Arthroplasty Impactor with Spine for Intercondylar Notch Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical instruments lack effective means to stabilize and orient variously sized tibial and femoral components during joint arthroplasty procedures, requiring multiple tools for different component sizes and leading to inefficiencies in surgical precision and alignment.

Innovation Solution

A surgical instrument with a spine extending from its shaft, which can be positioned within the intercondylar notch of a femoral component, and a cavity to accommodate a tibial spine, allowing for adjustable anti-rotation features to prevent movement based on component sizes, enabling secure orientation and alignment of tibial and femoral components during orthopaedic arthroplasty.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple surgical tools are used for different component sizes, then variously sized tibial and femoral components can be accommodated, but device complexity and surgical inefficiency increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle variously sized componentsVSAvoidnumber of tools required

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The impactor head is designed with a universal structure that can accommodate both tibial and femoral components of various sizes through a single device. The spine and cavity configuration allows the same impactor head to function with different component sizes, eliminating the need for multiple specialized tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The anti-rotation features (spine and cavity) are designed with adjustable gap configurations that can adapt to different component sizes. The gap between the spine and intercondylar notch walls, and between the tibial spine and cavity walls, can be varied to accommodate smaller or larger components while maintaining proper orientation and preventing rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If fixed anti-rotation features are used, then rotational movement is prevented, but adaptability to variously sized components is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of rotational movementVSAvoidcompatibility with different component sizes

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The anti-rotation features are designed with variable gap configurations rather than fixed dimensions. The gap between the spine and intercondylar notch walls, and between the tibial spine and cavity walls, can be adjusted to accommodate different component sizes while maintaining the anti-rotation function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The dimensions of the spine and cavity are designed to create adjustable gaps that can accommodate various component sizes. By changing the gap parameters, the same impactor head can work with different sized tibial and femoral components while still preventing rotation through proper engagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10898347B2Surgical instrument and method of use

Publication Date: 2021.01.26 DEPUY (IRELAND) LTD

AI summary

A surgical instrument and method for an orthopaedic arthroplasty procedure is disclosed. The instrument includes a shaft having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending through a center of the shaft between the first and second ends. The surgical instrument further includes a spine extending outwardly from the first end of the shaft in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the spine has a longitudinal extent that is parallel to the longitudinal axis. When the surgical instrument is in contact with a tibial implant component, the spine is adapted to be positioned within an intercondylar notch of a femoral component.