Coracoid Guiding Assembly for Stable Shoulder Bone Block Fixation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for treating shoulder dislocation, such as the Latarjet procedure, lack efficient and comfortable adjustment of the coracoid process, leading to inadequate support, reduced strength, and severe pain during movements, resulting in partial disability.

Innovation Solution

A coracoid guiding system comprising a coracoid passer with a hollow guiding tube and retractable hook gauge, a coracoid grasper, and guide pins, which prepares and fixes an exteriorized coracoid bone block to the glenoid, allowing for stable fixation and movement at three degrees of freedom.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the conventional Latarjet procedure is used to transplant the coracoid process, then the glenoid fossa is reinforced and anterior-inferior stability is improved, but the adjustment of the coracoid process is inefficient and uncomfortable, leading to reduced strength and severe pain during movements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of shoulder jointVSAvoidadjustment of coracoid process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The coracoid process is divided into a bone block that can be separately transplanted to the glenoid fossa. This segmentation allows independent positioning and fixation of the bone block, enabling efficient adjustment while maintaining the stabilizing function of the original Latarjet procedure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A tendon is used as an intermediary element to connect and support the transplanted coracoid bone block to the glenoid fossa. This tendon intermediary provides comfortable adjustment capability and adequate support during movement, resolving the adjustment inefficiency of the conventional procedure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the coracoid process is transplanted to reinforce the glenoid fossa, then anterior-inferior stability is improved, but the patient experiences severe pain during flexion, abduction, and lateral rotations resulting in partial disability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanterior-inferior stabilityVSAvoidpain during movement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fixation system is designed to be dynamic rather than rigid, allowing the transplanted coracoid bone block to move comfortably with the shoulder joint during flexion, abduction, and lateral rotations. This dynamic adjustment capability reduces pain and prevents partial disability while maintaining stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The tendon acts as a flexible intermediary that allows dynamic movement between the coracoid bone block and glenoid fossa during shoulder movements. This flexibility reduces pain during active motion while maintaining the stabilizing function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If the tendon is used to support the coracoid process, then the coracoid process is attached to the glenoid fossa, but the tendon does not provide adequate support to the coracoid process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment of coracoid processVSAvoidsupport to coracoid process
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The solution merges the tendon's flexibility with the bone block's structural strength. The coracoid bone block provides the necessary structural support, while the tendon provides flexible attachment and adjustment capability. This combination resolves the contradiction between ease of attachment and adequate support strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4082454B1A coracoid guiding system
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 CC CLIP OY
  • EP4082454B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4082454B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4082454B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

Disclosed is a coracoid guiding system (100). The coracoid guiding system (100) comprises a coracoid grasper (102) for holding an exteriorized coracoid bone block (202), and a coracoid passer (104). The coracoid passer has a pair of external barrels (106), a pair of internal barrel pins (108), a hollow guiding tube (110) comprising an inner surface (112) and an outer surface (114), and a hook gauge (116). The hook gauge is configured to be retractably arranged inside the hollow guiding tube. The hook gauge has a proximal end (118), a distal end (120), a curved section (122) between the proximal end and the distal end, a first straight section (124) extending from the proximal end to the curved section, a second straight section (126) extending from the curved section to the distal end, wherein the distal end of the hook gauge is shaped as a hook (128).