Discretely Adjustable Hip Trial Kit for Rapid Fit Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hip replacement surgery requires multiple trial implants to determine the best fit for a patient's anatomy, which can be time-consuming and involves many parts, whereas existing adjustable trial kits are not efficient in quickly determining suitable height and offset values for implantable proximal bodies.
Innovation Solution
A modular adjustable trial kit with a fixed portion and adjustable portions that can lock into discrete locations along the fixed portion, allowing for quick adjustment and selection of the best fit for height and offset values, reducing the number of parts needed and simplifying the surgical process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple trial implants are used to determine the best fit, then the accuracy of fit determination is improved, but the time required and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The trial implant is divided into a fixed portion and an adjustable portion that can be independently positioned. The adjustable portion can be locked at multiple discrete locations along the fixed portion, allowing systematic evaluation of different height and offset combinations without requiring multiple complete trial implants.
Solution Approach 2:
The trial implant transitions from a static, fixed configuration to a dynamic, adjustable configuration. The adjustable portion can be moved between discrete positions during surgery to evaluate different anatomical fits, then locked in the optimal position. This dynamic capability reduces the need for multiple separate trial implants while maintaining measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If multiple trial implants are used to determine the best fit, then the accuracy of fit determination is improved, but the number of parts and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The trial implant is divided into a fixed portion and an adjustable portion that can be independently positioned. The adjustable portion can be locked at multiple discrete locations along the fixed portion, allowing systematic evaluation of different height and offset combinations without requiring multiple complete trial implants.
Solution Approach 2:
A single trial implant with an adjustable portion serves multiple functions that would otherwise require multiple separate trial implants. The adjustable portion can be positioned at various discrete locations to evaluate different height and offset combinations, making one device equivalent to a set of multiple fixed trial implants.
3Ease of operation
If adjustable portions lock into discrete locations, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The trial implant is divided into a fixed portion and an adjustable portion that can be independently positioned. The adjustable portion can be locked at multiple discrete locations along the fixed portion, allowing systematic evaluation of different height and offset combinations without requiring multiple complete trial implants.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable portion includes a self-locking mechanism that automatically engages with the fixed portion at predetermined discrete locations. This self-service feature allows the practitioner to easily adjust and lock the trial implant at different positions without requiring complex tools or procedures, while the predetermined locations ensure manufacturing precision is maintained.
Data Source
AI summary
Hip replacement surgery (hip arthroplasty) includes implantation of a distal stem into a femur of a patient, and implantation of a proximal body to connect to the distal stem. A practitioner uses a “trial” or “provisional” to determine a suitable size and configuration for the implantable proximal body, then selects a suitable proximal body from a set of differently sized and shaped proximal bodies. The trial adjusts discretely, as opposed to continuously, and has discrete settings that correspond to the sizes and configurations available in the set of implantable proximal bodies. In some examples, the trials are provided as a kit of parts, where each part in the kit is adjustable for height (i.e., the length of the femur). The parts in the kit can have different, fixed, values for offset (i.e., the lateral distance of the femur to the center of the femoral head in the acetabulum).