Customized Joint Implants for Minimizing Bone Loss
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional joint implants often lead to significant bone loss, misalignment, and instability due to invasive procedures that do not account for patient-specific anatomical damage, resulting in limited therapeutic options and poor functional outcomes over time.
Innovation Solution
Customized joint implants with patient-specific designs and cuts that match the natural anatomy, minimizing bone loss and improving joint congruity through precise fitting and alignment, using advanced imaging techniques for assessment and manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional joint implants are used with extensive reaming procedures, then the implant can be secured in the bone, but significant bone loss occurs leading to osteolysis and implant loosening
Solution Approach 1:
The implant system divides the joint replacement into separate compartment-specific implants rather than replacing the entire joint. This segmentation allows treatment of only the damaged areas while preserving healthy bone and tissue, directly reducing bone loss while maintaining implant stability in the affected regions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing customized implants tailored to the specific anatomical damage in each patient's joint. The implants are designed to match the unique geometry and damage patterns of individual patients, allowing precise fitting to damaged areas while preserving surrounding healthy bone structure
2Ease of operation
If traditional prosthetic devices are implanted to replace joint surfaces, then the joint can function again, but misalignment with anatomical structures occurs leading to poor joint congruity and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preoperative planning and customization of implants based on patient-specific anatomical measurements and imaging. This preliminary action allows the implants to be designed and manufactured before surgery to precisely match the patient's unique anatomy, ensuring proper alignment and joint congruity without requiring extensive intraoperative adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The implant design embraces asymmetry by creating customized implants that match the asymmetric nature of individual patient anatomy. Rather than using symmetric, standardized implants, the system tailors each implant's geometry to the patient's specific anatomical variations, ensuring optimal alignment and congruity with their unique joint structure
3Strength
If extensive reaming is performed to fit the prosthesis stem in the marrow space, then the implant can be anchored, but the patient's bone stock is depleted limiting future replacement options
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing only the minimum necessary bone preparation rather than extensive reaming. The implants are designed to be anchored with minimal bone removal, preserving bone stock while achieving sufficient anchoring strength for current and future replacement needs
4Reliability
If traditional joint arthroplasty procedures are performed to repair damaged joint surfaces, then the damaged area can be replaced, but invasive surgery is required with significant tissue and bone loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts or removes only the damaged portions of the joint while leaving the healthy portions intact. This selective extraction approach allows treatment of the diseased areas through targeted implant placement without requiring removal of healthy bone and tissue, thereby reducing infection risk and preserving joint function
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
Disclosed herein are methods and devices for repairing a knee joint, including customizable and/or highly selectable implants and/or implant components for each patient to provide optimal fit and function.