Unitary Bone Implant Wire and Base for Stable Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bone implant designs face challenges such as awkward handling of separate pieces during surgery, inconsistent clamping force, and potential for inadequate fixation due to small washer size and osteoporotic bone, leading to patient discomfort and tissue irritation.
Innovation Solution
A unitary body apparatus comprising an elongate formed wire component and a base, where the wire component is fixed relative to the base, allowing for secure anchoring to a bone part using a fastener, eliminating the need for separate washers and enhancing fixation stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate washers and fasteners are used with the wire component, then the implant can be secured to the bone, but the handling becomes awkward and inconvenient during surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the wire component, washer, and fastener into a single integrated unitary implant device. The wire component is formed as one piece with an integrated washer portion and fastener portion, eliminating the need to handle separate components during surgery. This merging of components maintains fixation stability while dramatically improving ease of operation during the surgical procedure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a small diameter washer is used to avoid covering large bone surface, then screw placement is enabled, but the washer is difficult to handle and prone to dropping
Solution Approach 1:
The washer portion is integrated into the wire component as a unified structure with appropriate dimensions and features. The integrated design includes a head portion with a diameter suitable for screw placement while being proportionately larger than separate small washers, making it easier to handle and less prone to dropping during surgery.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the washer is made small to limit screw placement coverage, then bone surface is preserved, but the washer may rotate under the wire body making reorientation awkward
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated unitary structure of the wire component with its washer portion provides inherent rotational stability. The washer is formed as one piece with the wire, creating a stable assembly that resists rotation under the wire body during surgery, making reorientation straightforward and maintaining proper alignment.
4Reliability
If fixation depends on clamping force between washer and bone, then the implant can be secured, but osteoporotic bone may strip threads preventing sufficient force
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated unitary implant distributes mechanical loads across the entire structure including the wire component, washer portion, and fastener portion. This unified design reduces dependence on clamping force alone by spreading stresses throughout the integrated structure, preventing localized overload that could strip threads in osteoporotic bone while maintaining secure fixation.
5Reliability
If resorption occurs under the washer, then clamping force is diminished, but the implant becomes loose
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated unitary structure provides load distribution across the entire implant including the wire component and washer portion. This design reduces the burden on any single area, minimizing stress concentration under the washer that could accelerate resorption. The unified structure maintains fixation stability over time by distributing mechanical loads throughout the integrated design.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for maintaining a position of a first bone part relative to a second bone part. The apparatus has a unitary body made up of at least one elongate formed wire component and a base. A fastener is used to anchor the base to one of the bone parts to thereby maintain the apparatus in an operative position wherein at least a portion of the one elongate formed wire component engages at least the other bone part.