Knee Prosthesis Insertion Equipment with Curved Milling Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
The implantation of joint prostheses, particularly knee prostheses, faces challenges in achieving precise and safe positioning without damaging surrounding tissue, as existing equipment provides limited assistance to surgeons, especially in replicating the complex physiological path of movement and varying curvature of condyles.
Innovation Solution
A set of equipment featuring a base frame with a guiding plate and a curved milling gauge, along with an aligning device, allows for precise alignment and shaping of the bone to accommodate the prosthesis, using a curved guiding path and abrasive tool to create a rounded receiving seat for condyle components, ensuring accurate positioning and minimal tissue damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a large area prosthesis design is used to transmit forces over a large area for long service life, then the force transmission capability is improved, but the spatial requirement increases which may result in damage to surrounding tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis design applies local quality by varying the cross-sectional area along its length - larger area at the implantation site for force distribution and smaller area at the protruding end for minimal spatial requirement. This gradient design allows the prosthesis to transmit forces effectively over a large area at the bone interface while maintaining a compact profile that avoids damaging surrounding tissue and nerve structures.
2Device complexity
If conventional implantation equipment is used, then the equipment simplicity is maintained, but the positioning precision is insufficient requiring considerable surgeon experience
Solution Approach 1:
The implantation equipment incorporates preliminary action through pre-defined guiding paths and alignment features that automatically establish the correct prosthesis orientation and position. The guiding plate with curved paths and alignment pins are pre-configured to match the anatomical requirements, so that when the prosthesis is inserted following these guides, the precise positioning is achieved automatically without requiring extensive surgeon experience or complex adjustment procedures.
3Device complexity
If manual shaping of bone receiving seat is performed, then the equipment complexity is low, but the manufacturing precision of the receiving seat shape is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The curved milling gauge serves as an intermediary tool between the surgeon and the bone shaping process. It incorporates a pre-formed curved guiding path that acts as a template, guiding the milling tool to automatically trace the precise anatomical curvature required for the receiving seat. This intermediary device transfers the precise geometric information from the guiding path to the bone surface, ensuring manufacturing precision without requiring the surgeon to manually calculate or estimate the complex curved geometry.
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
Enables precise and accurate shaping of the bone to match the prosthesis' specifications, reducing the risk of tissue damage and ensuring correct alignment, thus improving the success of the implantation by maintaining the natural path of movement and curvature of the knee joint.
Implementation Method 1
the curved milling gauge has a curved guiding path, along which, by means of the abrasive tool, the bone can be shaped accordingly in a rounded manner
Data Source
AI summary
Equipment for inserting a joint prosthesis, in particular a femur component of a knee prosthesis, comprises a base frame having a guiding plate and a laterally protruding primary gage, a fastening device on the bone, and a curved milling gage having a main body and a guiding piece, which can be moved along a curved guiding path relative to the main body and has a receptacle for an abrasive tool. Furthermore, the equipment comprises an aligning device, which places the curved milling gage in a clearly defined relative position when the curved milling gage is inserted into the base frame. Due to the precise positioning in conjunction with the curved guiding path, the mounting seat can be prepared easily without damaging surrounding tissue. Thus, even large and complexly shaped prostheses, such as knee joint prosthesis, can be reproducibly inserted in an easy and safe manner.