Angled Glenoid Baseplate Assembly for Secure Shoulder Implant Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing articular cartilage implants face challenges in maximizing patient comfort, minimizing damage to surrounding areas, and ensuring long-term functionality, as they often rely on less durable fibrocartilage for repair.
Innovation Solution
A shoulder implant system comprising a glenoid implant and a baseplate with a movable center post, a releasable mechanical connection, and a tether, along with fixation elements that engage through interference fits and threaded connections, facilitating easy assembly and secure attachment to the bone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional fixation methods are used for glenoid implants, then the implant can be attached to the bone, but the assembly process is complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The implant system is divided into separate components (glenoid implant, baseplate, fixation elements) that can be independently prepared and then quickly assembled. The center post and center post receptacle are separate elements that engage through a simple interference fit, eliminating the need for complex multi-step fixation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixation elements are pre-positioned on the baseplate and the center post is pre-configured with its receptacle, allowing these components to be ready for rapid assembly during surgery. The interference fit geometry is pre-designed to ensure proper alignment and secure attachment without requiring additional adjustment steps.
2Reliability
If secure attachment is achieved through fixation elements, then implant stability is improved, but the assembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple fixation functions are combined into a single interference fit mechanism between the center post and center post receptacle. This unified approach provides secure attachment while simplifying the assembly process, as the same mechanical feature simultaneously achieves alignment, positioning, and secure fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The interference fit relies on carefully controlled dimensional parameters of the center post and receptacle. By optimizing the size, shape, and tolerance specifications of these features, the design achieves reliable secure attachment through a simple geometric relationship rather than complex mechanical fastening systems.
3Reliability
If the implant system requires multiple components for secure attachment, then attachment reliability is improved, but the number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The center post fits within the center post receptacle in a nested arrangement, creating a compact and integrated fixation mechanism. This nesting approach allows multiple functional elements to be combined in a space-efficient manner, reducing the overall number of separate components while maintaining secure attachment reliability.
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 system enhances patient comfort and minimizes damage while ensuring long-term functionality by providing a secure and durable attachment mechanism for the implant, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one fixation element of the glenoid implant and the at least one fixation element of the baseplate are configured to engage with an interference fit
Implementation Method 2
the releasable mechanical connection is a threaded connection
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a glenoid implant system for a reverse shoulder implant system that includes a glenoid implant having a center post, and also includes an angled baseplate comprising a bone facing surface to face an implant site prepared in a glenoid region of a patient, and an implant facing surface to face and engage the glenoid implant and receive the center post of the glenoid implant, wherein the implant facing surface being at an angle with respect to a centerline of the bone facing surface.