Acetabular Implant Guide Jig for Precise Bone Reshaping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) such as osteotomy and arthroscopy are invasive, carry risks of nerve damage, and do not effectively address long-term pain due to bone reshaping or removal, with potential for bone regrowth requiring additional surgeries, and lack replacement of removed cartilage and labrum.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising an acetabular implant with a rim portion and bearing surface, featuring an anchor slot for secure attachment, and a guide jig for precise bone removal, along with injectable materials and biomedical textiles to replicate anatomy and replace damaged tissue, providing a stable and durable solution for FAI.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If osteotomy is used to reshape bone in FAI surgery, then bone irregularities can be corrected, but the bone may grow back requiring additional surgeries and the cartilage and labrum are completely removed without replacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebone reshaping precisionVSAvoidlong-term effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide jig is positioned and secured to the acetabular rim before bone removal begins, establishing precise cutting paths in advance. This preliminary positioning ensures that bone is removed only where needed while preserving surrounding healthy bone and cartilage structures, preventing the need for corrective surgeries later

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The guide jig acts as an intermediary tool between the surgeon and the bone removal process. It provides a physical template that guides cutting instruments along predetermined paths, ensuring precise bone reshaping while protecting adjacent healthy tissues from accidental removal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If arthroscopy is used for minimally invasive surgery, then recovery time is reduced, but visualization is poor and significant training is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecovery timeVSAvoidsurgical proficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guide jig serves as a physical intermediary that provides tactile and visual guidance during the surgical procedure. Surgeons can directly see and feel the guide jig's position and the cutting paths it defines, eliminating the need for complex arthroscopic visualization while maintaining minimally invasive benefits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the complex optical-mechanical system of arthroscopy with a simpler direct mechanical guidance system. The guide jig provides physical constraints and visual references that make the surgery easier to perform while still allowing for small incisions and reduced recovery time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If cartilage and labrum are removed to access bone for osteotomy, then bone can be reshaped, but the patient loses shock absorption and experiences bone-on-bone contact pain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to boneVSAvoidbone-on-bone contact pain
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide jig extracts only the specific problematic bone portions that are interfering with the joint, while leaving the healthy cartilage and labrum intact. By precisely defining the cutting paths, it removes only the necessary minimum amount of bone to correct the impingement without sacrificing the protective soft tissues

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide jig enables localized bone removal only at the specific impingement sites, preserving the quality and integrity of surrounding healthy cartilage and labrum. This selective approach maintains the shock absorption properties of the soft tissues while correcting the local bone irregularities causing pain

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2608746B1Instrumentation for use in femoroacetabular impingement surgeries
Publication Date: 2020.06.24 SMITH & NEPHEW INC
  • EP2608746B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2B
  • EP2608746B1 patent drawingFigure 2C~2F
  • EP2608746B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4A

AI summary

Implants, surgical methods, and instrumentation for treating femoroacetabular impingement. In some embodiments, implants are provided or formed on the acetabulum to replicate the anatomy of the acetabulum (e.g., the acetabular rim and/ or labrum, the bearing surface in the acetabulum, cartilage in the acetabulum, etc.). Also provided are embodiments of materials and instruments for use in installing and/ or forming such implants on the acetabulum. Further provided are embodiments of guide jigs for use in preparing the acetabulum to receive such implants.