Hip Trial Head Inductive Sensing for Impingement and Dislocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for detecting impingement and dislocation in hip replacement surgeries lack real-time feedback during surgery, making it difficult to adjust prosthetic implants and predict postoperative complications effectively.

Innovation Solution

An intraoperative system using a passive sensor in a trial head attached to an implant, which generates signals based on distance changes with an articulating component, alerting medical professionals to impingements or dislocations through a threshold comparison.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional postoperative detection methods are used, then patient monitoring is simple, but real-time feedback during surgery is unavailable making it difficult to adjust implants and predict complications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidfeedback delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system is installed on the trial head before the actual implantation, allowing detection and adjustment to be performed during the surgical procedure itself rather than after. The trial head with integrated sensor enables real-time monitoring of impingement and dislocation during range of motion testing, allowing surgeons to make immediate adjustments to implant positioning and configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides real-time feedback during surgery by continuously monitoring the distance between the trial head and articulating component through sensor signals. When the distance exceeds predetermined thresholds indicating impingement or dislocation, the system immediately alerts the surgical team, enabling corrective action during the procedure rather than discovering problems postoperatively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If intraoperative detection system with sensor is implemented, then real-time feedback is available for immediate adjustments, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplication detectionVSAvoidsystem components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The trial head serves multiple functions: it acts as both the surgical trial component for testing implant fit and range of motion, and as the sensor platform for detecting impingement and dislocation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate detection devices, reducing overall system complexity while providing comprehensive intraoperative monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor system utilizes the existing trial head structure and its natural movement during surgical testing to perform detection functions. The trial head's own positional changes relative to the articulating component generate the detection signals, eliminating the need for additional actuators or complex measurement mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If passive sensor in trial head is used, then real-time distance measurement is achieved with simple structure, but sensor signal stability may be affected by movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistance measurementVSAvoidsignal consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex mechanical measurement mechanisms with a passive sensor that detects distance through non-contact means. The sensor signal is processed to account for the dynamic movement inherent in surgical range of motion testing, providing stable measurements despite the changing positions of the trial head and articulating component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables real-time detection of impingement and dislocation during surgery, reducing the likelihood of postoperative complications and improving patient outcomes by allowing immediate adjustments.

Implementation Method 1

The sensor can include an inductive coil to detect the distance and generate the signal indicative of the distance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInductive coil detection: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS20250228674A1Hip impingement and dislocation detection system

Publication Date: 2025.07.17 ORTHOSOFT ULC

AI summary

A trial implant for detecting impingement or dislocation intraoperatively during a range of motion test can include a trial head of a ball and socket joint replacement prosthesis. The ball and socket joint replacement prosthesis can be configured to attach to a stem component and engage with a socket portion of the ball and socket joint replacement prosthesis. A sensor can be embedded within the trial head and configured to generate a signal indicative of a distance between the trial head and the socket portion. The sensor can include an inductive coil to detect the distance and generate the signal indicative of the distance.