Joint Prosthesis Stress Distribution via Segmented Inserts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current prosthetic devices for joint replacement often compromise the natural joint mechanism, cause unnatural motion arcs, and can irritate or restrict ligaments, leading to limited effectiveness and mobility in treating osteoarthritis.
Innovation Solution
A prosthetic system comprising plates shaped to conform to joint surfaces, accommodating native ligaments and allowing for a desired range of motion by distributing stress and maintaining physiological strain, while minimizing interaction with ligaments and muscles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional joint replacement surgery is performed, then symptom relief is provided, but the natural joint mechanism is compromised and mobility is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis is divided into separate modular components including a femoral component, tibial component, and interchangeable inserts. This segmentation allows the natural joint mechanism to be partially preserved while providing symptom relief, and enables customization of mobility characteristics through different insert selections.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of replacing the entire joint as in traditional arthroplasty, the invention inserts a stress-distributing device into the joint space that works with the native joint surfaces. This inverted approach preserves the natural articulation while addressing the pathological stress distribution, thereby maintaining mobility while providing symptom relief.
2Loss of energy
If energy absorption implants are used in the knee joint, then energy is absorbed during extension, but the natural arc of motion is altered and ligament interaction is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis introduces an intermediary stress-distributing component that mediates between the femoral and tibial surfaces. This intermediary absorbs and redistributes energy during extension without significantly altering the natural arc of motion, as it works within the existing joint geometry rather than imposing a new mechanical pathway.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy absorption function is localized to specific regions of the prosthesis, particularly in the tibial insert where stress concentration occurs during extension. This localized approach allows energy dissipation without requiring global modification of the joint's motion characteristics, preserving the natural arc of motion while providing protective energy absorption.
3Ease of operation
If the implant is positioned to provide full range of motion, then mobility is improved, but ligament irritation and restriction may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis employs dynamic design features including conforming surfaces that adapt to the natural joint geometry and motion patterns. The tibial insert and femoral component are designed to move together through the full range of motion while maintaining optimal contact, thereby achieving improved mobility without creating fixed points of irritation that would affect the ligaments.
Solution Approach 2:
The prosthesis provides partial stress relief rather than complete load bearing, allowing the native joint structures including ligaments to remain engaged and functional. This partial action approach enables full range of motion by not over-constraining the joint, while still providing sufficient stress distribution to prevent ligament irritation and damage.
Data Source
AI summary
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common disease affecting human joints. Mechanical stress through the joint is one of the most important independent etiological factors. The present invention provides a prosthesis that by passes some of the stress from the joint without destroying the joint surface. It allows may provide a full range of joint movement, while sharing the load with the physiological joint, thereby maintaining the viability of the physiological joint surface. In addition, the prosthesis can accommodate native soft tissue structures in or around the joint, such as ligaments.