Hip Arthroplasty Liner Removal With Guided Pilot Drilling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hip arthroplasty procedures face challenges in efficiently removing liners attached to implanted acetabular shells and trial femoral heads from trial mobile inserts, which can be difficult and potentially damaging to the implant components.

Innovation Solution

The development of a rim plate with drill guide openings and a pilot hole drill tip, along with a removal tool, allows for precise drilling and detachment of liners from acetabular shells, while a removal instrument system facilitates the disengagement of trial femoral heads from trial mobile inserts, ensuring minimal damage to the implants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional removal methods are used for liners attached to acetabular shells, then the removal process becomes difficult and time-consuming, but the risk of damaging implant components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of liner removalVSAvoidrisk of implant damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The method involves preliminary drilling of pilot holes through the liner before removal. This preliminary action creates controlled access points that facilitate subsequent removal operations while preventing uncontrolled damage to the acetabular shell and other implant components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The removal process is segmented into distinct steps: drilling pilot holes at specific locations, inserting removal tools through these holes, and progressively detaching the liner. This segmentation allows for controlled, systematic removal that reduces the risk of sudden damage to the implant components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If trial femoral heads are removed from trial mobile inserts using conventional methods, then the disengagement process becomes difficult, but the integrity of the trial components may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of femoral head disengagementVSAvoidintegrity of trial components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The method employs preliminary drilling of pilot holes through the trial mobile insert at predetermined locations before attempting to remove the trial femoral head. This preliminary action creates controlled access points that facilitate safe disengagement while preserving the integrity of both the femoral head and mobile insert components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The disengagement process is divided into sequential steps: drilling pilot holes, inserting removal tools through the holes, and gradually working the femoral head free. This segmented approach allows for controlled force application that prevents damage to the trial components while achieving successful removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4268774B1Hip arthroplasty instruments
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 GLOBUS MEDICAL INC
  • EP4268774B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4268774B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4268774B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Apparatus and method of removing a liner (14) attached to an implanted acetabular shell (312). A surgical site is accessed where the acetabular shell has already been implanted into a patient. A rim plate (700) having a through opening (708) is placed over the acetabular shell. A pilot hole (718) is then drilled into the attached liner through the opening in the placed rim plate. After the drilling, the rim plate is removed to expose the drilled hole. A removal tool (704) is inserted into the drilled pilot hole. The attached liner is then disengaged from the implanted acetabular shell with the inserted removal tool.