Glenosphere Flange Augmented Bone Fixation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoulder replacement surgeries face challenges due to glenoid bone loss and deterioration, which can reduce the effectiveness of the surgery and lead to additional problems.
Innovation Solution
A glenosphere with a body and a flange is designed, featuring a spherical surface and engagement features for bone attachment. The flange extends radially outward and is configured to enhance fixation to the shoulder bone, augmenting the stability of the shoulder prosthesis system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a glenosphere is used in shoulder replacement surgery, then the shoulder joint can be repaired and functionality restored, but glenoid bone loss and deterioration occur, reducing the effectiveness of the surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The glenosphere is divided into distinct functional segments: a body portion for articulation and a flange portion for fixation. This segmentation allows each part to address specific requirements - the body maintains joint functionality while the flange provides enhanced bone anchoring to prevent glenoid bone loss
Solution Approach 2:
The flange extends radially outward from the glenosphere body, adding a dimensional extension that increases the surface area for bone contact. This radial extension creates additional fixation points beyond the traditional glenoid cavity, distributing mechanical loads across a larger bone surface area
2Strength
If a flange is added to the glenosphere to enhance fixation, then stability to the shoulder bone is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flange is integrated as a single continuous component with the glenosphere body, forming one piece without separate attachment mechanisms. This merging of the flange and body into a unified structure provides enhanced fixation while avoiding the complexity of multiple detachable parts
Solution Approach 2:
The glenosphere body maintains its spherical geometry for proper articulation, while the flange provides a planar or slightly curved fixation surface. This combination of spherical and planar geometries in a single component achieves both joint functionality and bone fixation without requiring multiple separate components
3Productivity
If the flange extends radially outward from the body, then the angle for bone engagement is reduced to less than 180 degrees, improving fixation efficiency, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flange geometry parameters (radial extension distance, angular span less than 180 degrees, thickness) are optimized to provide maximum bone engagement within practical manufacturing tolerances. This parameter optimization balances fixation efficiency with manufacturability by avoiding extreme geometric requirements
Data Source
AI summary
A glenosphere includes a body and a flange. The body includes a first body surface and a spherical second body surface, and includes an engagement feature to engage with an attachment structure attachable to a bone. The flange extends radially outward from the body and includes a first flange surface contiguous with a first body surface and a second flange surface contiguous with the second body surface. The flange has a flange length extending from a first end and a second end such that an angle defined by a first line from a center of the body to the first end and a second line from the center of the body to the second end is less than 180 degrees.