Joint Repair Navigation Guide Frame with Radiopaque Markers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical methods for treating osteoarthritis, such as HTO and TKA, are invasive, have limited durability, and provide inconsistent pain relief, while conventional targeting and location methods are crude, making it difficult for surgeons to accurately navigate and position devices near bone defects during joint surgery.

Innovation Solution

The development of navigation and positioning instruments that use anatomical landmarks to guide the precise placement of devices near bone defects, featuring a guide frame with radiopaque markers and multiple device portals for accurate and controlled delivery of implants or treatment tools, allowing for quick and repeatable access to the target area without obstructing the surgical site.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional targeting and location methods are used, then the surgical procedure is simple to perform, but the precision of device placement near bone defects is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of device placementVSAvoidcomplexity of navigation instrument
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The navigation instrument is divided into multiple components: a guide frame with multiple device portals, each portal providing a specific trajectory. This segmentation allows precise targeting of bone defects from various angles while maintaining a manageable instrument structure that can be assembled and adjusted during surgery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide frame acts as an intermediary device between the surgeon and the bone defect. It provides a reference framework that mediates the placement of delivery devices, enabling precise positioning without requiring the surgeon to directly visualize or manually position each device at the target site.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If a guide frame with multiple components is used to improve positioning accuracy, then the precision of navigation is improved, but the complexity of the instrument increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidinstrument structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide frame is designed as a multi-functional instrument that can accommodate multiple different delivery devices through its various device portals. Each portal can receive different types of devices (drills, implants, injection needles), allowing a single guide frame structure to serve multiple surgical functions and target different bone defects systematically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If precise navigation instruments are used to treat bone defects, then the treatment effectiveness is improved, but the procedure time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidsurgical procedure time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The guide frame is pre-positioned on the bone surface before device insertion, establishing a reference framework in advance. This preliminary action allows multiple subsequent device deliveries to be made quickly and accurately without requiring repeated positioning or alignment steps, thereby reducing overall procedure time while maintaining high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2501303B1Navigation and positioning instruments for joint repair
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 ZIMMER KNEE CREATIONS INC
  • EP2501303B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2501303B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP2501303B1 patent drawingFigure 2B~2C

AI summary

An instrument for controlled delivery of a device to a target area near a defect of a bone is provided. The instrument comprises a guide frame having a plurality of device portals, each portal defining a trajectory. The guide frame further includes visual markers for aligning the guide frame to an anatomical landmark on the bone to be treated. The instrument also includes a holder for releasable attachment with the guide frame. Each device portal is configured to provide accurate and controlled delivery of the device to the target area. In one example, the markers are radiopaque, and are visualized through fluoroscopy. A method of using the instrument is also provided.