Hybrid Acetabular Cup Insertion System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current total hip replacement surgeries face challenges with inconsistent acetabular cup placement due to unpredictable and uncontrolled forces used in traditional mallet-based methods, leading to issues like hip instability, polyethylene wear, osteolysis, and the need for revision surgery.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing pneumatic and electric motor implementations to create a hybrid medical device that combines vibratory and axial-impactful forces for precise insertion and positioning of acetabular cups, allowing for controlled and quantifiable force application, reducing the risk of fracturing and improving surgical outcomes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional mallet-based methods are used to insert acetabular cups, then the insertion process is simple and quick, but the placement precision and positioning accuracy are poor due to unpredictable and uncontrolled forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional manual mallet-based mechanical impact system with a controlled mechanical delivery system that uses pneumatic or electromagnetic actuators. This substitution allows for precise control of insertion forces and positioning, transforming the uncontrolled manual impact process into a controlled automated or computer-assisted process that achieves consistent accurate placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates computer-assisted navigation systems and sensors that provide real-time feedback on acetabular cup positioning and insertion forces. This feedback loop allows the surgeon or automated system to monitor and adjust the insertion process to achieve the desired placement precision, addressing the accuracy problem while managing system complexity through intelligent control.
2Measurement precision
If automated and computer-assisted navigation tools are used to determine correct orientation and placement, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the overall reliability deteriorates because uncontrolled impacting forces still cause deviation from intended location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the uncontrolled manual impacting mechanism with a controlled mechanical delivery system that integrates with computer-assisted navigation. This system delivers precisely controlled forces through pneumatic or electromagnetic actuators, ensuring that the final placement matches the computer-planned position and eliminating the reliability issue caused by uncontrolled impacting forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the computer-assisted navigation system with the mechanical insertion system into an integrated hybrid prosthesis installation system. This combination ensures that both the positioning accuracy from navigation and the force control from the mechanical delivery system work together to achieve reliable and consistent placement outcomes.
3Strength
If large impacting forces are applied by mallet striking the rod to adjust location and orientation, then the acetabular component can be secured in place, but the risk of fracturing and shattering the acetabulum increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of the insertion process by using controlled mechanical delivery systems that can precisely regulate insertion forces. Pneumatic or electromagnetic actuators provide controlled force application with adjustable parameters, allowing sufficient securing force to be applied without exceeding the bone's fracture threshold, thus eliminating the harmful effect of excessive impacting forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the uncontrolled manual mallet impact system with a controlled mechanical delivery system that uses sensors and actuators to monitor and limit insertion forces. This substitution ensures that forces remain within safe limits while still achieving secure implant fixation, preventing bone fracture.
4Reliability
If experienced surgeons perform the procedure with familiar use of adjustment tools, then the risk from less preferred location or orientation is reduced, but the dependency on surgeon skill and experience increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the dependency on surgeon skill with an automated or computer-assisted system that objectively controls positioning and insertion. The mechanical delivery system with integrated navigation provides consistent, reproducible results regardless of surgeon experience level, reducing outcome variability while maintaining ease of operation through standardized protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the system to perform the precise positioning and insertion functions autonomously or with minimal surgeon intervention. The computer-assisted navigation and controlled mechanical delivery system self-regulates the insertion process, reducing the need for surgeon expertise in manual adjustment techniques while maintaining high reliability and consistency.
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
The hybrid system enables surgeons to achieve accurate and consistent acetabular cup placement with reduced force, minimizing complications and improving surgical precision, thus approaching the outcomes of experienced surgeons, even for those with fewer procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a pneumatic actuator that generates a vibratory motion to insert the prosthetic component into the bone
Implementation Method 2
an electromagnetic actuator that generates an axial impactful forces to position the prosthetic component
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for inserting and aligning an acetabular cup in the human pelvic bone, including selectively combining aspects of a vibratory BMD3 and an axially-impacting BMD4, including initially utilizing BMD3 vibratory insertion to partially insert and perfectly align the acetabular cup into the pelvis, and subsequently switching to a BMD4 controlled impaction technique to apply specific quantifiable forces for full seating and insertion, wherein the proven advantages of the vibratory insertion prototype with the advantages of the controlled impaction prototype are combined in a single device.