Arcuate Osteotomy Guide Template for Tibial Plateau Reorientation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical methods for high tibial osteotomies, particularly open wedge techniques, face challenges in precision, minimizing trauma to surrounding tissues, and stabilizing the tibia during healing, especially in adjusting the lateral and angular disposition of the tibial plateau relative to the lower portion of the tibia.

Innovation Solution

A novel method and apparatus involving an arcuate osteotomy cut in the tibia, forming keyholes and a keyhole slot, and using an implant with keys connected by a bridge to stabilize the tibia, ensuring precise adjustment and stabilization of the tibial plateau's orientation, thereby reorienting the load transfer from the femur to the tibia.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If open wedge osteotomy technique is used to adjust tibial plateau orientation, then the ability to reorient the tibia is improved, but precision and trauma to surrounding tissues worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to reorient tibiaVSAvoidprecision of osteotomy cut

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A guide template acts as an intermediary tool between the surgeon and the bone, providing precise guidance for making the osteotomy cut. The guide template includes reference surfaces that contact the tibial plateau and lower tibia to establish accurate orientation, thereby improving manufacturing precision while maintaining the adaptability of the open wedge technique

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide template is positioned and secured to the tibia before the osteotomy cut is made. This preliminary positioning establishes precise reference planes and ensures the correct orientation of the cut relative to the tibial plateau and lower tibia, resolving the precision issue before the actual cutting operation begins

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If open wedge osteotomy technique is used to create wedge-like opening, then the ability to adjust tibial geometry is improved, but trauma to surrounding tissue worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to adjust tibial geometryVSAvoidtrauma to surrounding tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide template serves as a protective intermediary by defining the precise boundaries of the osteotomy cut. Reference surfaces contact the tibial plateau and lower tibia to establish safe zones, preventing excessive cutting that would traumatize surrounding tissues while still allowing sufficient geometric adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide template applies local quality control by providing orientation references only where needed - specifically at the interfaces between the tibial plateau and lower tibia. This localized precision approach allows geometric adjustment in the osteotomy region while minimizing trauma to distant surrounding tissues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If open wedge osteotomy technique is used to manipulate tibia, then the ability to reorient tibial plateau is improved, but stabilization of tibia portions worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to reorient tibial plateauVSAvoidstability of tibia portions

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The guide template is divided into separate components: a first reference surface contacting the tibial plateau, a second reference surface contacting the lower tibia, and a cutting surface. This segmentation allows each component to be independently positioned and secured, improving the overall stability during the osteotomy procedure while maintaining the ability to reorient the tibial plateau

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide template acts as a stabilizing intermediary structure that bridges the tibial plateau and lower tibia during manipulation. By providing fixed reference surfaces that contact both regions, it stabilizes the relative positions of the tibia portions while still allowing the necessary reorientation to occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8062301B2Method and apparatus for performing a high tibial, dome osteotomy

Publication Date: 2011.11.22 ARTHREX INC

AI summary

A method for performing a high tibial, dome osteotomy to adjust the lateral and/or angular disposition of the tibial plateau relative to the lower portion of the tibia, the method comprising: forming an arcuate osteotomy cut in the tibia to subdivide it into upper and lower portions; manipulating the upper and lower portions to adjust their lateral and/or angular dispositions relative to one another; forming a pair of keyholes along the osteotomy cut; forming a keyhole slot to connect the two keyholes; forming a fixation hole in the tibia for each keyhole; providing an implant comprising a pair of keys connected by a bridge, each key comprising a bore for receiving a fixation screw therein; inserting the implant so that the keys are disposed in the keyholes, and so that the bores of the keys are aligned with the fixation holes; and inserting fixation screws through the bores of the keys and into the fixation holes of the keyholes so as to stabilize the upper and lower portions of the tibia.