Iterative design and testing of a modular anterior plate for lumbar spine fixation applications

In this study, a modular anterior lumbar plate is designed and tested in an iterative fashion. The study starts with a basic design that is built by combining same-sized modules; an approach that allow inventory costs to be decreased. The basic design is iteratively improved guided by the results of biomechanical tests performed on each new design. At the end of three iterations of improvements, the design is complete and the plate is of sufficient quality for it to be used in anterior surgical operations. Using these plates creates the advantage of being able to increase the size and slot count during surgical operations, even when some of the modules are already fixed to vertebrae. The designed modular plate is shown to be as safe for use as a rigid plate in terms of its static and fatigue biomechanical performances.