Adaptive Surgical Guide with Deformable Portion for Anatomical Fit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical guiding apparatuses face instability and inaccuracy due to the inability to accurately represent anatomical surfaces, especially with soft tissues not visible in medical images, leading to poor fit and stability during surgical procedures.

Innovation Solution

The development of adaptive surface surgical guiding apparatuses with a combination of rigid and variable deformable portions, where the deformable portions conform to the shape of anatomical surfaces, providing a secure and stable attachment despite inaccuracies in anatomical modeling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a rigid surgical guiding apparatus is designed based on pre-operative medical imaging data, then the apparatus can provide precise surgical instrument guiding positions, but the apparatus becomes unstable when anatomical surfaces vary from the imaged shape

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurgical instrument guiding precisionVSAvoidapparatus stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical guiding apparatus transitions from a completely rigid structure to a dynamic structure incorporating deformable portions that can adapt to anatomical variations. The deformable portion allows the apparatus to dynamically adjust its shape to match the actual anatomical surface, maintaining both precision and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The apparatus utilizes changes in physical parameters of the deformable portion (flexibility, deformability) to accommodate variations in anatomical surface geometry. By changing the physical state from rigid to deformable in specific regions, the apparatus can adapt to different anatomical configurations while maintaining guiding precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If the surgical guiding apparatus is made completely rigid to maintain structural integrity, then the apparatus provides stable support, but the apparatus cannot accommodate anatomical surface variations leading to poor fit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidanatomical surface adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus applies different structural qualities to different regions: rigid portions in areas requiring structural integrity and support, and deformable portions in areas requiring adaptability to anatomical variations. This local differentiation allows the apparatus to simultaneously achieve both strength and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical guiding apparatus combines rigid and deformable materials or structural configurations within a single device. This composite approach allows different portions of the apparatus to exhibit different mechanical properties, achieving both structural integrity and anatomical adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Adaptability or versatility

If adjustable components are added to improve fit on variable anatomy, then the apparatus can adapt to different shapes, but the apparatus complexity increases leading to imprecise guiding positions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanatomical surface adaptabilityVSAvoidapparatus complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus incorporates a deformable portion that functions as a flexible element capable of conforming to anatomical surfaces without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms. This flexible shell approach provides adaptability while maintaining relative simplicity in the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

This approach ensures a stable and secure attachment to anatomical surfaces, enhancing the precision and effectiveness of surgical procedures by accommodating variability and inaccuracies in anatomical representations.

Implementation Method 1

a variable deformable portion coupled to the one or more rigid portions, the variable deformable portion configured to conform to a shape of a second region of the underlying anatomical surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2996583B1Adaptive surface surgical guiding apparatus and systems and methods of manufacturing adaptive surface surgical guiding apparatus
Publication Date: 2021.12.08 MATERIALISE NV
  • EP2996583B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1c
  • EP2996583B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2996583B1 patent drawingFigure 2c~2d

AI summary

The present application relates to adaptive surface surgical guiding apparatuses. A surgical guiding apparatus may include one or more rigid portions configured to attach to a first region of an underlying anatomical surface. The surgical guiding apparatus may further include a variable deformable portion coupled to the one or more rigid portions, the variable deformable portion configured to conform to a shape of a second region of the underlying anatomical surface to provide a stable attachment of the surgical guiding apparatus to the underlying anatomical surface. The present disclosure further provides methods for manufacturing surgical guiding apparatuses and uses of the apparatuses for placement onto an underlying anatomical surface.