Modular Acetabular Cup Insertion Tool for Easy Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthopaedic surgical instruments for implanting acetabular cup components lack efficient mechanisms for secure attachment and easy disassembly, which complicates the surgical procedure and hinders effective sterilization protocols.
Innovation Solution
An implant insertion tool featuring a metallic elongated shaft with impact head and polymeric grip, secured by a locking nut or fastener, allowing non-rotatable attachment and easy disassembly, facilitated by flanges and slots for alignment, and a T-shaped handle for torque control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a traditional fixed surgical instrument design is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but ease of sterilization and component adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument is divided into distinct modular components including a handle assembly, shaft, and acetabular cup interface. Each component can be separately sterilized and reassembled, enabling effective sterilization protocols while maintaining overall instrument functionality. The segmentation allows autoclaving of individual parts without compromising the complete instrument system.
2Reliability
If a secure attachment mechanism is used, then reliability of implant attachment is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of disassembly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The acetabular cup is nested within a retention structure on the shaft, with the cup's outer surface fitting into a corresponding recess. This nesting arrangement provides secure attachment through geometric interlocking while allowing straightforward assembly and disassembly by simply engaging or disengaging the nested components without complex fastening mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft is pre-configured with a retention structure and the acetabular cup is pre-shaped with a matching outer surface, enabling immediate secure attachment upon engagement. The preliminary preparation of complementary geometries ensures reliable attachment is achieved automatically when components are assembled, without requiring additional securing steps.
3Manufacturing precision
If a non-rotatable grip mechanism is used, then manufacturing precision and alignment are improved, but ease of operation and assembly difficulty worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The handle grip features an asymmetric contoured design with non-circular cross-section that complements the asymmetric shape of the shaft. This asymmetric pairing prevents rotational misalignment during assembly, ensuring precise orientation is maintained automatically when the components are fitted together, while the ergonomic contours facilitate easy manual assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
An implant insertion tool for use during a surgical procedure to implant an acetabular cup component into a surgically-prepared acetabulum of a patient's hip includes a metallic elongated shaft, a removable polymeric grip, and a locking nut to secure the grip to the elongated shaft. Such a modular design allows the implant insertion tool to be dissembled prior to sterilization.