Deformable Acetabular Shell for Customizable Liner Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional prosthetic devices, such as acetabular shells, often require multiple sizes and configurations to accommodate varying anatomical shapes and positions, leading to increased manufacturing costs and complexity, while also limiting the ability to achieve optimal positioning of liners within the shell.
Innovation Solution
The use of deformable acetabular shells with internal and external protrusions that can be selectively deformed to engage and fix a liner in various orientations and positions, allowing for a single shell design to fit multiple anatomical configurations without the need for multiple sizes, using features like positive and negative protrusions and fillable voids with non-compressible materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional prosthetic shells are designed with multiple sizes and configurations to accommodate varying anatomical shapes, then the ability to fit different anatomical configurations is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shell incorporates deformable protrusions that can be selectively deformed during implantation to engage with the liner at different positions and orientations. This dynamic deformation capability allows a single shell design to adapt to various anatomical configurations without requiring multiple fixed shell sizes or types.
Solution Approach 2:
The shell utilizes changes in the physical state or configuration of deformable protrusions (from deformed to undeformed states) to achieve different engagement positions. By controlling the deformation parameters of these protrusions, the shell can accommodate different liner positions and orientations within a single standardized shell design.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional prosthetic shells use fixed configurations to simplify manufacturing, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the ability to achieve optimal liner positioning is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shell transitions from a static, fixed configuration to a dynamic system with deformable protrusions that can be selectively deformed during implantation. This allows the shell to achieve precise liner positioning tailored to each patient's anatomy while maintaining a simple, standardized manufacturing process for the shell itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The shell incorporates multiple discrete deformable protrusions that can be independently deformed to engage the liner at different positions. This segmentation allows for precise positioning control without requiring complex overall shell designs, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving high positioning precision.
3Device complexity
If a single shell design is used to reduce complexity, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different anatomical shapes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The shell is designed as a universal component with deformable protrusions that can be selectively deformed to accommodate various liner positions and orientations. This multi-functional capability allows a single shell design to serve multiple anatomical configurations, eliminating the need for multiple specialized shell types while maintaining high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable protrusions provide dynamic adaptability within a single static shell design. The protrusions can be deformed during implantation to match different anatomical shapes and liner positions, enabling one shell design to adapt to multiple patient-specific requirements without increasing overall device complexity.
4Manufacturing precision
If multiple shell sizes and configurations are manufactured to fit different anatomies, then the precision of anatomical alignment is improved, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shell utilizes deformable protrusions that can be selectively deformed to achieve precise anatomical alignment for different liner positions and orientations. This parameter-based adaptation allows high precision alignment to be achieved through controlled deformation rather than through manufacturing multiple precise shell sizes or configurations, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic deformation capability of the protrusions enables precise anatomical alignment to be achieved during implantation rather than requiring pre-fabricated precise fits through multiple shell designs. This dynamic approach maintains high alignment precision while significantly simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs associated with producing multiple specialized shell variants.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables flexible and customizable positioning of liners within the acetabular shell, accommodating different anatomical shapes and sizes, reducing the need for multiple shell designs and enhancing the ability to achieve optimal anatomical alignment during implantation.
Implementation Method 1
The deformable acetabular shell with internal and external protrusions that can be selectively deformed to engage and fix a liner in various orientations and positions
Data Source
AI summary
A deformable prosthetic member, including an acetabular shell, can be formed of appropriate materials to engage a liner. The deformable member can include one or more feature to deform and engage a second member, such as a liner, in a selected position. A plurality of deformable features allows for a plurality of possible positions for the second member.