Joint Spacer and Bone Preparation Guide for Foot Realignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Anatomically misaligned bones, such as those in the foot, require surgical intervention for realignment to reduce patient discomfort, but existing methods lack efficient tools for precise bone preparation and alignment.
Innovation Solution
The use of a bone preparing guide and spacer system that includes cutting surfaces and slots for precise bone cuts, along with a spacer for alignment and reference, facilitates the realignment of bones by allowing for accurate positioning and orientation of cutting instruments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional surgical methods are used for bone realignment, then the surgical procedure can be performed, but the precision and efficiency of bone preparation and alignment are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical system is divided into distinct modular components: a spacer component that establishes joint space and alignment, and a separate bone preparing guide that attaches to the spacer. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function with optimized design, improving cutting precision while keeping individual components manageable in complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer component is inserted into the joint space before the bone cutting procedure to pre-establish the desired alignment and spacing. This preliminary action provides a reference framework that guides subsequent bone preparation, ensuring precise cuts are made at the correct positions and angles
2Measurement precision
If a spacer and bone preparing guide system is used, then bone alignment precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer and bone preparing guide are designed to work together as an integrated system where the guide attaches to the spacer. This merging allows the alignment reference function of the spacer and the cutting guidance function of the guide to be combined, improving measurement precision while presenting a unified device to the surgeon rather than separate complex systems
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer acts as an intermediary component between the joint space and the bone preparing guide. It translates the desired joint alignment into a physical reference structure that the guide can attach to, thereby improving alignment precision without requiring the guide itself to be overly complex
3Manufacturing precision
If precise bone cuts are made using the guide system, then bone realignment accuracy is improved, but the surgical time and procedure complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer is inserted and positioned to establish the desired alignment before any bone cutting begins. This preliminary action pre-determines the cutting positions and angles, allowing the surgeon to make precise cuts more efficiently without needing to perform complex measurements and calculations during the actual bone preparation phase
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a method for preparing one or more bones involves inserting a spacer into a space defined between a first bone and a second bone, such as a joint space between a first metatarsal and medial cuneiform. A bone preparation guide can be aligned with opposed ends of the first bone and the second bone using the spacer as an alignment reference. For example, the bone preparation guide may include an opening such that the guide can be installed across the joint space with the spacer received in the opening. A clinician may use the bone preparation guide to guide a tissue removing instrument to cut or otherwise prepare the ends of the first bone portion and second bone portion.