Adjustable Tibial Trial Instrument for Knee Arthroplasty
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current orthopaedic surgical instruments for total knee arthroplasty lack the ability to efficiently adjust and secure the tibial plate in both anterior/posterior direction and rotation relative to the resected planar surface of the tibia, complicating the implantation of orthopaedic knee prostheses.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable tibial trial instrument with a tibial plate and an attachment mechanism that includes bone-engaging spikes and thumbscrews, allowing for precise anterior/posterior movement and rotational adjustment of the tibial plate relative to the tibia, along with a sizing template for accurate positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixed tibial trial instrument is used, then the instrument structure is simple, but the positioning accuracy and adaptability of the tibial plate are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The tibial trial instrument incorporates adjustable mechanisms that allow the tibial plate to be dynamically repositioned in the anterior/posterior direction and rotated relative to the tibia's longitudinal axis. This dynamic capability enables precise positioning adaptation during surgery without requiring multiple fixed instruments, resolving the contradiction between positioning accuracy and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument is divided into separable components including the tibial plate, adjustment mechanisms with knobs and shuttles, and attachment mechanisms with bone-engaging spikes. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of positioning parameters while maintaining overall structural coherence, achieving high positioning accuracy without excessive complexity.
2Measurement precision
If manual adjustment methods are used, then the device structure is simple, but the adjustment precision and efficiency are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The manual adjustment system is replaced with a mechanical transmission system consisting of knobs, shuttles, and threaded channels. Rotating the knobs converts rotational motion into linear displacement of the shuttles along the channels, providing precise control over the tibial plate's position and orientation. This mechanical substitution achieves high adjustment precision while maintaining reasonable device complexity through efficient mechanical advantage.
Data Source
AI summary
An orthopaedic surgical system for use in implanting a total knee prosthesis includes an adjustable tibial trial component that is movable in the anterior/posterior direction and rotatable when installed on the resected surface of a patient's tibia. A method of using such a system is also disclosed.