Expandable Ankle Joint Reaming for Less Invasive Implant Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current total ankle replacement procedures are complex and invasive, requiring significant instrumentation and invasive access techniques to place implants correctly, which complicates the surgical process.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a track assembly, shaft, and an expandable surgical device with bone engagement segments that allow for posterior insertion into the ankle joint, enabling expansion in a superior direction without increasing diameter, facilitated by a clutch mechanism for controlled rotation and sequential expansion of bone engagement segments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional total ankle replacement instrumentation and access techniques are used, then accurate implant placement can be achieved, but the surgical process becomes complex and invasive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple surgical functions (reaming, expanding, and implant placement guidance) into a single integrated expandable surgical device. The device merges the reamer and implant components, allowing both functions to be performed with one instrument rather than requiring separate tools and multiple invasive access channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical device transitions from a collapsed insertion state to an expanded operational state within the tibia. This dynamic transformation allows the device to start with minimal invasiveness during insertion, then expand to provide accurate reaming and implant placement guidance, reducing the need for complex pre-positioned instrumentation.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple separate instruments are used for reaming and implant placement, then precise control can be maintained, but the number of invasive access channels increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the reamer and implant components into a single device that performs both reaming and implant placement guidance functions. This eliminates the need for separate instruments that would require additional invasive access channels through the calcaneus and talus, thereby reducing tissue damage while maintaining surgical precision.
3Ease of operation
If a linear access path through calcaneus and talus is used, then implant positioning is simplified, but the invasiveness and complexity of the procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device dynamically transforms from a collapsed state during insertion to an expanded state during reaming and implant placement. This allows the device to navigate through minimal tissue disruption while expanding within the tibia to provide accurate positioning, eliminating the need for a predetermined linear access path through the calcaneus and talus.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and related methods for preparing and treating damage in an ankle joint. The system may include one or more of a reamer, a surgical device, a tibial implant, a placement tool, and a talar implant. The reamer may prepare an intramedullary canal for implantation of an implant. The reamer may include a plurality of nested reamer elements that may be expanded into the intramedullary canal. The surgical device may include a housing containing the reamer and be configured to orient the reamer with the intramedullary canal. The tibial implant may include a plurality of stem components. The placement tool may be configured to combine the plurality of stem components. The talar implant may be configured to be implanted in a talus.