Leg Positioner for Direct Anterior Hip Arthroplasty

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current leg positioners for hip surgeries, particularly for the direct anterior approach in total hip arthroplasty, require additional assistants to maintain sterility and often use traction tables that are costly and limit the assessment of hip stability and leg length, as they cannot be attached to standard operating tables.

Innovation Solution

A leg positioner apparatus that attaches to a standard operating table, featuring a post assembly with adjustable padding to secure the operative leg, allowing for precise positioning and sterility maintenance without additional assistants, enabling accurate assessment of hip stability and leg length.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traction table is used to position the operative leg, then sterility can be maintained, but the cost increases and the assessment of hip stability and leg length is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterility maintenanceVSAvoidcost and functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A sterile drape is introduced as an intermediary barrier between the non-sterile positioner apparatus and the sterile surgical field. The drape maintains sterility while allowing the simpler positioner to function, eliminating the need for expensive traction tables while preserving the sterile field integrity during hip arthroplasty procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is divided into separate sterile and non-sterile components. The positioner apparatus remains non-sterile while the drape creates a sterile barrier, allowing each component to be optimized independently - the positioner for functionality and the drape for sterility maintenance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If an additional assistant is used to hold the operative leg, then sterility can be maintained, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterility maintenanceVSAvoidnumber of assistants required

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The positioner apparatus is designed to self-maintain sterility through the sterile drape barrier, eliminating the need for an additional assistant to manually maintain sterility. The system serves itself by incorporating the sterile barrier into the positioning mechanism, reducing personnel requirements while maintaining sterility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If a traction table is used, then the operative leg can be positioned, but the assessment of hip stability and leg length is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleg positioningVSAvoidhip stability and leg length assessment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The positioner apparatus provides dynamic positioning capability that allows the surgeon to manipulate and assess hip stability and leg length during the procedure. The adjustable and movable design enables real-time evaluation of hip joint stability and leg length equality, overcoming the limitations of fixed traction table positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11744757B2Leg positioner for direct anterior approach total hip arthroplasty

Publication Date: 2023.09.05 WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORP

AI summary

Disclosed is a leg positioner apparatus to secure placement of a leg in total hip arthroplasty procedures. The leg positioner apparatus can attach to a standard operating table and helps in positioning the operative leg for femoral preparation. The leg positioner apparatus includes a post assembly mounted to an attachment bracket. The attachment bracket can be attached to the operating table. The operative leg can rest on the post assembly during the surgical procedure.