C-Shaped Divergent Shaft for Minimally Invasive Hip Surgery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical methods for hip replacement and resurfacing require large incisions and significant muscle tissue disruption, leading to increased recovery time, muscle damage, and potential loss of muscle strength, as well as blood loss and the need for transfusions.
Innovation Solution
A surgical device with a divergent shaft design, particularly a C-shaped portion, allows for access to the acetabulum without fully displacing the femoral head and neck, reducing the need for large incisions and muscle tissue disruption, enabling reaming in the true anatomical position while minimizing encroachment on surrounding body parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a large incision is made to access the joint, then good visibility of the joint is achieved, but the amount of muscle tissue that must be divided or separated increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive shaft is designed with a C-shaped configuration that introduces a lateral dimension to the approach, allowing the reaming device to access the acetabulum from the side rather than requiring a large posterior incision. This dimensional change enables the shaft to pass through minimal soft tissue while maintaining access to the joint.
Solution Approach 2:
The C-shaped drive shaft is divided into distinct functional segments: a straight portion for insertion through minimal tissue, a C-shaped portion for navigating around the femoral head, and a reaming head for acetabular preparation. This segmentation allows each portion to optimize its function while minimizing overall tissue disruption.
2Ease of operation
If the femoral head is displaced anteriorly to access the acetabulum, then access to the joint is improved, but the amount of muscle tissue that must be cut or separated increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of displacing the femoral head anteriorly (requiring muscle cutting), the C-shaped drive shaft approaches the acetabulum from a lateral dimension, passing behind the femoral head and neck. This dimensional change provides access to the acetabulum without disrupting the muscle anatomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The C-shaped drive shaft acts as an intermediary that navigates around the femoral head and neck to reach the acetabulum, rather than requiring direct displacement of the femoral head. The shaft's unique geometry allows it to serve as a mediator that provides access while preserving surrounding structures.
3Productivity
If conventional reaming devices are used, then the acetabulum can be reamed, but the shaft encroaches on surrounding body parts and requires large incisions
Solution Approach 1:
The C-shaped configuration of the drive shaft introduces a lateral dimension to the reaming approach, allowing the reaming head to access the acetabulum without the shaft encroaching on the femoral shaft or other surrounding body parts. The shaft passes through minimal soft tissue while maintaining reaming capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive shaft is designed with an asymmetric C-shaped configuration rather than a straight or symmetric design. This asymmetric geometry allows the shaft to navigate around the femoral head and neck in a controlled manner, providing access to the acetabulum while avoiding encroachment on surrounding structures.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical device for holding and rotating an acetabular reaming head is provided, comprising a shaft having a length which runs from a first end adapted for holding an acetabular reaming head to a second end. At least part of the shaft is divergent from the axis defined by the first and second ends of the shaft, for example the shaft may include a C-shaped divergent portion. A head held by the device can therefore access the acetabular in its true anatomical position while avoiding encroachment of the shaft on surrounding body parts.