Non-Circular Dowel Placement Guide for Mid-Foot Arthrodesis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical procedures for orthopedic mid-foot disorders, such as osteoarthritis and alignment issues, often neglect the medial column of the foot, leading to inadequate correction methods and complications in mid-foot joint fusion and arthrodesis.
Innovation Solution
Development of instrumentation and methods for mid-foot joint fusion and arthrodesis, including biocompatible wedge implants, dowel grafts, and arcuate distractors, which facilitate precise realignment and fusion of tarsometatarsal, navicular cuneiform, and other joints, using adjustable osteotomy wedge systems and non-circular dowel implants to address medial column deformities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional surgical procedures are used for mid-foot disorders, then the hindfoot and medial column are corrected, but the medial column remains neglected leading to inadequate correction
Solution Approach 1:
A guide instrument is introduced as an intermediary tool to facilitate dowel placement in the medial column joints. The guide provides a structured approach to access and correct these previously difficult-to-reach areas, enabling reliable correction while maintaining surgical feasibility.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional fusion methods are used for tarsometatarsal joints, then joint fusion is achieved, but alignment precision and correction reliability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The guide instrument is positioned and secured to the bone surfaces before the actual dowel insertion procedure. This preliminary positioning establishes precise alignment parameters and ensures that subsequent dowel placement will achieve the desired correction with high precision and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces traditional freehand alignment methods with a guided mechanical system. The guide instrument provides structured mechanical guidance for dowel insertion, ensuring precise alignment and improving correction reliability compared to conventional techniques.
3Reliability
If circular dowel implants are used for arthrodesis, then simple insertion is achieved, but rotational stability and fusion reliability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs non-circular (asymmetric) dowel implants with polygonal cross-sections instead of traditional circular designs. This asymmetric geometry provides inherent rotational stability by preventing the dowel from rotating within the bone canal, thereby improving fusion reliability without requiring additional complex fixation mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems and methods for surgical treatment of mid-foot disorders such as osteoarthritis, spacing disorders, or alignment disorders, including mid-foot arthroplasty devices and systems for the 2nd and 3rd tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint, implants for post-osteotomy spacing and realignment, arthroplasty articular implants, dowel grafts for TMT arthrodesis or fusion, dowel grafts for navicular cuneiform (NC) arthrodesis, dowel grafts for intercuneiform arthrodesis, and/or locking dowels for joint fusion.