Adjustable Surgical Impactor for Implant Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing impactors for surgical or veterinary prosthetic implants are difficult to manipulate and require precise adjustment, making it challenging to correctly engage and orient implants during positioning, especially under sterile surgical conditions.
Innovation Solution
An impactor with an impaction shoe and adjustable connection means that allows for quick engagement and rigid fixation of implants, featuring spring-loaded arms and a screw-threaded shaft for secure positioning and orientation, enabling easy handling and precise alignment without direct contact with the sterile implant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the impactor uses precise adjustment mechanisms to engage the implant, then the implant positioning precision is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection means incorporates adjustable elements that allow dynamic repositioning of the impaction shoe relative to the arms. The shoe can be adjusted along the longitudinal axis and rotated about the transverse axis, enabling the system to adapt to different implant sizes and orientations while maintaining precise positioning through mechanical constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The impactor is divided into separable functional components: the impaction shoe, the arms, and the connection means. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of each component's position and orientation, facilitating precise engagement while simplifying the operation of individual elements.
2Ease of operation
If the impactor allows small play between impactor and implant, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection means provides a dynamic adjustment mechanism that allows controlled movement of the impaction shoe during engagement, then locks into a stable, reliable position. The adjustable elements enable initial ease of engagement followed by secure fixation, balancing operational ease with engagement stability.
3Manufacturing precision
If the impactor is designed for a particular implant design, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The impactor incorporates adjustable connection means that enable a single device to accommodate multiple implant sizes and orientations. The impaction shoe can be repositioned along the longitudinal axis and rotated about the transverse axis, allowing the same impactor to be used universally across different implant types while maintaining precise positioning for each specific application.
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
Facilitates easy and precise engagement and orientation of implants, minimizing handling and ensuring correct positioning and orientation during implantation, while allowing for secure and stable impact transmission, even under sterile conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a spring mounted between the impaction shoe and the housing, said spring being configured to bias the impaction shoe away from the housing
Implementation Method 2
a portion of said shaft is externally screw threaded and is in screw threaded engagement with a housing which is slideably engaged with the impaction shoe
Data Source
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AI summary
An impactor for positioning and holding a surgical or veterinary prosthetic implant whilst it is being driven into position, said impactor including:- (a) an impaction means; (b) an impaction shoe which is configured to receive and support a prosthetic implant in a predetermined position; (c) connection means which connect the impaction means to the impaction shoe and are configured to transmit an impact from the impaction means to the impaction shoe; (d) arms configured to engage an implant supported upon the impaction shoe; (e) said arms being biased into engagement with said implant, but movable against the bias out of engagement with the implant; (f) said connection means being adjustable between a first setting at which the impaction shoe is spring-loaded so as to bias an implant supported upon the impaction shoe into engagement with said arms but at which the impaction shoe can slide relative to said arms, against said spring bias; and a second setting at which both the impaction shoe and the arms are rigidly engaged with an implant supported upon the impaction shoe, to hold the implant in a predetermined position and orientation relative to the impaction means.