Patient-Specific Ankle Alignment Guide for Precise TAR Bone Resection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing total ankle replacement (TAR) systems face challenges in accurately aligning the tibia and talus bones due to complex, time-consuming, and often subjective alignment guides, leading to misalignments and improper implant placement.
Innovation Solution
A patient-specific alignment guide comprising a talar and tibial component, customized using image data to maintain the ankle in a preselected position, ensuring precise bone resection and implant alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If complex alignment guides are used for bone resection, then alignment precision is improved, but surgical time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment guide is divided into separate tibial and talar components that can be independently positioned and secured to each bone. This segmentation allows the guide to be assembled and adjusted during surgery without requiring a single complex monolithic structure, reducing setup time while maintaining alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment guide components are designed to be pre-configured with attachment mechanisms and positioning features that enable rapid intraoperative assembly. The guide can be pre-assembled with the implant components, allowing the entire alignment and implantation process to be performed more efficiently during surgery.
2Device complexity
If subjective alignment methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but alignment accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment guide serves as an intermediary device between the surgeon and the bone resection process. It provides objective, measurable alignment references through its precisely engineered interfaces with the tibia and talus, eliminating subjective visual estimation while maintaining relatively simple device construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment guide replaces subjective visual alignment methods with a mechanical positioning system that uses physical interfaces, attachment mechanisms, and geometric constraints to ensure accurate alignment. This mechanical system provides objective, repeatable positioning without requiring complex electronic or optical systems.
3Ease of operation
If separate tibial and talar guide mounts are used, then ease of operation is improved, but alignment coordination becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment guide combines the tibial and talar components into a coordinated system where the relative positioning between the two components is precisely controlled. The guide maintains the correct spatial relationship between the tibia and talus through its integrated design, ensuring proper alignment while allowing each component to be independently attached to its respective bone.
Data Source
AI summary
An alignment guide for total ankle replacement surgery and a method of creating and using the alignment guide. The alignment guide has a surface that interfaces with a corresponding surface of a superior aspect a talus of a patient, and as second surface portion that interfaces with a corresponding distal surface of a section of a tibia of the patient. When the alignment guide is in position, it maintains the ankle of the patient in a preselected position.