Glenoid Implant Asymmetric Bone-Engaging Side
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical implants for shoulder joint procedures, such as glenoid implants, face challenges in achieving accurate placement and alignment due to bone deficiencies and erosion, often requiring extensive reaming and bone grafts.
Innovation Solution
The glenoid implant features a body portion with an articular side and a bone-engaging side, where the bone-engaging side is angled non-parallelly relative to the articular side, allowing for customizable alignment and potentially reducing the need for extensive reaming and bone grafts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional glenoid implants with parallel bone-engaging side and articular side are used, then the implant structure is simple, but accurate placement and alignment are difficult to achieve due to bone deficiencies and erosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by configuring the bone-engaging side at a non-parallel angle relative to the articular side, creating an asymmetric geometry that enables accurate alignment with the glenoid bone surface while accounting for bone deficiencies and erosion. This asymmetric design allows the implant to self-align properly during insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces angular orientation as an additional dimensional parameter by positioning the bone-engaging side at a non-parallel angle to the articular side. This dimensional change from a parallel to an angled configuration provides extra alignment freedom and enables accurate placement despite variations in bone geometry.
2Manufacturing precision
If extensive reaming and bone grafts are performed to account for bone deficiencies, then accurate implant placement can be achieved, but the surgical procedure becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the bone-engaging side at a non-parallel angle to the articular side during implant manufacturing. This preliminary geometric preparation allows the implant to self-align with the glenoid surface during insertion, eliminating the need for extensive intraoperative reaming and bone grafting procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the bone-engaging side from a parallel orientation to a non-parallel angled orientation relative to the articular side. This parameter change enables the implant to accommodate bone deficiencies and achieve accurate alignment without requiring extensive surgical intervention to modify the bone geometry.
3Reliability
If the bone-engaging side is positioned at a non-parallel angle relative to the articular side, then accurate placement and alignment are achieved, but the implant design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetry by positioning the bone-engaging side at a non-parallel angle to the articular side, creating an asymmetric geometry that enhances placement security by enabling precise alignment with the glenoid bone surface while accounting for natural anatomical variations and bone deficiencies.
Data Source
AI summary
A glenoid implant is provided and may include a body portion and a stem portion. The stem portion may extend from the body portion along a longitudinal axis. The body portion may include an articular side and a bone-engaging side opposite the articular side. At least a portion of the bone-engaging side may be disposed at a non-parallel angle relative to at least a peripheral edge of the articulation side.