Adjustable Modular Acetabular Augment for Hip Prosthesis

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional acetabular cups and augments offer limited versatility due to fixed orientations, requiring a large inventory to accommodate various patient-specific defects and anatomical variations, which complicates the selection and implantation process.

Innovation Solution

An orthopedic prosthesis system comprising an acetabular cup, an augment, and a securing member that allows for adjustable positioning through a threaded fastener and nut mechanism, enabling the augment to be nested and locked into place relative to the cup, with protrusions on the augment surface for offsetting and spacers for additional adjustments, facilitating customizable fit and alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional acetabular cups and augments are configured with fixed orientations, then manufacturing and implantation are simplified, but versatility is limited requiring a high inventory of different components

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveversatilityVSAvoidinventory complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The augment is designed with a modular structure that can be dynamically adjusted to different orientations and positions relative to the acetabular cup. The securing member allows the augment to be positioned at multiple angles and locations, transforming a static component into a dynamically adjustable one, thereby achieving versatility without requiring multiple fixed-orientation components in inventory.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The acetabular cup and augment system is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate various patient-specific defects and anatomical variations through adjustable positioning. The augment can serve multiple functions by being positioned differently to address superior, inferior, medial, or lateral defects, making a single component design universally applicable across diverse clinical scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If traditional acetabular cups and augments are configured with fixed orientations, then component design is simplified, but the selection and implantation process becomes complicated due to high inventory requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplantation processVSAvoidcomponent selection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustable positioning mechanism allows the surgeon to dynamically select and adjust the augment's position and orientation during implantation based on the specific patient anatomy and defect location. This eliminates the need to pre-select from multiple fixed-orientation components, simplifying the implantation process while maintaining design simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If an adjustable modular augment system is implemented, then versatility and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and structural complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadjustabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The augment is segmented into a modular structure with distinct components including the augment body, securing member with threaded shaft and head, and nut with engagement features. This segmentation allows each component to be independently manufactured and assembled, managing structural complexity through modularity while enabling versatile adjustment capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The securing member is nested within the augment structure, with the threaded shaft passing through the augment body and the nut engaging with features on the augment. The head of the fastener nests against the outer surface of the augment when tightened. This nesting arrangement consolidates multiple components into a compact integrated assembly, managing structural complexity while maintaining adjustability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP2242450B1An acetabular cup having an adjustable modular augment
Publication Date: 2015.04.08 BIOMET MFG LLC
  • EP2242450B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2242450B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2242450B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An orthopedic prosthesis for implantation into a bone of a patient can include a shell, an augment and a securing member. The shell can be adapted to be affixed within the bone and have an outer surface adapted to receive bone ingrowth after implantation. The shell can have an inner surface adapted to engage a liner. An elongated slot can extend between the outer and inner surfaces of the shell. The augment can define a body and have a passage therethrough. The securing member can extend through the passage and the slot. The securing member can be movable between a locked position wherein the augment is precluded from relative movement with the shell and an unlocked position wherein the securing member is adapted to slidably traverse along the slot to locate the augment at a plurality of positions relative to the shell.