Dual Bundle ACL Reconstruction Guide Needle Offset Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

In dual bundle ACL reconstruction surgeries, accurately positioning the anterior medial and posterior lateral tunnels is challenging, leading to potential failure due to incorrect tunnel placement.

Innovation Solution

A method and tool are developed to drill a second tunnel in the bone relative to a first tunnel, using a locating member and a cutting guide that can be moved to define a desired offset, allowing for precise placement of the second tunnel relative to the first tunnel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a dual bundle reconstruction is performed to replace a torn ACL, then the reconstruction accuracy and success rate are improved, but the difficulty of accurately positioning one tunnel relative to the other tunnel increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereconstruction success rateVSAvoidtunnel positioning difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a guide needle as an intermediary tool that is inserted into the first tunnel and serves as a reference for positioning the second tunnel. The guide needle mediates the relationship between the two tunnels, allowing the surgeon to accurately position the second tunnel relative to the first tunnel by using the guide needle as a physical reference point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with a simpler guide needle-based approach. Instead of using elaborate mechanical guides or computer-assisted systems, the invention uses a straightforward mechanical substitution where the guide needle itself becomes the positioning reference, simplifying the overall positioning mechanism while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If correct placement of AM and PL tunnels is ensured, then the reliability of ACL reconstruction is improved, but the complexity of the surgical procedure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetunnel placement accuracyVSAvoidsurgical procedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by first inserting the guide needle into the first tunnel before proceeding to position the second tunnel. This preliminary placement of the guide needle establishes a reference framework that simplifies subsequent tunnel positioning, allowing the surgeon to ensure correct placement without increasing overall procedural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8287544B2Method and apparatus for performing ACL reconstruction

Publication Date: 2012.10.16 BIOMET MFG LLC

AI summary

A method and apparatus for drilling a bone for receipt of a first and second bundle includes drilling a first tunnel in the bone. A locating member extending along a first axis from the tool may be positioned into the first tunnel. A cutting guide may be moved relative to the locating member to define a lateral offset between the locating member and the cutting guide. The cutting guide may then be located at a desired offset. The second tunnel may then be formed in the bone with a cutting member associated with the cutting guide, the cutting member having a second axis in a defined orientation relative to the first axis.