Proximal Femur Broach with Shelf Insert for Fracture Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Proximal femoral revision surgery often faces challenges in accurately locating and preparing the femur for a new implant due to the difficulty in identifying the preferred resection level, which can lead to fractures during reaming or cutting procedures.

Innovation Solution

A broach system with a roughened cutting surface and notches for a shelf insert, combined with a cutting scribe assembly and guide assembly, allows for precise marking and cutting of the femur, reducing the risk of fracture and improving alignment for implant placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If reaming and cutting procedures are used to prepare the proximal femur, then the femur can be shaped to accept a new implant, but the risk of fracture increases due to weak and compromised host bone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreparation accuracyVSAvoidfracture risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The broach is designed with a shelf insert that can be positioned at a predetermined depth before the actual cutting or reaming procedure. This preliminary positioning establishes the correct resection level and provides structural support to the proximal femur during subsequent machining operations, thereby preventing fractures while ensuring accurate preparation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If impacting broaches are used to shape the femoral canal, then bone removal can be achieved, but the risk of fracture increases compared to machining with reamers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone removal efficiencyVSAvoidfracture risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shelf insert is inserted into the broach body at a predetermined position before the impacting process. This preliminary action provides structural reinforcement to the proximal femur during the high-impact bone removal process, enabling efficient shaping while preventing fractures that would otherwise occur with traditional impacting broaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If the preferred resection level is not accurately located, then implant alignment can be compromised, but attempting to locate it precisely is difficult when deficient bone must be discarded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresection level location accuracyVSAvoidlocating difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The shelf insert acts as an intermediary reference tool that bridges the gap between the compromised bone surface and the desired resection level. By providing a physical barrier at a predetermined depth, it enables accurate location of the resection level even when bone deficiency makes direct measurement difficult, ensuring proper implant alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9339318B2Method and apparatus for preparing a proximal femur

Publication Date: 2016.05.17 BIOMET MFG LLC

AI summary

A system for preparing a proximal femur can include a broach that includes a broach body having an anterior side, a posterior side, a lateral side and a medial side. The medial side can have a roughened cutting surface. The lateral side can have a smooth, non-cutting surface. The system can further comprise a cutting scribe assembly and a cutting guide assembly.