Elbow Prosthesis Assembly Tool Parallel Finger Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of modular orthopedic prostheses, such as elbow prostheses, can be challenging due to their complex design and small component sizes, making it difficult to securely attach the humeral and ulnar components during joint arthroplasty procedures.
Innovation Solution
An assembly tool comprising a finger assembly, handle assembly, and crossbar assembly that maintains the fingers parallel during movement, allowing for secure engagement and attachment of the prosthetic components, facilitating the assembly of the elbow prosthesis by enabling precise alignment and attachment of the ulnar and humeral components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If modular prosthesis components are made small in size, then the prosthesis becomes more adaptable to patient anatomy, but the difficulty of assembling the components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specialized assembly tool as an intermediary device between the surgeon and the small modular components. This tool includes fingers with attachment features that can securely grasp small components, a crossbar assembly that maintains precise parallel alignment, and handles that provide mechanical advantage for controlled movement. The intermediary tool bridges the gap between the surgeon's manual dexterity limitations and the small component sizes, enabling reliable assembly without compromising adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The assembly tool itself is segmented into distinct functional modules: finger assemblies for component engagement, a crossbar assembly for alignment maintenance, and handle assemblies for actuation. This segmentation allows each part of the tool to be optimized for its specific function while working together as an integrated system, making the assembly process more manageable and less difficult despite the small component sizes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the prosthesis design is made complex to accommodate modular components, then the adaptability and functionality improve, but the difficulty of assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The assembly tool is designed with universal attachment features on the fingers that can engage with different types of modular prosthesis components. The crossbar assembly universally maintains parallel alignment regardless of which specific components are being assembled. This multi-functionality allows the same tool to handle various complex modular configurations without requiring different assembly methods, thereby managing the complexity of assembly despite the high functionality of the prosthesis.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized interface features on the assembly tool act as intermediaries that simplify the interaction between the surgeon and the complex modular components. By providing consistent attachment and alignment mechanisms, the intermediary tool reduces the cognitive and manual complexity required to assemble different modular configurations, allowing high functionality to be achieved without proportionally increasing assembly difficulty.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise alignment of components is required during assembly, then the quality of the prosthetic joint improves, but the difficulty of manual assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The crossbar assembly is pre-configured to maintain a fixed parallel distance between the fingers before assembly begins. This preliminary setup ensures that when the fingers engage the components, the alignment is already established and maintained throughout the assembly process. The parallel alignment is built into the tool's structure, eliminating the need for the surgeon to manually adjust and maintain precision during assembly, thereby improving alignment precision without increasing operational difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the need for manual dexterity and visual alignment techniques with a mechanical alignment system. The crossbar assembly provides rigid geometric constraints that enforce parallel alignment through mechanical means rather than relying on the surgeon's manual skill. This substitution of mechanical alignment for manual alignment achieves high precision while simplifying the assembly operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly tool for assembling components of an implant can include a finger assembly, a handle assembly, and a crossbar assembly. The finger assembly can include first and second fingers oriented parallel to each other, and sized and shaped to releasably engage first and second components of the implant during assembly. The handle assembly can include first and second handles pivotally connected to each other and configured to control movement of the first and second fingers. The crossbar assembly can be configured to maintain the first and second fingers substantially parallel to each other during movement of the first and second fingers. The assembly tool can be used for assembling a bearing assembly to an ulnar component of an elbow prosthesis.