Patient-Specific Contour Lock Guide for Glenoid Fossa
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical guiding tools for joint surgery, particularly in shoulder joint procedures, face challenges in accurately positioning due to the soft and vulnerable nature of the glenoid labrum and the inability to achieve a stable fit on the glenoid fossa, leading to difficulties in designing compact and accurate guides.
Innovation Solution
A patient-specific surgical guiding tool with a central contact element fitting within the socket and lateral contact elements that contact the rim and surrounding bone, providing rotational stability without direct contact with the labrum or ligaments, allowing for precise positioning of alignment elements using additive manufacturing techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If surgical guides rely on direct surface contact with the glenoid labrum for positioning, then positioning accuracy may be improved, but the soft and vulnerable nature of the labrum prevents stable contact and reliable guide placement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the glenoid rim as an intermediary contact surface between the surgical guide and the glenoid labrum. Instead of contacting the soft labrum directly, the guide contacts the harder, more stable rim structure, which serves as a mediator to transmit positioning forces and maintain stable contact while preserving labral integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical guide is divided into separate contact elements: a first contact element for the glenoid fossa and a second contact element for the glenoid rim. This segmentation allows each element to contact different anatomical structures with appropriate mechanical properties, ensuring stable positioning without compromising the labrum
2Measurement precision
If surgical guides are designed to fit the glenoid fossa surface, then positioning may be achieved, but the concave shape and lack of unique fit features make it difficult to achieve stable and accurate guide placement
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical guide incorporates asymmetric contact elements with specific geometric features (such as curved surfaces matching the glenoid rim contour) that create a unique fit on the asymmetric glenoid anatomy. This asymmetric design ensures proper orientation and stable placement by exploiting the natural asymmetry of the glenoid structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional contact on the glenoid fossa surface to three-dimensional contact by engaging the glenoid rim in a different spatial dimension. The second contact element extends beyond the fossa to contact the rim structure, adding a dimensional aspect that provides rotational locking and enhanced stability
3Measurement precision
If the glenoid labrum is contacted with the guide, then positioning information can be obtained, but the vulnerable tissue is at risk of damage from guide contact and pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The glenoid rim serves as a protective intermediary that allows the surgical guide to obtain positioning information from the glenoid structure without directly contacting or applying pressure to the vulnerable labral tissue. The rim transmits the necessary mechanical constraints while shielding the labrum from potential damage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the contact function from the vulnerable labral tissue and relocates it to the more durable glenoid rim. By taking out the contact requirement from the soft tissue and applying it to the harder rim structure, the design eliminates the harmful effect of guide contact on the labrum while preserving the necessary positioning function
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are patient-specific surgical guiding tools for positioning on a socket of a ball-and-socket joint, e.g., an acetabulum. The guiding tools comprise a central contact element fitting within the socket and one or more lateral contact elements fitting on the rim of the socket. The guiding tools allow accurate positioning of surgical tools such as alignment elements, according to a pre-operational planning. Methods for the manufacture and use of said guiding tools are also provided.