Ankle Prosthesis Curved Articular Surface Kinematics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ankle prostheses fail to accurately replicate the natural kinematics of the ankle joint, leading to reduced mobility and increased mechanical stress on neighboring joints, necessitating a more effective and comfortable solution for patients with ankle pathologies like osteoarthritis.
Innovation Solution
The proposed ankle prosthesis features a talar component with a curved articular surface comprising distinct curved portions, a tibial component, and an intermediate component, designed to mimic the natural anatomical movements of the ankle, using biocompatible materials and a unique articulation system that allows for complex joint movements and reduced stress on surrounding joints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional ankle prosthesis with simple articular surface is used, then manufacturing is easier and cost is lower, but kinematics accuracy and mobility reproduction are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The first articular surface is segmented into multiple curved portions (first curved portion, second curved portion, third curved portion) along the first average direction. Each portion has a different curvature radius, allowing the prosthesis to reproduce complex natural ankle movements through the combination of these segmented curved surfaces, thereby improving kinematics accuracy without requiring an overly complex monolithic design.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the first articular surface are assigned different local curvatures (first curvature, second curvature, third curvature) to match the varying geometry of natural ankle movement at different positions. This local variation in surface quality enables accurate reproduction of ankle kinematics across the full range of motion while maintaining a manageable overall design complexity.
2Ease of operation
If ankle prosthesis with complex curved articular surface is used, then natural movement reproduction is improved, but manufacturing difficulty and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The first articular surface is designed with multiple spherical or spheroidal curved portions instead of flat or simple surfaces. Each curved portion corresponds to a specific range of motion, enabling the prosthesis to naturally guide ankle movement through geometric constraints. This curvature-based design improves mobility and comfort by reproducing natural kinematics while using standardized manufacturing techniques for creating curved surfaces.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If simple arthrodesis operation is performed, then joint pain is stopped, but ankle mobility is completely suppressed and neighboring joints are stressed
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis introduces an intermediate artificial joint system between the tibia and talus, consisting of the tibial component, talar component, and intermediate component with plastic pad. This intermediary structure replaces the damaged natural joint while preserving controlled mobility, thereby eliminating pain through proper load distribution while maintaining necessary ankle movement to protect neighboring joints from excessive stress.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns an ankle prosthesis (100), comprising a talar component (200) which includes a talar upper face (201) defining a first articular surface (202) and which extends between a talar anterior edge (203) and an opposite talar posterior edge (204) according to a first average direction, said first articular surface (202) being curved according to said first average direction, said first articular surface (202) comprising a first curved portion (202A) and a second curved portion (202B), each extending according to said first average direction, said first curved portion (202A) having a first curvature and said second curved portion (202B) having a second curvature, said prosthesis (100) being characterized in that said first curved portion (202A) and said second curved portion (202B) define respectively an anterior portion and a posterior portion of said first articular surface (202), said first curvature being greater than said second curvature.