Orthopaedic Cutting Guide Locator Arm Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cutting guide instruments in orthopedic surgical procedures face challenges in accurately controlling the position and orientation of cutting tools due to variations in fixation and attachment features, leading to potential misalignment and inefficiencies in manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
A cutting guide instrument featuring a locator arm that directly engages the reference surface of a cutting block, allowing for precise positioning and orientation relative to the bone, with the option to adjust the locator arm's angle and attachment to the reference element, enabling more efficient manufacturing techniques like casting and minimizing unwanted movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cutting block is fastened to the reference component using screw fasteners or clamps, then the cutting block can be secured to the bone, but variations in the connection formed between fixation elements and reference component, and between attachment screws and threaded bores, can result in the position and/or orientation of the reference surface being offset from the desired position
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the locator arm as a separate, dedicated component that directly engages the reference surface, separating the positioning function from the fixation mechanism. This allows the locator arm to provide precise reference surface engagement independent of the screw fastener or clamp connections, eliminating the cumulative errors from multiple connection points.
Solution Approach 2:
The locator arm acts as an intermediary element between the reference component and the cutting block. It provides a dedicated interface that directly engages the reference surface, mediating the position transfer from the reference component to the cutting block with higher precision than direct fastening methods.
2Ease of manufacture
If the reference surface position is controlled by variations in connection features, then the cutting block can be attached to the bone, but the accuracy of the reference surface position is affected by dimensional variations in fixation elements and threaded bores
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the positioning system into distinct functional components: the reference component for bone alignment, the locator arm for reference surface engagement, and the cutting block for tool mounting. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and assembled independently, with the locator arm providing precise reference surface positioning that is not compromised by variations in the attachment mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If manual positioning methods are used to determine the location and orientation of the cutting guide, then the instrument can be positioned relative to anatomical features, but the process is time-consuming and prone to human error
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is designed to be self-positioning through the locator arm that automatically engages the reference surface when the cutting block is attached. The geometric relationship between the locator arm and reference surface provides self-aligning positioning, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual measurement and adjustment while reducing human error.
Data Source
AI summary
A cutting guide instrument for use in a cutting step in an orthopedic surgical procedure comprises a reference component comprising a first element which can be attached or otherwise aligned relative to the bone in a predetermined arrangement and a locator arm. The invention further comprises a cutting block comprising a reference surface which can be engaged by a cutting tool to define the location and orientation of the tool during the cutting step. The cutting block further comprises at least one fixation bore for receiving a fixation pin to fix the cutting block to the bone. The locator arm can be fitted against the reference surface so that the reference component and cutting block are arranged in a predetermined manner.