Variable-Angle Tibial Nail Screw Openings for Malleolus Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tibial intramedullary nails are designed to be side-agnostic, making it impossible to target specific bony landmarks such as the posterior malleolus, and lack flexibility in screw trajectory adjustment to balance fixation and screw prominence, leading to inadequate treatment of posterior malleolus fractures and potential patient irritation.
Innovation Solution
The development of side-specific tibial intramedullary nails with variable angle screw openings at the distal and proximal ends, allowing for adjustable screw trajectories to target specific bony anatomy and balance fixation and prominence, including mirror-image nails for right and left tibias.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If current tibial IM nails are designed to be side-agnostic, then manufacturing simplicity and cost are improved, but the ability to target specific bony landmarks such as the posterior malleolus is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by providing different configurations of screw openings for right and left tibias. The distal end portion includes a first screw opening at a first location and angle for right tibias, while the left tibia receives a mirror-image configuration. This asymmetric design enables precise targeting of side-specific bony landmarks such as the posterior malleolus, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and adaptability to specific anatomical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by providing different screw opening configurations at different locations along the nail shaft. The distal end portion has a first screw opening oriented to target the posterior malleolus, while the proximal end portion has a second screw opening oriented to target the tibia plateau. This localized differentiation of screw opening angles and positions enables the single nail design to address multiple specific bony landmarks, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and anatomical adaptability.
2Manufacturing precision
If fixed angle screw openings are used in current tibial IM nails, then manufacturing precision and structural simplicity are improved, but flexibility in screw trajectory adjustment to balance fixation and screw prominence is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the screw opening angles adjustable rather than fixed. The distal end portion includes a first screw opening with a first angle that can be adjusted to target different bony landmarks, and the proximal end portion includes a second screw opening with a second angle that can be independently adjusted. This dynamic adjustability allows optimization of screw trajectories for different fixation requirements and screw prominence concerns, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and trajectory flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements segmentation by dividing the screw openings into independent adjustable components at different locations. The first screw opening at the distal end and the second screw opening at the proximal end can be adjusted independently of each other. This segmentation of the adjustment mechanism allows precise control over each screw's trajectory to balance fixation needs and minimize prominence, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and surgical flexibility.
3Strength
If proximal end portion allows adequate fragment fixation, then fracture stabilization is improved, but penetration through the tibia plateau may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by making the angle of the second screw opening adjustable. The second screw opening is configured at a second angle that can be optimized to achieve adequate fragment fixation while controlling the screw trajectory to prevent penetration through the tibia plateau. By adjusting the angular parameter of the proximal screw opening, the surgeon can balance fixation strength with avoidance of harmful penetration, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
An orthopedic intramedullary (“IM”) nail for internal fixation of a patient's bone is disclosed. In some examples, the IM nail is arranged and configured as a tibial IM nail arranged and configured for implantation into a patient's tibia. In some examples, the tibial IM nail is arranged and configured to be side-specific so that the anatomic specific tibial IM nails can be used to, for example, target specific bony anatomy such as, for example, the patient's posterior malleolus. In addition, the tibial IM nail may include a variable angle screw opening in the distal end portion thereof to target specific bony anatomy such as, for example, the patient's posterior malleolus, while avoiding anatomic structures such as nerves, vessels, tendons, etc. In addition, and/or alternatively, the tibial IM nail may include a variable angle screw opening in the proximal end portion thereof to enhance screw positioning.