Hip Stem Insertion Instrument with Adjustable Clamping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical instruments lack the ability to provide substantial rotational control and versatile attachment to differently sized or configured hip stem prostheses during implantation, limiting their adaptability and precision in hip replacement surgeries.

Innovation Solution

A surgical instrument with a dual engagement system, featuring an impaction portion for anchoring and an adjustable clamping portion that can securely attach to various hip stem prostheses, allowing for rotational control and accommodating different sizes and configurations through a mechanism involving an actuation assembly and adjustable engagement mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional surgical instrument is used for hip stem prosthesis implantation, then the implantation process can be completed, but rotational control over the prosthesis is insufficient and the instrument cannot accommodate differently sized or configured prostheses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to accommodate differently sized or configured hip stem prosthesesVSAvoidrotational control over the prosthesis during implantation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical instrument incorporates an adjustable clamping portion that can dynamically adapt its position and clamping force to accommodate different prosthesis sizes and configurations. The actuation assembly allows the clamping portion to be adjusted along the instrument body, enabling the instrument to maintain optimal rotational control across various prosthesis dimensions rather than being fixed for a single size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The instrument design integrates both an impaction portion for anchoring and a clamping portion for rotational control in a single device. The impaction portion engages with the proximal body portion while the clamping portion engages with the neck portion, creating a universal instrument that can handle different prosthesis types (varying in size, offset, and leg length) through its dual engagement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed engagement instrument is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot provide substantial rotational control or accommodate multiple prosthesis sizes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to attach to various hip stem prosthesesVSAvoiddual engagement system with actuation assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument is divided into distinct functional segments: an impaction portion for anchoring engagement and a clamping portion for rotational control. These segmented components work together but can be independently adjusted or positioned, allowing the complex functionality to be achieved through modular design rather than a monolithic structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The actuation assembly serves as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between the operator's input and the clamping portion's position. This intermediary component enables precise adjustment of the clamping portion along the instrument body, providing the necessary adaptability while maintaining a manageable level of operational complexity through a dedicated adjustment mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If rotational control is enhanced with multiple engagement points, then precision improves, but the instrument structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotational control precision during implantationVSAvoiddual engagement system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument merges two engagement mechanisms (impaction and clamping) into a single integrated device. The impaction portion provides anchoring while the clamping portion provides rotational control, combining these functions in one instrument rather than requiring separate tools, thereby achieving enhanced precision without proportionally increasing overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9339393B2Orthopedic implant insertion instrument

Publication Date: 2016.05.17 ZIMMER INC

AI summary

A surgical instrument is disclosed that facilitates the implantation of one of a number of differently sized or differently configured hip stem prostheses into a proximal end of a femur while also providing a surgeon with a substantial amount of rotational control over the prosthesis during the implantation. A suitable hip stem prosthesis is selected from a family of hip stem prostheses of varying sizes and dimensions. The surgical instrument attaches to the selected hip stem prosthesis via first and second spaced engagement portions such that the instrument is operable to exert rotational control over the selected hip stem prosthesis. The first engagement portion is an impaction portion configured to engage a corresponding impaction feature on a proximal body portion of the hip stem prosthesis. The second engagement portion is an adjustable clamping portion configured to clampingly receive the neck of the hip stem prosthesis, regardless of the prosthesis size.