Ceramic Implant Holder Wedging Assembly for Orthopedic Impaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Double mobility acetabular implants lack a mechanism for easy manipulation during implantation, are prone to damage from mechanical forces during installation, and pose challenges in cleaning and sterilization due to complex designs, leading to potential patient trauma and device failure.

Innovation Solution

An acetabular impactor with a housing and drive train that includes a wedging assembly with conical bodies and cup contacting members, allowing for secure engagement and minimal stress on the implant, along with modular disassembly for easy cleaning and reduced risk of damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mechanical impacting forces are applied to install the prosthetic cup, then the cup is secured in position, but the cup and insert may become structurally deformed, cracked or scratched

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure installation of cupVSAvoidstructural integrity of cup and insert
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The impactor is divided into modular components including a handle, drive train, and impaction plate that can be assembled and disassembled. This segmentation allows force application to be controlled and distributed, reducing stress concentration on the cup and insert during installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The impaction plate serves as an intermediary between the impactor and the prosthetic cup. It distributes the impacting force across a broader area of the cup exterior surface, preventing localized stress that could cause structural damage to the cup or insert.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the impactor design includes complex mechanical components for secure engagement, then control during implantation is improved, but cleaning and sterilization become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol during implantationVSAvoidcleaning and sterilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The impactor is designed with modular segments including the handle, drive train, and impaction plate that can be easily separated. This segmentation enables each component to be individually cleaned and sterilized, eliminating crevices and recesses where contamination could persist.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The impaction plate and other components are designed to be removable and replaceable. After use, these components can be easily detached for cleaning and sterilization, or replaced if damaged, ensuring maintenance of surgical sterility standards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Productivity

If conventional impactors are used with limited surgical access, then the procedure can be performed, but repeated abrasion and tissue trauma occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to perform procedureVSAvoidtissue trauma
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The impactor features a C-shaped housing configuration that changes the spatial dimension of instrument access. This allows the instrument to be maneuvered through limited surgical incisions while maintaining proper orientation and control, reducing the need for repeated instrument insertion and extraction that causes tissue trauma.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Adaptability or versatility

If double mobility implants are used to increase hip mobility, then patient range of motion is improved, but the implants lack mechanical strength to withstand impaction forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverange of hip mobilityVSAvoidmechanical strength during impaction
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The impaction plate acts as a mediator between the impactor and the double mobility implant. It distributes the impaction forces across the exterior surface of the cup, preventing localized stress concentrations that could damage the ceramic insert or cup structure, thereby enabling safe installation of mobility-enhancing implants.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The impactor enables precise control and minimizes damage to the implant during installation, facilitates easy cleaning and sterilization, and reduces the risk of patient trauma and device failure by distributing forces effectively and providing a secure fit.

Implementation Method 1

a wedging assembly, connectable to a drive train positioned distal of the impaction plate, comprising a first body and a second conical body positioned distal of the first body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWedge: Wedge

Data Source

PatentEP2572679B1Ceramic implant holder
Publication Date: 2015.07.15 GREATBATCH MEDICAL SA
  • EP2572679B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2572679B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2572679B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

An orthopedic prosthetic impactor 10 used for the implantation of double mobility cup implants is described. In one embodiment, the impactor consists of a drive train, a C-shaped housing 16, and a prosthetic cup engaging subassembly 20. The subassembly comprises an impaction plate, a primary cup contacting member 26, a secondary cup contacting member 28 and a wedging assembly 33. The primary and secondary cup contacting members are contactable with an interior surface of the prosthetic cup implant 12. When activated by the drive train, the wedging assembly moves in a proximal direction towards the impaction plate, positioning the wedging assembly in a contactable relationship with the primary and secondary members thereby preventing the members and a connected prosthetic implant cup from moving during implantation.