Knee Prosthesis Instrument With Detent Grasping for Faster Trials

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current orthopedic procedures for knee arthroplasties involve complex and time-consuming processes for selecting and manipulating provisional and final prosthetic components, often requiring multiple instruments and multiple trial reductions, which can increase surgical time and costs.

Innovation Solution

A multi-use instrument with a receptacle and a moveable detent system that allows for rapid secure grasping and manipulation of various components, including cut guides, spacers, and prostheses, by using a collar to actuate the detent for secure engagement and release, facilitating insertion and extraction during surgical procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple dedicated instruments are used for insertion and extraction of provisional and final prosthesis components, then reliable manipulation of components is achieved, but surgical time and procedure complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliable manipulation of componentsVSAvoidsurgical time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument is designed with a universal receptacle and detent mechanism that can accommodate multiple types of prosthesis components (provisional femoral component, provisional tibial component, final femoral component, final tibial component) through a single standardized interface, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated instruments while maintaining secure manipulation

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

2Reliability

If multiple dedicated instruments are used for component manipulation, then secure grasping of components is achieved, but device complexity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure grasping of componentsVSAvoidnumber of instruments required
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single instrument design with a standardized receptacle and detent engagement system provides secure grasping for all prosthesis components through one universal interface, reducing the total number of instruments from multiple dedicated tools to a single multi-functional instrument

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

Solution Approach 2:

The instrument combines the functions of multiple dedicated instruments (insertion tool, extraction tool, grasping tool) into a single integrated device with a reusable body and interchangeable components, simplifying the instrument set while maintaining secure component manipulation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple trial reductions are performed to determine proper component size, then accurate prosthesis fitting is achieved, but surgical time and procedure complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproper component size determinationVSAvoidsurgical time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The universal instrument design allows rapid exchange between different sized provisional components without requiring instrument changes, enabling faster trial reductions and more efficient size determination through repeated trials with the same instrument

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

The instrument reduces surgical time by enabling efficient and reliable handling of multiple components with a single tool, simplifying the procedure and potentially lowering costs by minimizing the need for multiple instruments and trial reductions.

Implementation Method 1

The detent can be biased to engage with the component to hold the component to the instrument

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring bias: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3525692B1Multi-use tool
Publication Date: 2021.04.21 ZIMMER INC
  • EP3525692B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3525692B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3525692B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~1D

AI summary

Apparatuses and systems including an instrument for manipulating components within a knee joint of a patient are disclosed. Such manipulation can include inserting and/or removing such components to or from a bone of the knee joint. The instrument can include a handle (12), a body (14), a plunger (36), a detent (18) and a collar (16). The handle can have a proximal end (22) and a distal end (24) and a longitudinal extent between the proximal end and the distal end. The body can be coupled to the handle and can extend distal of the distal end. The body can define a receptacle (20) therein having an opening (26) at a distal end portion (28) of the instrument. The plunger can be moveably disposed within the body and can be moveable between a first position and a second position. The detent can be moveable by the plunger, such that with the plunger in the first position at least a portion of the detent can extend into the receptacle and with the plunger in the second position the detent can be recessed from the receptacle. The collar can be disposed about at least a portion of the body and can be moveable relative to the body to operatively actuate the plunger from the first position to the second position.