Adjustable Surgical Cutting Block for Bone Resection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Orthopedic surgical institutions face challenges in maintaining a diverse inventory of cutting blocks to cater to varying surgeon preferences for preparing bones to receive prosthetic implants, as existing cutting blocks either allow full control over cutting angles or restrict them, limiting flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A surgical cutting block with a block body and a capture feature that allows for adjustable angle cuts, including oblique surfaces and guide slots for anterior, posterior, and chamfer cuts, enabling precise resectioning with a cutting tool that can be angled and positioned using a capture with a reduced thickness for improved visualization and positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If 'open' cutting blocks are used to allow full control over cutting angles, then surgical flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases requiring larger inventory
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting block incorporates adjustable components that allow dynamic modification of cutting angles during surgery. The block includes adjustable guides and positioning mechanisms that can be reconfigured to provide different cutting angles, eliminating the need for multiple static cutting block designs in inventory.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting block is designed as a universal instrument that can perform multiple cutting functions (anterior, posterior, chamfer cuts) and accommodate different cutting angles through adjustable guides. This multi-functional design allows a single block to replace multiple specialized blocks, reducing inventory requirements while maintaining surgical flexibility.
2Device complexity
If 'slotted' cutting blocks are used to limit cutting angle adjustment, then device simplicity is improved, but surgical flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting block transitions from a static slotted design to a dynamic adjustable design. The block incorporates movable guides and reconfigurable positioning elements that allow the cutting angles to be adjusted during surgery, providing flexibility while maintaining a relatively simple overall block structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting block is divided into modular components including adjustable guides, positioning elements, and a base block. This segmentation allows individual components to be adjusted independently to achieve different cutting angles while maintaining the simplicity of the overall design.
3Measurement precision
If capture thickness is reduced for improved visualization, then surgical precision is improved, but structural stability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The capture feature is designed with non-uniform thickness distribution. The capture has a reduced thickness in specific regions to improve visualization of the cutting tool and bone interface, while maintaining adequate thickness in other areas to ensure structural stability and support during the cutting procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The capture feature employs asymmetric thickness design where different portions of the capture have different thicknesses. This asymmetry allows optimization of both visualization (thinner regions) and stability (thicker regions), achieving surgical precision without compromising overall structural integrity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The surgical cutting block allows for flexible and precise bone resectioning, accommodating different surgeon preferences while reducing the need for a large inventory of instruments, enhancing surgical efficiency and accuracy by enabling adjustable angle cuts and improved visualization.
Implementation Method 1
The first surface extends obliquely relative to the opposing second surface. The first surface is non-parallel to the opposing second surface.
Implementation Method 2
the capture is magnetically connected to the top surface
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical cutting block according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a block body including a top surface having a first thickness that extends between a first surface and an opposing second surface of the block body and a capture disposed at the top surface. The capture includes a second thickness that is less than the first thickness of the top surface.