Augmented Glenoid Implants with Angled Bone Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current glenoid implants often require significant bone removal and complex preparation techniques, especially in cases of severe glenoid wear, which can compromise the fit and stability of the implant.
Innovation Solution
The development of augmented glenoid implants with angled and sloped bone-contacting surfaces, along with patient-specific and non-patient-specific instruments and guides, such as ream guides, to minimize bone removal and simplify the implantation process by creating precise, angled surfaces for optimal fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard glenoid implants are used in cases of severe glenoid wear, then the implant can be installed, but significant bone removal is required and the implant version angle must be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The glenoid implant is segmented into multiple components: a baseplate and separate augment blocks. This segmentation allows the surgeon to selectively add bone volume only where needed (anterior or posterior augments) rather than removing significant healthy bone. The modular design enables customization to match the specific wear pattern of each patient's glenoid.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant design incorporates asymmetric augments that can be placed on either the anterior or posterior aspect of the glenoid baseplate. This asymmetry allows the surgeon to compensate for specific wear patterns (such as retroversion or version loss) by adding bone volume only in the deficient areas, preserving healthy bone in other regions.
2Reliability
If augmented glenoid implants with stepped or contoured surfaces are used, then bone support can be provided, but complex bone preparation techniques and significant bone removal are still required
Solution Approach 1:
Patient-specific planning and 3D printing technology are used to create custom guides and jigs before surgery. These pre-fabricated tools incorporate the complex geometry needed for precise bone preparation, allowing the surgeon to simply follow the guide's predetermined path and angles during the actual implantation procedure, thereby simplifying the surgical technique.
Solution Approach 2:
Patient-specific surgical guides act as intermediaries between the preoperative plan and the actual bone preparation. These guides translate the complex augmented implant geometry into simplified, guided drilling and reaming paths, reducing the need for the surgeon to manually create complex angled surfaces during surgery.
3Reliability
If significant bone removal is performed to achieve backside coverage, then complete coverage of the glenoid base can be obtained, but the amount of native bone is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of removing bone to create coverage, the design inverts the approach by adding bone volume through modular augments that attach to the baseplate. This allows the surgeon to achieve complete backside coverage by building up bone volume where needed rather than cutting away healthy bone to create a fitting surface.
Data Source
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AI summary
A glenoid implant comprises a body comprising: an articular surface and a scapula-engaging surface, the scapula-engaging surface including first and second portions angled relative to each other; and a fixation feature extending from the scapula-engaging surface. A method comprises: forming a planar bone surface at a glenoid using a guide pin; forming a first bore into the glenoid located near the guide pin; forming a second bore into the glenoid offset from the first bore; inserting an augment ream guide into the first and second bores; and forming an angled bone surface at the glenoid relative to the planar bone surface using the augment ream guide. A ream guide comprises: a base having first and second surfaces; a bone peg extending from the first surface; an alignment peg spaced from the bone peg; and a guide peg extending from the second surface at an oblique angle to the bone peg.