Knee Extractor Quick Coupling for Secure Slap Hammer Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical tools, such as slap hammers, face difficulties in quickly and easily coupling and disconnecting with various surgical instruments during procedures like total knee replacement.

Innovation Solution

A total knee replacement device with a quick connect feature, featuring a main body that can couple with tools like a curved osteotome, straight osteotome, or knee extractor, using spring-loaded sheaths and engagement components like hooks and bayonet locks for efficient tool attachment and detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional coupling mechanisms are used for surgical tools, then connection strength is maintained, but coupling and disconnecting time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidcoupling and disconnecting time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling mechanism is divided into separate engagement components: a first engagement component on the connector and a second engagement component on the tool. These segmented parts can quickly engage and disengage through simple relative movement, reducing coupling time while maintaining connection strength through proper geometric design of the engagement surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connector serves as an intermediary component between the slap hammer and various surgical tools. It provides a standardized interface with engagement components that enable quick attachment and detachment of different tools, solving both the time consumption and reliability issues through its mediating coupling mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple surgical tools are used with the slap hammer, then surgical functionality is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical functionalityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is designed with universal engagement components that can interface with multiple different surgical tools including curved osteotomes, straight osteotomes, chisels, and knee extractors. This multi-functional design allows a single connector to work with various tools, improving surgical functionality without requiring multiple specialized connectors, thereby avoiding increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates rapid and secure coupling and decoupling of surgical tools, reducing procedural time and enhancing operational efficiency in orthopedic surgeries.

Implementation Method 1

the first engagement component of the connector is at least partially surrounded by a spring-loaded sheath, the spring-loaded sheath configured to retract from the first engagement component such that the first engagement component can engage the second engagement component

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring-loaded mechanism: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS12533160B2Knee replacement devices, systems, and methods

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 INTEGRITY MEDICAL SERVICES INC

AI summary

A knee extractor that can couple with a slap hammer. The slap hammer can move grippers of the knee extractor with respect to a main body. The knee extractor can include a synchronizer that can be locked to prevent unintentional movement of the grippers.