Adjustable Drill Guide for Latarjet Procedure Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical drill guides used in the Latarjet procedure often result in misalignment between holes drilled in the glenoid and coracoid, leading to potential cartilage damage and accuracy issues when using screws instead of sutures or anchors, as retroactive alignment is not possible once holes are drilled.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable drill guide assembly with an aimer arm that extends at a fixed angle and can be vertically adjusted in 1 mm increments using a translation member, allowing precise alignment of holes in the glenoid with those in the coracoid, and featuring a locking mechanism for secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a fixed drill guide is used to place holes in the glenoid, then the drilling process is simplified, but misalignment between glenoid and coracoid holes occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The drill guide employs an adjustable aimer arm that can be dynamically repositioned along the longitudinal axis relative to the drill sleeve. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the guide to adapt to varying bone thicknesses and anatomical configurations, enabling precise alignment between glenoid and coracoid holes while maintaining ease of use during the surgical procedure.
2Manufacturing precision
If the coracoid thickness is reduced with a burr to correct misalignment, then hole alignment improves, but cartilage damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable aimer arm is configured before drilling to account for the specific coracoid thickness. By pre-adjusting the vertical distance between the aimer arm and drill sleeve based on measured bone dimensions, the correct hole alignment is achieved from the outset, eliminating the need for subsequent burr shaving and preventing cartilage damage.
3Manufacturing precision
If the aimer arm is made adjustable to improve alignment precision, then hole alignment accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drill guide is divided into distinct functional segments: a fixed body providing structural support, an adjustable aimer arm for precision positioning, and a drill sleeve for guide wire insertion. This segmentation allows the complex adjustment function to be isolated to a specific component, making the overall device more manageable and easier to operate despite the added precision capability.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 2
AI summary
Drill guide assemblies are adjustable for proper alignment of drill holes in the glenoid with the drill holes in the coracoid during a Latarjet procedure. The drill guide has an aimer arm extending from the body of the drill guide which has a fixed angle with respect to a drill sleeve inserted through the guide. The aimer arm can move up or down relative to the drill sleeve while maintaining the fixed angle relative to the drill sleeve by actuation of a translation member on the body.