Acetabular Cup Augment Securing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current acetabular joint arthroplasty implants often fail to provide sufficient bone fixation and are time-consuming to implant, leading to instability and prolonged recovery times.
Innovation Solution
The development of acetabular joint prostheses with prosthetic acetabular cups and augments, featuring an augment-securing mechanism that includes a guide feature and slider, allowing for reconfiguration between unlocked and locked configurations to secure the augment to the cup, providing enhanced bone fixation and streamlined implantation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing acetabular joint arthroplasty implants are used, then the procedure can be performed, but the implantation time is prolonged and bone fixation is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis is divided into separate components: an acetabular cup and an augment. The augment can be independently positioned and secured to the cup using the augment-securing mechanism, allowing for modular assembly that reduces implantation time while ensuring reliable bone fixation through the combined structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The augment-securing mechanism incorporates a slider that can transition between unlocked and locked configurations. During implantation, the slider allows dynamic adjustment and positioning of the augment relative to the cup, then locks into place to provide stable fixation, combining ease of implantation with long-term reliability.
2Strength
If existing acetabular joint arthroplasty implants are used, then the procedure can be performed, but the attachment to underlying bone is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis separates the bone-facing function into two distinct surfaces: the cup bone-facing surface and the augment bone-facing surface. This segmentation allows each surface to be optimized for bone attachment, with the augment providing additional bone contact area and enhanced fixation strength without requiring a completely redesigned single-component structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The augment is designed to attach to the cup, creating a nested configuration where the augment secures to the cup which in turn secures to the bone. This nested arrangement maximizes the attachment surface area and distribution of mechanical loads, enhancing overall attachment strength while maintaining a relatively simple two-component structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables secure attachment of the acetabular joint prosthesis to the pelvis, reducing implantation time and improving long-term stability, facilitating quicker recovery and maintaining necessary wear characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
the slider and the guide feature are frictionally engaged such that the slider is fixed in place relative to the guide feature
Data Source
AI summary
An acetabular joint prosthesis may be designed to replace an acetabular articular surface. The prosthesis can include an acetabular cup, an augment, and an augment-securing mechanism configured to secure the augment to the cup. The mechanism can be reconfigured between an unlocked configuration in which a slider is slidable along a guide feature and a locked configuration in which the slider or guide feature is in an expanded form such that the slider is fixed in place relative to the guide feature. An unlocked configuration may include the augment-securing mechanism allowing rotation between the augment and the cup, with the augment being securable to the augment in multiple rotational positions. Also, the prosthesis may be configured to facilitate actuation between the unlocked and locked configurations, including moving an instrument to the prosthesis in an access direction that is substantially perpendicular to a rim of the cup.