Customizable Joint Replacement Instrument with Sized Protrusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Customized joint replacement instruments are expensive and time-consuming to prepare, leading to increased costs and delays in joint replacement procedures compared to standard instruments.
Innovation Solution
A customizable joint replacement apparatus is designed to fit specific patient anatomy, using protrusions that can be sized according to bone measurements, with guides for resection procedures and pin placement, allowing for timely and cost-efficient customization during the procedure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If patient specific instruments are used for joint replacement procedures, then manufacturing precision and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and lead time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Patient-specific instruments are designed and manufactured before the surgical procedure based on pre-operative imaging data (CT or MRI scans). The instruments incorporate patient-specific anatomical surface geometry that is determined and fabricated in advance, allowing the actual surgery to proceed without time-consuming intraoperative customization steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patient-specific instruments include a replica or copy of the patient's actual bone surface geometry. This physical copy is created from digital imaging data and used as a template during surgery to achieve precise instrument placement without requiring complex intraoperative measurements or adjustments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If patient specific instruments are designed and manufactured, then adaptability to patient anatomy is improved, but cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patient-specific instruments incorporate localized anatomical features that match specific regions of the patient's bone surface. Rather than requiring complete customization of entire instrument systems, only specific contact surfaces or positioning features are made patient-specific, while other portions of the instruments can use standardized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patient-specific instruments are designed to perform multiple functions: they provide anatomical positioning, guide implant placement, and ensure proper orientation. By combining these functions into a single customized instrument rather than requiring multiple separate customized tools, the overall system complexity is reduced.
3Ease of manufacture
If standardized instruments are used for joint replacement, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but manufacturing precision and patient-specific fit deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The precise positioning information is determined before surgery through imaging and virtual planning. This preliminary determination allows standardized instruments to be used with pre-established positioning, eliminating the need for complex intraoperative measurements while maintaining high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Patient-specific positioning elements or guides act as intermediaries between the standardized instruments and the patient's unique anatomy. These intermediaries are simple to manufacture but provide the necessary customization for precise fit and positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
In various examples, an apparatus includes an instrument body including a protrusion configured to be sized according to an anatomy of a bone of a patient. A guide is configured to guide an aspect of a resection procedure of the bone, wherein the protrusion, when sized, is configured to abut the patient's bone to maintain the instrument body in a first position with respect to the bone during at least part of the resection procedure.