Arthroscopic Shoulder Replacement System with Triangular Working Space

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Solution Overview

Problem

Shoulder replacement surgery currently requires invasive procedures that result in prolonged recovery times, high costs, and limited patient mobility due to the need to cut or detach the subscapularis tendon, leading to extended hospital stays and costly rehabilitation.

Innovation Solution

Arthroscopic shoulder surgery techniques and devices, including an arthroscope stop, orthopedic arthroscopic surgical arm, increased suction, and a triangular surgical instrument, allow for minimally invasive procedures that enable full shoulder replacement without detaching the subscapularis tendon, using existing components like the Glenoid and humeral head components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If open surgery is used to expose the shoulder and detach the subscapularis tendon, then complete access to the shoulder joint is achieved, but patient recovery time increases and hospital stay extends

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to shoulder jointVSAvoidrecovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional open surgical approach with an arthroscopic system that uses a camera and specialized instruments inserted through small incisions. The arthroscope provides visual access to the shoulder joint without requiring large incisions or tendon detachment, enabling the surgical procedure to be performed minimally invasively while maintaining complete access to the joint space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical approach is segmented into multiple small access points rather than one large incision. The arthroscope and surgical instruments are inserted through separate small incisions, allowing the surgeon to access the shoulder joint through multiple minimal openings. This segmentation enables complete joint access while minimizing tissue disruption and accelerating patient recovery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the subscapularis tendon is cut or detached during surgery, then the shoulder joint can be accessed, but the tendon requires repair and patient motion is limited for six to eight weeks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshoulder joint accessVSAvoidtendon repair requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The arthroscopic system replaces the need for tendon detachment with a camera-based visualization approach. Specialized arthroscopic instruments can access and operate on the shoulder joint through small incisions without requiring the subscapularis tendon to be cut or detached. This eliminates the need for tendon repair and avoids post-surgical motion restrictions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If traditional open surgery is performed, then complete shoulder replacement can be achieved, but hospitalization costs and rehabilitation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshoulder replacement outcomeVSAvoidrehabilitation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The arthroscopic system provides complete shoulder replacement capability through minimally invasive techniques. The camera and specialized instruments enable all necessary surgical steps to be performed through small incisions, achieving the same reliable surgical outcome as open surgery while dramatically reducing hospitalization time and rehabilitation costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical approach parameters are changed from large incisions and tendon detachment to small incisions and camera-based visualization. This parameter change maintains surgical effectiveness for complete shoulder replacement while reducing tissue trauma, shortening hospital stay, and lowering overall treatment costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20240215808A1Devices and methods for use in performing arthroscopic total shoulder replacement

Publication Date: 2024.07.04 REISCH TIMOTHY G

AI summary

Devices and instruments for performing complete shoulder replacement using arthroscopic techniques. The devices may include (i) an arthroscopic camera cannula inclusive of expandable flanges, (ii) arthroscopic camera support stand with a longitudinal adjustment mechanism to adjust an arthroscopic camera inward and outward within a joint, such as a shoulder joint to adjust field-of-view within the joint, (iii) arthroscopic instrument configured to apply a higher vacuum pressure, and (iv) arthroscopic working cannula with spreader members that, when spread from a closed position to an open position, form an expanded triangular area between the subscapularis and supraspinatus tendons.