Joint Capsule Penetrating Guide Structure for Bone Implant Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surgeons face challenges in precisely positioning bone implants near joints due to limited visibility of the joint surface, especially where joint capsule and ligament structures are present, leading to increased surgical time, fatigue, and risk of infection from trial-and-error methods in determining optimal entry locations and trajectories for fixation elements.

Innovation Solution

A guide structure with discrete projecting referencing arms and a contoured surface is used to penetrate the joint capsule, stabilize the guide structure relative to the bone, and facilitate accurate alignment and placement of the implant by directing drilling tools to create bores for fixation elements, ensuring optimal positioning and orientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If trial-and-error methods are used to determine optimal entry locations and trajectories for fixation elements, then the surgeon can eventually achieve proper implant positioning, but surgical time increases and the risk of infection rises due to prolonged wound exposure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision in determining entry location and trajectoryVSAvoidsurgical time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The guide structure is placed on the bone surface before drilling operations to pre-establish the correct entry locations and trajectories for fixation elements. The guide structure includes reference features that align with anatomical landmarks, allowing the surgeon to immediately begin drilling without trial-and-error positioning. This preliminary setup eliminates repeated drilling attempts and extends surgical time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If trial-and-error methods are used to determine optimal entry locations and trajectories for fixation elements, then the surgeon can eventually achieve proper implant positioning, but the risk of infection increases due to prolonged wound exposure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision in determining entry location and trajectoryVSAvoidrisk of infection

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If repetitive bone penetration attempts are made during trial-and-error positioning, then the surgeon can eventually achieve proper implant positioning, but the bone at the operating site becomes compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision in determining entry location and trajectoryVSAvoidbone integrity at operating site

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If the surgeon relies on limited visual field of the bone surface, then the surgical procedure can be performed with standard equipment, but the frame of reference for positioning fixation elements is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of implant positioningVSAvoidvisibility of joint surface and anatomical landmarks

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The guide structure serves as an intermediary tool that translates limited visual information into accurate positioning. It includes reference features such as arms or indicators that extend toward the joint surface, allowing the surgeon to infer the position of hidden anatomical landmarks. The guide structure may also include alignment features that reference visible bone surfaces and translate them into correct drilling trajectories, effectively compensating for the limited visual field.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250000526A1Method of and apparatus for fixing an implant with respect to first and second bone parts

Publication Date: 2025.01.02 TRIMED INC

AI summary

A method of, and apparatus for, fixing an implant with respect to first and second bone parts at a joint. The method includes the steps of: obtaining a guide structure having a body with a first discrete projecting referencing arm; placing the guide structure in an operative position by directing the first discrete projecting referencing arm through a joint capsule to against a joint surface on the first bone part to establish a referencing location relative to the joint surface; with the guide structure in the operative position, using the guide structure to facilitate alignment of the implant in a desired seated position with respect to the first bone part; and thereafter fixing the implant in the desired seated position.