Knee Ranging Tool for Tibial Component Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current total knee replacement techniques face challenges in accurately positioning and installing artificial tibial components to achieve balanced ligament tensions and minimize impingement during knee arthroplasty, as existing methods lack precise mechanisms for translating and rotating the tibial component to a low-energy position.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a knee ranging tool with a base and stages that transiently locate on the tibia, allowing medial-lateral translation, anteroposterior translation, and transverse rotation, enabling the temporary tibial component to find a low-energy position with minimal binding, and includes position indicators and sensors to guide the installation of prefabricated artificial tibial components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional total knee replacement techniques are used, then the surgical procedure can be completed, but accurate positioning of artificial tibial components cannot be achieved resulting in unbalanced ligament tensions and impingement
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system is divided into multiple independent stages (first stage, second stage, third stage) that can be adjusted separately. Each stage provides specific degrees of freedom for positioning the tibial component, allowing precise control over medial-lateral translation, anteroposterior translation, and transverse rotation independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic adjustment capabilities where the stages can be moved and positioned during the surgical procedure. The artificial tibial component can be translated and rotated to various positions to achieve optimal ligament balance and minimize impingement, rather than being fixed in a predetermined position.
2Ease of operation
If the tibial component position is fixed during surgery, then the surgical procedure is simpler, but the ability to achieve low-energy position with minimal binding is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows dynamic positioning of the tibial component through multiple adjustable stages during surgery. The component can be moved to different positions and orientations to achieve optimal ligament balance and minimal impingement, ensuring reliable outcomes while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates position indicators that provide feedback on the location of the tibial component relative to the tibia. This feedback mechanism allows the surgeon to accurately determine the component's position and make precise adjustments to achieve the desired low-energy position with balanced ligament tensions.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple adjustment parameters are used for tibial component positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring position increases
Solution Approach 1:
Position indicators are integrated into the system to provide visual feedback on the location of the tibial component. These indicators show the translation offsets (medial-lateral and anteroposterior) and rotation offset (transverse) relative to the tibia, making it easier to detect and measure the component's position despite multiple adjustment parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses intermediate reference structures (such as the base with reference surface and the stages with indicators) that facilitate the measurement and detection of position. These intermediaries translate complex multi-parameter positioning into observable and measurable reference points that guide the surgeon in achieving accurate placement.
Data Source
AI summary
A system including a knee ranging tool: including a base configured to locate on a resected proximal face of a tibia in a knee of a patient; defining a tibial reference surface configured to run against a femoral surface of an artificial femoral component, installed on a distal face of a femur of the patient, during articulation of the knee of patient; including a set of stages interposed between the base and the tibial reference surface, configured to locate the tibial reference surface relative to the base, and compliant to medial-lateral translation, anteroposterior translation, and transverse rotation; and configured to indicate a medial-lateral translation offset, an anteroposterior translation offset, and a transverse rotation offset corresponding to a position of the tibial reference surface, relative to the base, that yields elastic deformation of ligaments in the knee over a range of motion of the knee.