Joint Insert Kit With Anchoring Protrusions and Spring Positioner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Joints in living beings, especially those on extremities, suffer from wear and tear, damage, or deformities, leading to restricted function and pain, often requiring significant surgical intervention for replacement.
Innovation Solution
A surgical kit comprising a first and second insert part with fixing elements, an insert disk, and a positioning element to minimize surgical intervention by inserting these components into the joint gap to restore functionality, with the insert disk designed to absorb joint load and be fixed or movable relative to the joint elements, and the positioning element ensuring the disk's positioning and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a joint is replaced with an endoprosthesis, then joint functionality is restored, but surgical intervention becomes extensive and invasive
Solution Approach 1:
The joint replacement is divided into modular components: a first insert part inserted into a first joint element, a second insert part inserted into a second joint element, and an insert disc positioned between them. This segmentation allows each component to be independently inserted and positioned, reducing surgical complexity while restoring joint functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert disc acts as an intermediary element between the first and second insert parts, providing a load-bearing surface that restores joint functionality. The positioning element serves as an intermediary tool to accurately position the insert disc between the joint elements during surgery, minimizing surgical intervention.
2Reliability
If joint elements are worn or damaged, then joint function is limited and pain occurs, but complete replacement requires significant surgical removal of existing joint
Solution Approach 1:
The insert parts are designed with fixing elements (protrusions) that anchor into recesses of the joint elements before the insert disc is positioned. This preliminary anchoring action secures the insert parts in place, allowing the insert disc to be subsequently positioned without requiring extensive removal of existing joint tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second insert parts are inserted into cavities or recesses within the joint elements, nesting these components within the existing joint structure. This nesting approach preserves surrounding healthy tissue while replacing only the worn or damaged surfaces with the insert parts and insert disc.
3Reliability
If an insert disc is inserted between joint elements to absorb load, then joint functionality is improved, but positioning and securing the disc becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning element replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with a simpler spring-based mechanism. The spring element provides continuous contact force to maintain the insert disc in its correct position between the joint elements, absorbing positioning errors and accommodating slight variations in joint geometry without requiring precise mechanical constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning element utilizes elastic deformation of the spring to adapt to varying joint geometries and load conditions. By changing the physical state of the positioning mechanism from rigid to elastic, the system can accommodate natural variations in joint structure while maintaining proper insert disc positioning and load-bearing function.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~8
Figure 9~11
AI summary
The invention relates to a surgical kit for adding to a joint of a vertebrate, in particular a human, which has two joint elements (1, 2) which can be moved relative to each other and between which there is a joint space (7), said surgical kit having: a first insert part (3) with a first longitudinal axis (3a) and two end faces (3b, 3c) through which said longitudinal axis passes, and at least one circumferential face (3d), which has at least one elevation (9) on at least one circumferential face, for anchoring in a recess (8) in a first joint element (1); a second insert part (4) with a second longitudinal axis (4a) and two end faces (4b, 4c) through which said longitudinal axis passes, and at least one circumferential face (4d), which has at least one elevation (10) on at least one circumferential face, for anchoring in a recess (11) in a second joint element (2); and an insertion plate (5, 5', 5'') for introducing into the joint space (7) between the joint elements (1, 2); and a positioning element (6, 6', 6'', 6''') for positioning the insertion plate (5, 5') between the first and second insert parts.