Ankle Prosthesis with Expansion Spikes for Minimal Bone Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ankle prostheses require complex and risky surgical operations that involve significant bone machining and removal, leading to complications for both patients and surgeons, often resulting in permanent disability due to the need for arthrodesis.
Innovation Solution
An ankle prosthesis design that allows for a simpler installation using a frontal operation technique, preserving the posterior malleolus of the tibia and minimizing bone machining, with a tibial component and talar component that include expansion spikes and a connection structure for stability and anatomical fit, enabling a limited number of cuts and optimal support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional ankle prosthesis installation methods are used, then the prosthesis can be implanted, but the surgical operation becomes complex and risky involving significant bone machining and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis is divided into separate components (tibial component, intermediate component, talar component) that can be implanted independently through a simplified frontal approach, avoiding the need for complex lateral surgery and significant bone removal
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of removing bone to make space for the prosthesis, the invention inverts the approach by designing components that fit around and preserve the existing bone structure, particularly the posterior malleolus, requiring minimal bone machining
2Reliability
If traditional prosthesis methods are used, then the articulation is replaced, but intact and functional bone portions must be removed and reconstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis components are pre-designed with specific geometries and connection structures that allow direct implantation without preliminary bone removal or reconstruction steps, preserving the posterior malleolus and other intact bone portions
Solution Approach 2:
The prosthesis components are designed to interact with specific local bone structures (e.g., tibial plateau, talus) while leaving other bone portions untouched, allowing targeted implantation that preserves overall bone integrity
3Reliability
If complex bone machining is performed, then the prosthesis can be secured, but the surgical operation time increases and risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis components feature self-aligning and self-securing mechanisms (e.g., expansion spikes, interlocking geometries) that automatically ensure proper positioning and stability upon implantation, eliminating the need for time-consuming complex bone machining and adjustment procedures
Data Source
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AI summary
Ankle prosthesis (400) comprising a tibial component (100), a talar component (200) and an intermediate component (300) interposed between said tibial component (100) and said talar component (300). The prosthesis has an anatomical shape and enables restoration of articular functionalities. Also described are a tool for the shaping of a talus, which shaping is aimed at the implant of the talar component (200) of said prosthesis (400), and a surgical tool for enabling a shaping of the tibia aimed at the implantation of the tibial component (100).