Acetabular Cup Conversion Ring for Hip Implant Liner Interchangeability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current acetabular implants for hip replacement surgery lack flexibility in bearing component selection and interchangeability, requiring separate shells for different liner materials and configurations, which complicates intraoperative adjustments and revisions.
Innovation Solution
An acetabular cup conversion ring that allows a common shell component to be converted between different engagement mechanisms, enabling the use of various bearing components with snap-fit, press-fit, taper-fit, or threaded-fit mechanisms, facilitating intraoperative selection and revision without removing the shell.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate shell components are used for different liner materials and configurations, then bearing component selection flexibility is improved, but device complexity and inventory requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The shell component is designed with a universal engagement mechanism that can accommodate multiple types of liners (polyethylene, metal, ceramic) through a single standardized interface. This allows one shell design to serve multiple functions with different bearing materials, eliminating the need for separate shell variants and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining full bearing component selection flexibility
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate shell components are used for different liner materials and configurations, then bearing component selection flexibility is improved, but inventory requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
By creating a universal shell component that can accept multiple liner types through a standardized engagement mechanism, the inventory of shell components is reduced to a single design. This allows hospitals to stock fewer shell variants while maintaining the ability to select from various bearing materials, directly reducing inventory requirements while preserving bearing component selection flexibility
3Reliability
If the shell is firmly fixed in the acetabulum, then implant stability is improved, but ease of revision worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The acetabular implant is divided into two separable components: a shell that is firmly fixed to the acetabulum for long-term stability, and a liner that can be independently removed and replaced. The engagement mechanism between shell and liner allows the liner to be extracted without disturbing the fixed shell, enabling easy revision of the bearing surface while maintaining implant stability through the permanently fixed shell component
4Strength
If engagement mechanism is formed at the equator to maximize engagement area, then holding power is improved, but adaptability to different liner types worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The equatorial engagement mechanism is designed as a universal interface with standardized geometric features (such as grooves, ridges, or interference fit dimensions) that can accommodate multiple liner types. This universal design maintains maximum engagement area and holding power while being adaptable to different liner materials and configurations, resolving the contradiction between strength and adaptability
Data Source
AI summary
An acetabular implant for hip replacement surgery includes a shell component and first and second alternative bearing components interchangeably engageable with the shell component to provide a choice in bearing components. The shell component has a shell component engagement mechanism suitable for engaging the first alternative bearing component. A conversion ring is also engageable with the shell component, so that a shell component/conversion ring assembly provides a second shell component engagement mechanism suitable for engagement with the second alternative bearing component.