ACL Reconstruction Guide Instrument for Anatomical Tunnel Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ACL reconstruction methods often fail due to misplacement of graft tunnels, leading to residual rotatory laxity and inadequate mechanical properties, as existing instruments rely heavily on subjective surgeon judgment and lack accurate anatomical guidance for tunnel placement.
Innovation Solution
Development of instruments and methods that utilize detailed anatomical measurements of ACL bundle attachments to locate tunnel positions relative to bony landmarks, providing two-dimensional guidance for accurate placement of graft tunnels on the femur and tibia, reducing subjective error and improving reproducibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional ACL reconstruction instruments are used that rely on subjective surgeon judgment, then the surgical procedure is simple to perform, but the tunnel placement precision is poor leading to reconstruction failure
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument incorporates pre-measured anatomical dimensions and attachment point locations that have been determined beforehand through anatomical studies. The guide structure includes pre-established reference relationships to bony landmarks, allowing the surgeon to achieve accurate tunnel placement without requiring complex real-time measurements or subjective judgment during surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument acts as an intermediary device that translates anatomical landmarks into precise tunnel locations. It includes guide structures and reference features that mediate between the surgeon's visual identification of bony landmarks and the actual tunnel placement, eliminating the need for direct subjective measurement by the surgeon.
2Reliability
If anatomically accurate tunnel placement is achieved through detailed measurement instruments, then reconstruction success rate improves, but the surgical procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
All anatomical measurements and attachment point locations have been pre-determined through anatomical studies and incorporated into the instrument design. The guide structures include pre-established reference relationships to bony landmarks, allowing the surgeon to achieve accurate tunnel placement without requiring complex real-time measurements or subjective judgment during surgery.
3Manufacturing precision
If the ACL graft is placed at the anatomical attachment site, then the mechanical properties are improved, but it is difficult to judge the exact position even with modern arthroscopic camera systems
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument acts as an intermediary device that translates anatomical landmarks into precise tunnel locations. It includes guide structures and reference features that mediate between the surgeon's visual identification of bony landmarks and the actual tunnel placement, eliminating the need for direct subjective measurement by the surgeon.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument replaces the surgeon's subjective visual judgment and manual measurement with a pre-engineered mechanical guide structure. The guide includes pre-established geometric relationships and reference features that automatically translate landmark identification into accurate tunnel placement, substituting mechanical precision for human judgment.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for locating an attachment position for a reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament on an attachment surface of a bone comprises locating means 51, 61 arranged to locate at least one reference surface 4 of the bone and guide means 53, 54 arranged to define the attachment position in two dimensions on the attachment surface relative to the reference surface.