient, then bone stabilization is achieved, but the surgical procedure requires a team of surgeons and becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated bone plate device that provides alignment, stabilization, and fixation capabilities. This integration allows a single surgeon to perform the complete surgical procedure without requiring a team, while maintaining reliable bone stabilization through the combined functional elements of the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The bone plate is designed with multi-functionality, serving as an alignment tool, stabilization device, and fixation platform simultaneously. The universal design with adjustable geometry and hole configurations enables one surgeon to handle all aspects of the surgical procedure, reducing procedural complexity while ensuring reliable stabilization.
3Manufacturing precision
If existing bone fracture alignment tools are used, then bone alignment can be achieved, but the tools become cumbersome, complex, and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines alignment and stabilization functions into the bone plate itself, eliminating the need for separate cumbersome alignment tools. The integrated design provides inherent alignment capabilities through the plate's geometry while maintaining precise bone alignment, thereby reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The thin film bone plate incorporates alignment features directly into its structure, providing precise bone alignment without requiring bulky external alignment tools. This integration maintains manufacturing precision while significantly reducing the complexity and bulk of the overall system.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems for modular bone fixation may include first, second, and at least one third portion to aid in fracture reduction, simplify the surgical procedure, increase fracture fixation strength, and reduce irritation to the patient caused by the implant. In some examples, the at least one third portion may be separable from the first and second portions to further simplify the surgical procedure and reduce irritation to the patient.