Adjustable Orthopedic Targeting Guide for Screw Trajectory
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bone fusion technologies, such as internal rod fixation, lack adjustability in screw trajectory, leading to non-ideal screw placement, potential tissue damage, and interference with orthopedic hardware, particularly in procedures like the Lapidus procedure for hallux valgus and hammertoe deformity corrections.
Innovation Solution
An orthopedic instrument assembly with a targeting guide and rotatable post that allows for adjustable alignment and screw placement, featuring a targeting guide offset and guide adjustment member to refine the alignment of screws with the post aperture, enabling precise screw trajectory adjustment and engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If internal rod fixation is used with fixed trajectory anchoring screws, then the rod is internal to the bone avoiding soft tissue irritation, but the screw trajectory cannot be adjusted leading to non-ideal bone purchase and potential tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The targeting guide is designed with rotational capability around the longitudinal axis of the post, transforming a static fixation system into a dynamic one. The guide can be rotated to different angles and positions, allowing the surgeon to adjust the screw trajectory dynamically during the procedure to achieve optimal bone purchase while maintaining the benefits of internal rod fixation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a rotational degree of freedom to the traditional internal rod fixation system. By allowing the targeting guide to rotate around the post's longitudinal axis, the system gains angular adjustability in the screw insertion trajectory, enabling optimization of screw placement without changing from internal to external fixation
2Device complexity
If the targeting guide is fixed relative to the post, then the device structure is simple, but the screw placement precision is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The targeting guide incorporates rotational movement capability around the post's longitudinal axis, allowing dynamic adjustment of the guide's orientation. This enables precise alignment of the targeting aperture with the desired screw trajectory while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The targeting guide acts as an intermediary component between the post and the screw. It provides a configurable interface that translates the fixed post structure into adjustable screw placement options, mediating between the simple post design and the precision requirements of screw insertion
Data Source
AI summary
An orthopedic instrument assembly for placing an implant into a bone has a targeting guide having an adjustable targeting arm, and a targeting aperture, where the targeting aperture defines a targeting axis through the targeting aperture. The orthopedic instrument assembly has a post having a longitudinal axis and the post connectable to the targeting guide. The post has a post aperture a post aperture center. The post aperture is aligned at a predefined angle relative to the longitudinal axis, where the post aperture defines a post aperture axis through the post aperture, the post aperture axis intersecting the longitudinal axis at the post aperture center. The adjustable targeting arm is for aligning the targeting axis with the post aperture center and thereby aligning the targeting aperture with the post aperture.