Double Offset Surgical Instrument for Hip Arthroplasty

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Solution Overview

Problem

In minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty surgeries, particularly using the anterior approach, accessing and preparing the femoral intramedullary canal is challenging due to anatomical features like muscle tissue, especially in obese or muscular patients, requiring large and heavy instruments with separate designs for each femur, leading to logistical and financial issues.

Innovation Solution

A versatile surgical instrument with a handle and offset member that connects to a shaping member, featuring interpositional cooperation structures and a retention device, allowing for lateral and anterior offsets to accommodate both left and right femurs, enabling efficient canal preparation without interference from musculature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If separate instruments are used for each femur with lateral offset, then the instrument can effectively access the medullary canal avoiding musculature interference, but the device size and weight increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to medullary canalVSAvoidinstrument weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The offset member is designed with multiple openings that can accommodate shaping members for both left and right femurs, allowing a single instrument to perform multiple functions and eliminating the need for separate instruments for each femur

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The retention device allows dynamic adjustment and secure connection of shaping members to the offset member, enabling the instrument to adapt to different surgical configurations while maintaining a compact design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If separate instruments are developed for right and left femurs, then proper lateral offset is achieved, but inventory requirements and expense increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral offset capabilityVSAvoidinstrument versatility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The offset member incorporates multiple openings configured to receive shaping members for both left and right femurs, making the instrument universal and eliminating the need for separate instruments, thereby reducing inventory requirements and expense

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The offset member is designed with asymmetric openings that can accommodate the different lateral offset requirements for right and left femurs, allowing proper anatomical alignment while using a single instrument design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the incision is made shorter than conventional, then soft tissue damage is minimized, but access to the intramedullary canal is obstructed by gut or musculature

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoft tissue damageVSAvoidcanal access
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The offset member acts as an intermediary structure that transmits force from the handle to the shaping member while providing the necessary lateral offset, allowing effective canal preparation through a minimal incision by routing the instrument path around obstructing musculature

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3338722B1Double offset surgical instrument
Publication Date: 2020.07.08 SMITH & NEPHEW INC
  • EP3338722B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3338722B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3338722B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Instruments (e.g. 40) for use in anterior approach total hip arthroplasty. Instruments according to certain features of the invention connect to a shaping member (e.g., 42) such as a broach, reamer or osteotome that is used to prepare the intramedullary canal (30) of a desired femur (18) or other bone for total hip arthroplasty. Such an instrument according to such features can be configurable to allow operation on either the left or right leg, and in doing so to provide lateral offset and anterior offset (e.g., 48) of the instrument handle (e.g., 44) relative to the shaping member so that the patient's gut, musculature or other bodily portions may be avoided while still providing desired leverage and control over the shaping member to prepare the intramedullary canal.