Bone Injection Instruments with Depth Control Collars
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical treatments for osteoarthritis, particularly in joints like the knee, face challenges in providing consistent and reliable pain relief while preserving joint function, as the severity of osteoarthritis does not always correlate with pain levels, leading to inadequate surgical solutions such as joint replacement which have limitations in durability and natural feel.
Innovation Solution
Development of instruments with depth control features for precise delivery of treatment materials to subchondral bone defects, including cannulated pins with fenestrations and depth control collars, navigation guides, and adjustable spacer bodies to ensure accurate and controlled insertion and delivery of injectable materials, stimulating healing and mechanical stabilization of bone defects without disrupting the joint surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional surgical treatments like joint replacement are performed, then pain relief is achieved, but joint function is compromised and durability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by targeting specific subchondral bone defects rather than performing comprehensive joint replacement. The instrument delivers treatment materials precisely to the affected area, preserving healthy joint tissue while addressing the localized bone defect that causes pain, thus maintaining joint function and durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the problematic subchondral bone defect from the overall joint structure and treats it independently. By removing or replacing only the defective subchondral bone rather than the entire joint, the procedure achieves pain relief while preserving the rest of the joint's functional integrity.
2Manufacturing precision
If injectable materials are delivered into bone, then bone defect treatment is achieved, but precise depth control is difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an intermediary depth control collar as a separate component that mediates between the delivery instrument and the bone. This collar provides a simple mechanical stop that ensures precise insertion depth without requiring complex active control systems, thus achieving manufacturing precision while keeping device complexity low.
Solution Approach 2:
The depth control collar is designed as a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily manufactured and disposed of after use. Rather than integrating complex reusable depth control mechanisms into the main instrument, the invention uses a simple disposable collar that provides the necessary depth limitation functionality.
3Reliability
If treatment materials are injected into subchondral bone, then healing is promoted, but risk of disrupting joint surface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by delivering treatment materials specifically to the subchondral bone defect while preserving the articular joint surface. The instrument's design allows selective access to the subchondral region, ensuring that the treatment material is injected only where needed for healing, not into the joint surface, thus eliminating the harmful effect of joint surface disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The depth control collar acts as an intermediary barrier that prevents the injection needle from penetrating through the subchondral bone and disrupting the articular joint surface. This simple mechanical component mediates between the treatment material delivery and the joint surface protection, ensuring healing effectiveness while preventing harmful joint surface disruption.
Data Source
AI summary
Instruments for treating bone defects of the joint, particularly at the subchondral level, such as bone marrow lesions or bone marrow edema, are provided. In particular, these instruments may be delivery instruments that comprise features to control the location to which they deliver injectable materials or other tools to the bone to be treated. Also provided is an injection instrument that delivers a treatment material to the bone defect and stimulates a natural healing response in the bone.