Design of a Novel Method to Bend Mandibular Plates for Reconstruction Surgeries

The paper focuses on the design of a system used to bend mandibular reconstruction plates, taking into account the dimensional differences of individual bone structures of patients. It may be considered a part of the pre-surgery planning procedures carried out for mandibular reconstruction surgeries. Mandibular reconstruction is a kind of surgery performed for the correction of deformed or damaged mandibles (the lower jaw bone). Bone grafts are generally held in place with the help of Grade 5 Titanium plates, bent manually as per the dimensions of the patient’s bone structure. The project has been divided into two main stages : determining the angles to which the plate is to be bent and the design and assembly of the plate bending machine. The paper consists of the research and the subsequent design of a machine to automate this process, with a broader aim to reduce the manual work carried out by surgeons prior to the surgery, subsequently reducing the time required for the mechanical aspects of surgery planning.