Femoral Head Arthroplasty With Modular Anchoring for Minimal Bone Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hip implants require significant bone removal, which is undesirable for patients.

Innovation Solution

A femoral head arthroplasty system with a mounting plate and implant body that extend no more than 90 mm, featuring a recess for a femoral head replacement and optional splines, screws, and a Morse taper adapter, allowing for minimal bone removal and secure attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional hip implants are used, then secure attachment and stability are achieved, but significant bone removal is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment stabilityVSAvoidbone removal
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The implant is divided into separate components: a mounting plate that sits on the bone surface and an implant body that extends into the bone. This segmentation allows the implant to be secured without requiring deep insertion and extensive bone removal, as the mounting plate provides a stable base while the implant body provides anchoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The adapter with Morse taper is nested within the recess of the implant body, and the femoral head replacement is nested within the adapter. This nested configuration allows multiple functional elements to be compactly integrated, reducing the overall implant footprint and minimizing the bone removal required while maintaining secure attachment through the nested interlocking structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If conventional hip implants are used, then proper femoral head replacement is achieved, but large incisions and complex surgery are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefemoral head replacement functionalityVSAvoidsurgical complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical procedure is simplified by segmenting the implant into modular components that can be independently positioned and secured. The mounting plate is first secured to the bone surface, then the implant body is attached, followed by the adapter and femoral head replacement. This stepwise modular assembly reduces surgical complexity compared to inserting a single large conventional implant requiring extensive exposure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting plate extends in a direction parallel to the bone surface rather than requiring deep insertion along the bone axis. This dimensional change allows the implant to achieve proper femoral head replacement functionality while accessing the surgical site through smaller incisions, reducing surgical complexity and patient trauma.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Loss of substance

If the implant body extends no more than 90 mm, then bone removal is minimized, but attachment stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebone removalVSAvoidattachment stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting plate is first secured to the bone surface before attaching the implant body. This preliminary action creates a stable base that compensates for the limited extension depth of the implant body, ensuring attachment stability is achieved even with minimal bone removal and short implant body length.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The implant utilizes composite construction with the mounting plate providing a broad stable base and the implant body providing anchoring strength. This composite structure distributes mechanical loads effectively, maintaining attachment stability despite the implant body extending no more than 90 mm and minimizing bone removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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

Reduces the amount of bone needed to be removed during surgery, minimizing blood loss and facilitating easier implantation and re-do surgeries with smaller incisions.

Implementation Method 1

The adapter can have a Morse taper

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

The implant body can comprise at least one radially extending spline

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical interlocking: Mechanical Fastener

Implementation Method 3

The mounting hardware can comprise at least one screw

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThreading: Screw

Data Source

PatentEP3982884B1Femoral head arthroplasty system
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE DEPT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
  • EP3982884B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3982884B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3982884B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A femoral head arthroplasty system can comprise a femoral prosthesis comprising a mounting plate having a first side and an opposed second side. An adapter can extend from the second side of the mounting plate. An implant body can extend from the first side of the mounting plate. The implant body can extend from the mounting plate by a distance no greater than 90 mm. The femoral head arthroplasty system can further comprise a femoral head replacement having a generally spherical surface and comprising a recess that is shaped to complementarily receive the adapter of the femoral prosthesis.