Double-Curved Broach Handle for Minimally Invasive Rasp Insertion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current broach handles for rasps in total hip arthroplasty require extensive incisions and rotations of the femur, causing trauma, contamination risks, and longer surgical times due to their straight design that interferes with the patient's anatomy, especially in cases with excessive abdominal fat or osteoporosis.

Innovation Solution

A broach handle with a double convex geometry that allows the rasp to be inserted into the femoral canal without extracting the femur from its natural seat, featuring a proximal and distal part with angled extensions and a rasp connection surface, minimizing interference with the abdomen and pelvis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a straight broach handle is used, then the device structure is simple, but the handle interferes with the patient's abdomen and pelvis, requiring extensive incisions and femur rotation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandle structureVSAvoidsurgical trauma and contamination risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The broach handle is designed with a curved configuration instead of a straight structure. The handle includes a proximal portion, an intermediate portion extending at an angle, and a distal portion extending at another angle, creating a curved path that navigates around the patient's anatomical structures (abdomen and pelvis) to reach the femoral canal without requiring extensive incisions or femur rotation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Ease of operation

If the femur is extracted from its natural seat for rasp insertion, then the surgeon has better access to the operating site, but the patient experiences trauma, pain, and longer recovery time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to operating siteVSAvoidsurgical trauma and patient pain
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The curved handle design enables the surgeon to access the femoral canal through a smaller incision without extracting the femur from its natural seat. The curve allows the handle to navigate around anatomical obstacles (abdomen and pelvis), providing adequate operating access while keeping the femur in place, thereby reducing surgical trauma and patient pain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Ease of operation

If extensive incisions are made to expose the femur, then the rasp can be inserted correctly, but the risk of external contamination increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverasp insertion accuracyVSAvoidsterility maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The curved handle configuration allows the surgeon to reach the femoral canal through a smaller incision by navigating around the patient's abdomen and pelvis. This reduced incision size maintains better sterility and lowers contamination risk while still enabling correct rasp insertion into the medullary canal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Ease of operation

If the femur is rotated to expose the severed head, then the rasp insertion is facilitated, but the femur is subjected to potential trauma

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating site visibilityVSAvoidfemur trauma risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The curved handle design eliminates the need for extensive femur rotation by providing an alternative access path around the patient's anatomical structures. The handle's curve allows it to reach the femoral canal from a different trajectory, maintaining operating site visibility and accessibility without subjecting the femur to traumatic rotation movements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP4054443B1Broach handle for a rasp
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 MEDACTA INT SA
  • EP4054443B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4054443B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4054443B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A broach handle (1) for a rasp comprising: - a proximal part (10) extending along a first axis (A1) between a first portion (11) of the handle (1) and a second portion (12) of the handle (1), and - a proximal part (20) extending partially along a second axis (A2) between a third portion (21) of the handle (1), connected to the second portion (12), and a fourth portion (22) of the handle (1), and partially along a third axis (A3) between a fifth portion (23) of the handle (1), connected to the fourth portion (22), and a sixth portion (24) of the handle (1) connectable to a rasp (50); The sixth portion (24) of the handle (1) has a connection surface (2) for connecting to the rasp (50) having a normal extending along a normal axis (N) defining a connection axis (Z) between the handle (1) and the rasp (50). A first convex angle (a) is defined between the first axis (A1) and the second axis (A2), and a second convex angle (β) is defined between the third axis (A3) and the normal axis (N).