Artificial Knee Joint Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current artificial knee joints fail to sufficiently reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament, leading to instability and inconvenience, especially during activities like climbing stairs, due to the lack of a specific layout for the reconstructed ligament that mimics the original ligament's function.
Innovation Solution
The artificial knee joint incorporates a reconstruction ligament formed by multiple bundles, with a ligament insertion hole positioned where the anterior cruciate ligament originally exists, and an intercondylar eminence that interferes with the ligament, allowing for proper tension and relaxation states, similar to the natural ligament, to stabilize the femur and tibia connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the anterior cruciate ligament is removed in total knee replacement, then the artificial knee joint can be installed, but the stability and function of the knee joint deteriorates, especially during stair climbing
Solution Approach 1:
The reconstruction ligament is divided into multiple bundles (anterior bundle and lateral bundle) that are separately attached to different locations on the femur and tibia. This segmentation allows each bundle to independently replicate the complex motion and force distribution patterns of the natural anterior cruciate ligament, providing stability while maintaining stair climbing function
Solution Approach 2:
The reconstruction ligament acts as an intermediary element between the femur and tibia, replacing the function of the removed anterior cruciate ligament. By using a flexible ligament structure rather than rigid mechanical components, the invention mediates the complex motions between bone surfaces, providing natural-like stability during various activities including stair climbing
2Device complexity
If the artificial knee joint is designed without considering the original ligament position, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision and functional replication deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ligament insertion holes are pre-positioned on the tibia and femur components at anatomically correct locations that correspond to the original attachment sites of the anterior cruciate ligament. This preliminary positioning of attachment points ensures that when the reconstruction ligament is installed, it automatically assumes the correct spatial configuration and functional orientation without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The invention specifies precise parameters for the ligament insertion holes including their position (25%-50% from the front end of the tibia member, 0-10% from the center in right-left direction), orientation, and depth. By controlling these geometric parameters, the reconstruction ligament achieves the correct tension and orientation to replicate natural knee joint function during activities like stair climbing
3Device complexity
If a single bundle reconstruction ligament is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability and functional performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The reconstruction ligament is divided into multiple bundles (anterior bundle and lateral bundle) that are separately attached to different locations on the femur and tibia. This segmentation allows each bundle to independently replicate the complex motion and force distribution patterns of the natural anterior cruciate ligament, providing stability while maintaining stair climbing function
Solution Approach 2:
The reconstruction ligament uses a composite structure with multiple bundles made of ligament-like material that combines the properties of strength, flexibility, and elasticity. This composite multi-bundle structure better replicates the complex mechanical behavior of the natural anterior cruciate ligament compared to a single bundle, improving reliability during dynamic activities
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an artificial knee joint that can reconstruct an anterior cruciate ligament in a state close to an original function. An artificial knee joint (1) that is used in a total knee replacement includes a femur member (10) and a tibia member (20). The tibia member (20) has a ligament insertion hole (20h) which pierces the tibia member (20) and which is formed at a position where once an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) exists in a knee replaced for the artificial knee joint (1). Therefore, a ligament can be provided such that a distal end (DT) of a femur (F) and a proximal end (PE) of a tibia (T) are joined to each other by passing the ligament through the ligament insertion hole (20h), which allows the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) to be reconstructed so as to be in the substantially same state as a knee replaced for the artificial knee joint (1).