Bone Resection Instrument with Removable Gauge Block

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current bone resection instruments face challenges in varying cut height without removing and repositioning pins, which can lead to misalignment and increased surgical time, especially when trying to maintain consistent cutting parameters.

Innovation Solution

A bone resection instrument featuring a cutting guide with a removable gauge block that allows for adjustable cut height without repositioning pins, using quick connection means for easy interchange of gauge blocks of different thicknesses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the cutting block is repositioned on its pins using more proximal holes, then the cut height can be corrected, but the alignment may change and the correction is limited to discrete heights

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecut height precisionVSAvoidalignment stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting block is divided into a fixed portion (attached to pins) and a movable gauge block portion. The gauge block can be removed and replaced with different thicknesses to adjust cut height independently, while the fixed portion maintains stable alignment with the pins. This segmentation allows height adjustment without compromising alignment reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The gauge block acts as an intermediary element between the fixed cutting block and the bone surface. By changing the thickness of this intermediary gauge block, the cut height is adjusted without moving the pins or the fixed cutting block, thereby maintaining alignment stability while achieving precise height control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If the pins are removed and the guide is moved distally using micrometric adjustment, then the cut height can be precisely corrected, but the surgical time increases and the procedure becomes more invasive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecut height precisionVSAvoidsurgical time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting block is segmented into a fixed portion and a removable gauge block portion. The gauge block can be quickly exchanged without removing the pins or the fixed cutting block, enabling precise height adjustment while minimizing surgical time and invasiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The gauge block is designed to be dynamically exchangeable during surgery. Different thicknesses of gauge blocks can be rapidly swapped to adjust cut height, providing both precision and speed without the need for time-consuming micrometric adjustments or pin removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the cutting block is repositioned using more proximal holes, then the cut height can be corrected, but only to discrete height values with excessive minimum correction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight adjustment capabilityVSAvoidheight adjustment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of changing the position of the cutting block through discrete hole selections, the invention changes the parameter of the gauge block thickness. Multiple gauge blocks with different thicknesses (including fine increments) can be used to achieve continuous or near-continuous height adjustment, providing both versatility and precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3429485B1Instrument for bone resection
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 MEDACTA INT SA
  • EP3429485B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3429485B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3429485B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A bone resection instrument, comprising means of support and positioning (2) for the correct alignment of the tool (1) with respect to the bone to be cut, a cutting guide (7), connected to the means of support and positioning (2), comprising a support (8) attachable to a bone to be cut. The cutting guide (7) comprises a gauge block (9) having a cutting surface (90) and removably connected to said support (8). The instrument (1) is part of a bone resection kit comprising a plurality of gauge blocks (9), each differing in height (h) from one another.