Disposable Cutting Rib for Acetabular Reamer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bone cutting tools for surgical procedures, such as acetabular reamers used in hip replacement, are difficult to clean, leading to cross-contamination risks, high manufacturing and disposal costs, and reduced accuracy over multiple uses due to dulling, which can cause thermal osteonecrosis and complicate surgeries.
Innovation Solution
A selectively disposable cutting rib assembly with a wavy profile and centralizer design that allows for easy replacement of cutting ribs, reducing the need for frequent tool refurbishment and maintaining sharp edges, while minimizing manufacturing costs and ensuring accurate cuts through reduced torque and vibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If currently available acetabular reamers are used multiple times, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the tool becomes difficult to clean and cross-contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The reamer is divided into two separable components: a reusable body and a disposable cutting rib assembly. The cutting rib can be removed and replaced after use, allowing the main body to be cleaned and reused while the cutting rib is discarded to prevent cross-contamination. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling both cost-effective reuse and contamination prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting rib is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after use, while the reusable body is recovered and cleaned for subsequent use. This approach allows the expensive main body to be reused multiple times while the disposable cutting rib prevents cross-contamination, effectively resolving the contradiction between cost reduction and contamination risk.
2Ease of manufacture
If currently available acetabular reamers are used multiple times, then tool cost is reduced, but cleaning difficulty increases and preparation time extends
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the reamer into a reusable body and a disposable cutting rib assembly, the cleaning process is simplified to only the body portion. The cutting rib is easily detached and replaced without extensive cleaning, significantly reducing preparation time while maintaining cost-effectiveness through reuse of the body.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting rib is discarded after use and replaced with a fresh one, eliminating the need for time-consuming cleaning and refurbishment processes. The reusable body is quickly prepared for the next use by simply attaching a new cutting rib, reducing preparation time while maintaining low tool costs.
3Ease of manufacture
If currently available acetabular reamers are used multiple times, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but cutting accuracy decreases due to dulling
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting rib is segmented as a separate replaceable component with the sharp cutting edge. When the cutting edge dulls, only the cutting rib needs to be replaced rather than refurbishing the entire reamer. This maintains cutting accuracy across multiple uses while keeping the reusable body cost-effective.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting rib with the dull cutting edge is discarded and replaced with a fresh one, ensuring consistent cutting accuracy throughout multiple surgical procedures. The reusable body is recovered and prepared for the next procedure by attaching a new cutting rib, maintaining precision while minimizing manufacturing costs.
4Ease of manufacture
If currently available acetabular reamers are used multiple times, then tool cost is reduced, but thermal osteonecrosis risk increases due to heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting rib is discarded after a limited number of uses or when signs of excessive heat generation appear, preventing thermal osteonecrosis. The reusable body is recovered and prepared for the next procedure with a fresh cutting rib, ensuring patient safety while maintaining cost-effectiveness through reuse of the body.
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
The solution enables cost-effective, accurate, and safe bone cutting with reduced risk of thermal osteonecrosis, extending tool lifetime, and minimizing surgeon injury by allowing instant swapping of cutting ribs during procedures, thus maintaining precision and reducing maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
Dull reamers create more heat at bone surface. The temperature at bone surface in these cases has been measured and shown to exceed 56 degrees C.
Data Source
AI summary
A device is provided, including a cutting rib, the cutting rib including an arcuate portion having an outer sharp edge and a centralizer configured to receive the cutting rib through a radial slot, the radial slot forming a gap with the cutting rib. The arcuate portion of the cutting rib is formed into a profile that follows a surface of the centralizer, the outer sharp edge of the arcuate portion of the cutting rib has a wavy profile that forms a tunnel in the gap between the centralizer and the cutting rib, and the outer sharp edge of the arcuate portion of the cutting rib protrudes outwardly from the surface of the centralizer. A method for using the device to cut bone in a surgical configuration is also provided.