Ankle Prosthesis Tibia Cutting Guide Automatic Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical apparatuses for implanting ankle prostheses are inefficient due to the difficulty in accurately positioning external tibial cutting guides, which require multiple external adjustments and lead to inaccuracies in bone cuts, affecting the mechanical strength and stability of the bone-prosthesis assembly.
Innovation Solution
A surgical apparatus with a support frame that includes an anterior portion for the talus and a rear portion for the tibia, featuring a cutting guide insert to guide the cutting blade, allowing for automatic alignment and reducing the need for external adjustments, ensuring precise cuts adapted to the patient's anatomy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If external tibial cutting guides are used, then the cutting operation can be performed, but the positioning is difficult and requires multiple external adjustments leading to inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The support frame is divided into distinct portions: an anterior portion configured to bear on the talus and a rear portion configured to be secured to the tibia. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function independently, with the anterior portion providing automatic alignment and the rear portion providing stable attachment, thereby eliminating the need for multiple external adjustments while maintaining cutting accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The anterior portion of the support frame acts as an intermediary element between the talus and the cutting guide system. By bearing on the talus and establishing automatic alignment with the tibia, it mediates the positioning process and eliminates the need for complex external adjustments, directly improving cutting accuracy while reducing device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple external adjustments are made for positioning, then the cutting guide can be adapted, but errors are introduced and mechanical stability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The anterior portion of the support frame is designed to automatically align itself with the patient's anatomy by bearing on the talus and establishing contact with the tibia. This self-aligning mechanism eliminates the need for manual external adjustments, thereby maintaining positioning flexibility while ensuring high reliability and accuracy without introducing errors.
3Ease of operation
If conventional cutting guides are used, then the procedure can be completed, but the alignment of anatomical landmarks is not automatic requiring manual adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The anterior portion of the support frame is pre-configured with the proper geometry and contact surfaces to automatically align with the talus and tibia when positioned. This preliminary configuration ensures that once the support frame is in place, the alignment of anatomical landmarks is automatic and precise, eliminating the need for manual adjustment while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
The surgical apparatus comprising a support frame having an anterior portion configured to bear on an upper surface of a talus of the patient, and a rear portion configured to be secured to the tibia of the patient; and a cutting guide insert mounted on the support frame and configured to guide a cutting blade for cutting of a lower end part of the tibia.