Adjustable Trial Component for Knee Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional unicondylar knee arthroplasty (UKA) procedures face challenges in accurately positioning the femoral component relative to the tibial component, as the lateral-medial position is often fixed before complete evaluation, limiting the ability to adjust for proper alignment and potentially leading to discomfort or injury due to improper positioning.
Innovation Solution
A trial component with a sliding fastening mechanism that allows adjustable positioning of the body portion relative to the bone, enabling evaluation and adjustment of the lateral-medial position without interrupting the articular surface, facilitating correct alignment with the tibial component throughout the full range of knee movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the lateral-medial position of the femoral component is fixed at the stage of forming peg openings, then the surgical procedure can be completed efficiently, but the ability to adjust positioning based on complete evaluation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The trial component incorporates a sliding mechanism that allows the body portion to move laterally and medially relative to the bone while maintaining articulation. This dynamic positioning capability enables surgeons to adjust the lateral-medial position during evaluation, resolving the contradiction between fixed positioning efficiency and adjustability for proper alignment.
2Reliability
If a pin is used to fix the articulating trial component to the femur, then the component is securely retained, but the pin protrudes beyond the articulating surface and prevents complete evaluation of the knee joint
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the fixation function from the articulating surface by using a separate fixation mechanism (such as screws or clips) that attaches to the bone without interfering with the articulating surface. This allows the trial component to be securely retained while enabling complete evaluation of the knee joint throughout its full range of movement.
3Productivity
If the femoral component is positioned before complete evaluation, then the surgical workflow is maintained, but improper positioning may impede soft tissue structures and cause discomfort or injury
Solution Approach 1:
The trial component allows for preliminary positioning and evaluation before final implantation. The sliding mechanism enables surgeons to test different lateral-medial positions and identify the optimal position that avoids soft tissue impingement, thereby preventing harmful effects before the final component is permanently implanted.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary trial component is configured to be attached to a resected bone having a resection surface, and includes a body portion and a sliding fastening mechanism movably coupled to the body portion. The body portion has an articular surface, a bone-facing surface, and at least one drill guide extending through the articular surface and the bone-facing surface. The sliding fastening mechanism includes at least one post extending beyond the bone-facing surface, and the post is operable to engage the resection surface to retain the position of the sliding fastening mechanism relative to the bone. When attached to the bone, the trial component is structured to selectively retain the position of the body portion relative to the bone, and to selectively permit adjustment of the position of the body portion relative to the bone.