Instrument Guide for Bone Lesion Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical methods for addressing bone marrow lesions and abnormalities often damage surrounding load-bearing bone and cartilage, leading to prolonged healing and pain due to the inability to access lesions distant from the entry point without compromising the joint structure.

Innovation Solution

A disposable instrument guide with a single piece guide body featuring a first and second referencing arm, allowing for precise alignment and offset to create an access passage to compromised bone structures without penetrating the subchondral bone or cartilage, using a virtual axis and guide sleeve for accurate positioning of the access instrument.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If surgical procedures open the bone to access lesions, then the damaged tissue can be removed, but the load bearing bone structure is weakened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelesion removal effectivenessVSAvoidbone structure strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The procedure is divided into two separate access points: one for localization (intra-articular) and one for treatment (extra-articular). This segmentation allows the localization function to be performed through the joint without compromising the load-bearing bone, while the treatment access is created at a distance from the lesion to minimize structural damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A guide instrument is introduced as an intermediary tool that connects the intra-articular localization point to the extra-articular treatment site. The guide instrument transfers the positional information from the safe intra-articular access to establish the precise trajectory for the extra-articular access, enabling indirect access to the lesion without direct bone opening at the lesion site.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Length of moving object

If the entry point is used to access distant lesions, then access to the lesion is achieved, but surrounding cartilage and soft tissue are damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess distance to lesionVSAvoiddamage to cartilage and soft tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The conventional approach is inverted by using the intra-articular space for localization purposes rather than direct treatment. The localization pin is placed through the cartilage and soft tissue only (not through the load-bearing bone), and this localization information is then used to guide a separate extra-articular access that treats the lesion from a distance, thereby inverting the traditional direct-access methodology to minimize tissue damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If current techniques are used to access bone lesions, then the lesion can be treated, but the joint structure is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelesion treatment effectivenessVSAvoidjoint structure integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment process is segmented into two distinct phases with two separate access points: Phase 1 uses intra-articular access for precise lesion localization without compromising joint structure, and Phase 2 uses extra-articular access for lesion treatment. This segmentation ensures that the joint structure remains intact while still achieving effective lesion treatment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide instrument serves as an intermediary that bridges the localization phase and treatment phase. It transfers the positional data from the intra-articular localization pin to establish the precise trajectory for the extra-articular treatment access, enabling the treatment to be performed from a distance without compromising joint integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11376079B2System and technique for accessing extra articular lesions or abnormalities or intra osseous lesions or bone marrow lesions

Publication Date: 2022.07.05 PANDYA RAJIV D

AI summary

An improved low cost, preferably disposable instrument guide adapted to carry an access instrument used in accessing a compromised portion of a bone structure has a single piece guide body. The guide body has a first referencing arm and second referencing arm. The first referencing arm has a first end portion, wherein the first end portion of the first referencing arm has a reference structure integral therewith and wherein the reference structure defines a virtual axis. The second referencing arm is integral to the first reference arm and has at least one guide opening with a guide axis extending to intersect the virtual axis. The at least one guide opening is located at a fixed angle on the second referencing arm.