Adjustable Glenoid Pin Insertion Guide for Patient-Specific Alignment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical methods for anatomic or reverse arthroplasty require significant skill to accurately align a guide pin relative to the glenoid, as existing tools lack precision and efficiency in orienting the pin correctly.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a guiding pin insertion guide with a base plate and movable pin orientation device, coupled with an axis alignment device featuring a planar member with multiple through holes defining different alignment axes, allows for patient-specific alignment of the guiding pin, enabling precise orientation and fixation along a patient-specific axis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional surgical methods are used to align guide pin relative to glenoid, then surgical skill requirement increases, but alignment accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment accuracyVSAvoidsurgical skill requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a guide device as an intermediary tool between the surgeon and the glenoid bone. This device includes a base plate that contacts the glenoid surface and a guide portion that extends outward to receive the guide pin, acting as a mediator to achieve accurate alignment without requiring high surgical skill

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide device is prepared and positioned on the glenoid surface before the actual guide pin insertion. The base plate is first contacted with the glenoid, then the guide portion is positioned to define the insertion path, performing preliminary alignment actions that simplify the subsequent pin insertion process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If traditional alignment tools are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but alignment speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment speedVSAvoiddevice simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide device is divided into distinct functional segments: a base plate portion that contacts the glenoid surface and a guide portion that extends outward to define the insertion path. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function efficiently, improving overall alignment speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide device serves multiple functions: it provides a stable base on the glenoid surface, defines the precise insertion path through its guide portion, and guides the guide pin insertion. This multi-functionality consolidates several alignment steps into one device, improving productivity

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

Data Source

PatentEP3200703B1Adjustable glenoid pin insertion guide
Publication Date: 2020.01.08 BIOMET MFG LLC
  • EP3200703B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3200703B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3200703B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4B

AI summary

A system and method for aligning a guiding pin relative to a glenoid including a guiding pin insertion guide for orienting the guiding pin relative to the anatomic structure and an axis alignment device. The guiding pin insertion guide includes a base plate and a movable pin orientation device coupled to and extending from the base plate. The axis alignment device has a plurality of through holes that each define a different alignment axis. The guiding pin mates with one of the through holes to align the guiding pin at a patient-specific alignment axis, the guiding pin is then received within the guiding pin insertion guide when mated with the one of the through holes to align the guiding pin insertion guide along the patient-specific alignment axis relative to the base plate, and the guiding pin insertion guide is fixed to the base plate along the patient-specific alignment axis.