Ankle Prosthesis Embedded Adjustment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ankle prostheses face limitations in adjusting to the natural anatomy of patients, leading to mechanical stresses, discomfort, and premature wear, due to limited adjustment possibilities and the need for multiple test implants, which increase surgical trauma and equipment usage.
Innovation Solution
An ankle prosthesis with a talar implant, tibial implant, and intermediate implant, featuring embedded adjustment means that allow for independent movement in multiple degrees of freedom, controlled by control means to alternate between releasing and locking states, enabling in vivo configuration and locking without the need for test implants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If adjustment means are embedded to modify assembly configuration of intermediate implant relative to tibial implant, then adaptability to patient anatomy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis is divided into separate components (tibial implant, intermediate implant, talar implant) with adjustment means embedded in the intermediate implant. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of the intermediate implant's position and orientation relative to other components, providing adaptability without requiring complex integrated designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment means include release mechanisms that allow the intermediate implant to transition between fixed and adjustable states. During surgery, the release mechanism enables modification of assembly configuration to match patient anatomy, while after implantation, the mechanism locks to provide stable fixed positioning.
2Measurement precision
If multiple test implants are used to measure joint anatomy before final implantation, then measurement precision is improved, but surgical trauma and operation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment means are pre-configured in the intermediate implant with release mechanisms that enable post-implantation adjustment. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for multiple test implants, as the final implant itself can be adjusted to achieve precise anatomical matching after a single implantation procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The embedded adjustment means allow the surgical team to perform measurements and adjustments using the final implant itself rather than requiring separate test implants. The release mechanism enables the implant to be positioned and adjusted directly during surgery, making the implant self-sufficient for both placement and configuration.
3Stability of the object's composition
If intermediate implant is held stationary against tibial implant, then stability is improved, but mechanical stresses and wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment means enable the intermediate implant to be positioned at optimal angles and positions relative to the tibial implant, allowing controlled movement and stress distribution. The release mechanism permits adjustment to achieve the best balance between stability and stress reduction for each patient's specific anatomy and activity level.
Solution Approach 2:
The assembly configuration parameters (position, orientation, angles) of the intermediate implant relative to the tibial implant can be modified using the embedded adjustment means. By optimizing these parameters during surgery, the prosthesis achieves both stability and reduced mechanical stresses, preventing premature wear.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an ankle prosthesis including a talar implant, a tibial implant, and an intermediate implant designed to be mounted to move relative to said talar implant in order to impart mobility to the ankle, said prosthesis further including embedded adjustment structure designed to alternate between a releasing state, in which they allow the intermediate implant to move relative to the tibial implant, and a locking state, in which they hold the prosthesis in the chosen assembly configuration, said prosthesis being characterized in that said adjustment structure can be controlled to be operable while the prosthesis is in the assembled state in vivo.