Wedge-Shaped Bone Implant With Diverging Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bone implants lack secure and reliable fixation mechanisms for bone fragments during osteotomy procedures, which can lead to instability and complications in correcting bone abnormalities and morphological issues.
Innovation Solution
A bone implant design featuring diverging and converging surfaces with protrusions and recesses, along with channels for bone anchors, provides secure fixation by engaging with cortical and trabecular bone, and includes a rail and blade mechanism for enhanced stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional bone implants are used without specialized fixation mechanisms, then the implant structure remains simple, but secure and reliable fixation of bone fragments cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The bone implant is divided into multiple functional segments including a proximal segment with first and second bone-contacting surfaces, a distal segment with engagement features, and intermediate portions with protrusions and recesses. This segmentation allows each part to perform specific fixation functions while maintaining overall structural coherence and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant design incorporates nested geometric features where protrusions extend from intermediate portions and are surrounded by wider recesses. These nested structures create multiple levels of mechanical engagement with bone tissue, enhancing fixation reliability through progressive engagement rather than a single complex mechanism.
2Reliability
If bone implants with protrusions and recesses are used to engage cortical and trabecular bone, then secure fixation is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusions and recesses are pre-formed as integral features of the implant during the manufacturing process, rather than requiring post-manufacturing assembly or adjustment. This preliminary formation of engagement features ensures secure bone fixation while streamlining the manufacturing process by combining multiple functions into a single fabrication step.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant utilizes controlled variations in geometric parameters including the width of recesses relative to protrusions, the angle of diverging and converging surfaces, and the depth of engagement features. These parameter changes optimize both fixation reliability in cortical and trabecular bone and manufacturability through standardized geometric relationships.
3Stability of the object's composition
If diverging and converging surfaces are used to distribute weight, then stability is improved, but the implant design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The implant employs asymmetric surface geometries where the first and second bone-contacting surfaces diverge at different angles toward the proximal end while converging at different rates toward the distal end. This asymmetric design optimizes weight distribution and stability for bilateral bone engagement while maintaining a relatively simple overall form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizing function is achieved by transitioning from two-dimensional flat surfaces to three-dimensional diverging and converging surfaces. This dimensional change allows weight distribution across multiple spatial planes, enhancing stability through volumetric engagement with bone tissue rather than superficial contact.
Data Source
AI summary
A bone implant system to correct bone abnormalities and/or change bone morphology includes a bone implant and one or more bone anchors. The bone implant may be generally wedge shaped, and may be formed of one or more conjoined crescent shapes. The bone anchor slidingly engages the bone implant and the bone to provide fixation.