Wrist Plate and Drill Guide for Minimally Invasive Bone Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cutting of tissue near fractured bones during plate fixation procedures increases recovery time and limits patient functionality, as existing methods require muscle incision for plate placement and screw insertion.
Innovation Solution
A plate and guide system that allows the plate to be positioned underneath tissue without cutting, with a guide interfacing over the muscle to orient screws or fixation devices for bone fixation, reducing tissue damage and enabling fixation without cutting the pronator quadratus muscle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the plate is placed against the bone surface using conventional methods, then the plate can be properly positioned for fixation, but the muscle (pronator quadratus) must be cut to provide access
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is inserted through a different spatial path - sliding it underneath the muscle from the distal end rather than approaching from the proximal end where the muscle blocks access. This dimensional change in insertion approach allows plate placement without muscle incision
Solution Approach 2:
The guide acts as an intermediary device that spans across the muscle, providing a pathway for screw insertion while the plate remains positioned underneath the muscle. The guide's aperture allows passage through the muscle without requiring muscle cutting
2Reliability
If the muscle is cut to provide access for plate placement, then the plate can be positioned correctly, but the patient experiences increased recovery time and limited functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is positioned underneath the muscle before any muscle cutting occurs. By completing the plate placement first through the alternative insertion path, the subsequent muscle incision (if needed for screw access) is minimized and performed only after the plate is already in position
Solution Approach 2:
The procedure is segmented into distinct steps: first positioning the plate underneath the muscle, then using a separate guide device for screw insertion. This segmentation allows the muscle to remain intact during plate placement, reducing overall tissue trauma and recovery time
3Measurement precision
If the guide is placed over the muscle to orient fixation devices, then screws can be inserted in proper orientation, but the guide must interface with the plate while the plate is underneath the muscle
Solution Approach 1:
The guide is designed to interface with the plate's distal end features that extend beyond the muscle. The guide's aperture nests over the plate's positioned features, creating a precise interface that allows screw orientation guidance while accommodating the plate's position underneath the muscle
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes various embodiments of a plate and guide that enable fixation of a fractured bone while reducing damage to tissue in the vicinity of the fractured bone. The plate may be sized and dimensioned such that the plate may be slid underneath a muscle or other tissue and positioned into a proper location for providing fixation of the plate to the fractured bone without requiring cutting of the muscle or other tissue. The guide may be sized and dimensioned to interface with the plate such that the guide is place over the top of the muscle or other tissue, thereby enabling the guide to be used for providing screws or other devices (e.g., rods, K-wires, etc.) to the plate in a proper orientation to provide fixation to the fractured bone without requiring cutting of the muscle or other tissue.