Adjustable Bone Tunnel Guide for Meniscal Root Repair Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for meniscal root repair require pre-operative planning and are challenged by the inability of MRI to detect meniscus root tears, necessitating improved devices and methods for guiding and aligning meniscal root repair procedures without prior planning.
Innovation Solution
A method and device comprising an orthopedic tool with a drill guide and reference member that can be adjusted to engage the patient's bone, allowing for the formation of a tunnel in the bone, and includes locking components to secure the drill guide in place, facilitating the passage of sutures or wires for repair.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pre-operative planning and MRI detection are used for meniscal root repair, then surgical precision can be improved, but the process becomes more complex and time-consuming due to the inability of MRI to reliably detect meniscus root tears
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the reliance on MRI imaging (electromagnetic detection system) with a direct mechanical guidance system consisting of the drill guide and reference member that physically align with anatomical landmarks on the bone surface, eliminating the need for pre-operative imaging planning
Solution Approach 2:
The drill guide system uses the patient's own bone anatomy as the reference framework, with the reference member engaging directly with bone landmarks to self-align the drilling trajectory without requiring external imaging or pre-operative marking
2Manufacturing precision
If pre-operative planning is required for meniscal root repair, then tunnel placement accuracy can be improved, but surgical productivity decreases due to the need for prior planning and equipment preparation
Solution Approach 1:
The reference member is pre-configured with the correct angular relationship to the drill guide, so that when the reference member engages the bone landmarks, the tunnel trajectory is automatically predetermined and aligned correctly without requiring pre-operative planning
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the planning function from the pre-operative phase and integrates it directly into the surgical instrument itself, where the reference member and drill guide geometry embodies the planned trajectory that is executed immediately during surgery
3Ease of manufacture
If a fixed drill guide system is used, then manufacturing simplicity can be improved, but adaptability to different patient anatomies and tear locations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drill guide system transitions from a fixed configuration to a dynamically adjustable one, where the reference member can be repositioned and re-engaged with different anatomical landmarks on the bone surface, allowing the same device to adapt to various patient anatomies and tear locations
Solution Approach 2:
The reference member is designed to engage with general bone landmarks that are present in all patients, making the drill guide system universally applicable to different anatomical variations and meniscal root tear locations without requiring patient-specific customization
4Stability of the object's composition
If the reference member is fixed relative to the main body, then structural stability can be improved, but the ability to adjust surgical angles and accommodate anatomical variations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the reference member and main body changes from fixed to adjustable, allowing the surgeon to modify the angular relationship during surgery to match the specific anatomical requirements while maintaining structural integrity through positive locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows change in the angular parameter between the reference member and drill guide, enabling adaptation to different surgical requirements while maintaining mechanical stability through the locking mechanism that secures the adjusted position
Data Source
AI summary
An orthopedic tool includes a main body and a reference member. The reference member may be configured to engage an anatomical feature of a patient, such as the patient's bone. The angle of the reference member may be adjusted using a knob.