Circular Glenoid Implant with Central Peg for Bone Fixation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current glenoid implants suffer from loosening, wear, and fatigue failure due to poor bone fixation, requiring extensive surgical exposure and advanced surgical training, limiting their use in young patients and those with bone defects, and posing risks of neurovascular injuries and cosmetic scarring.

Innovation Solution

A glenoid implant design with a circular configuration that resides partially or fully within the glenoid vault, secured by bone cement or press-fit, and features a central peg or flange for stabilization, allowing minimal bone removal and reduced incision size, enabling a mini-incision surgical approach.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If current glenoid implants with keels or elongated pegs are used, then anchoring strength is improved, but the risk of neurovascular injury and bone fracture increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanchoring strengthVSAvoidneurovascular injury and bone fracture risk

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the harmful elongated keels and pegs from the implant design, extracting only the essential anchoring function through a short central peg that stays within safe bone boundaries, eliminating the risk of neurovascular injury while maintaining fixation strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of extending anchors outward to achieve fixation, the patent inverts the approach by using a central anchoring mechanism that secures the implant from within the glenoid vault, reversing the traditional external anchoring concept to avoid harmful penetrations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Manufacturing precision

If extensive surgical exposure is performed, then implant placement precision is improved, but surgical trauma and scarring increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplant placement precisionVSAvoidsurgical trauma and scarring

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by performing only the necessary minimum surgical exposure required for implant placement, avoiding excessive capsular releases and extensive tissue dissection, thereby reducing surgical trauma while maintaining adequate visibility for precise implant positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces surgical guides and positioning instruments as intermediaries that enable precise implant placement through limited exposure, acting as mediators between the surgeon's limited view and the requirement for accurate positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If long keels or elongated anchor pegs are used, then fixation stability is improved, but the risk of penetrating through the glenoid vault and causing complications increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixation stabilityVSAvoidglenoid vault penetration and associated complications

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by concentrating the anchoring function in a specific safe zone within the glenoid vault through a short central peg, providing sufficient fixation stability locally without the need for extended anchors that would penetrate into harmful zones

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If current glenoid implant designs are used, then articulating surface function is maintained, but implant loosening and wear occur over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearticulating surface functionVSAvoidimplant lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by ensuring optimal initial fixation through precise reaming and careful implant insertion with a short central peg, creating a stable foundation that prevents future loosening and extends implant lifespan, rather than relying on long anchors that may fail over time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 new design enhances implant fixation strength, reduces surgical complications, and allows for less invasive procedures, making it suitable for a wider range of patients, including those with bone deficiencies, while minimizing scarring and improving surgical safety.

Implementation Method 1

secured by bone cement or press-fit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS20250205059A1Methods and devices for less invasive glenoid replacement

Publication Date: 2025.06.26 SHOULDER INNOVATIONS

AI summary

The invention relates to a glenoid (shoulder socket) implant prosthesis, a humeral implant prosthesis, devices for implanting glenoid and humeral implant prostheses, and less invasive methods of their use for the treatment of an injured or damaged shoulder.