Modular Acetabular Implant Insertion Tool for Easy Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthopaedic surgical instruments for implanting acetabular cup components lack a modular design that allows for efficient sterilization and secure attachment of the grip to the shaft, leading to potential contamination risks during reuse.
Innovation Solution
A modular implant insertion tool with a metallic elongated shaft, a polymeric grip, and a locking nut that secures the grip to the shaft non-rotatably, allowing for easy disassembly and sterilization of individual components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the implant insertion tool uses a non-modular design with integrated grip and shaft, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the sterilization efficiency decreases and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implant insertion tool is divided into separate modular components including a shaft component, grip component, and locking component. This segmentation allows each component to be independently sterilized and reassembled, eliminating contamination risks associated with integrated designs while maintaining structural integrity through precise mating features and locking mechanisms.
2Ease of manufacture
If the grip is permanently attached to the shaft, then the device assembly is simplified, but the sterilization process becomes difficult and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the grip and shaft is made dynamically adjustable through a locking mechanism that allows the components to be easily attached and detached. This dynamic design enables simple assembly during use while allowing complete disassembly for thorough sterilization, resolving the contradiction between assembly simplicity and sterilization capability.
3Ease of operation
If the grip can rotate relative to the shaft, then the ease of operation improves for different surgical approaches, but the reliability of implant positioning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism provides dynamic control over the grip's rotational position relative to the shaft. During surgery, the grip can be rotated to different orientations and then locked in place, allowing operational flexibility for different surgical approaches while ensuring reliable, repeatable positioning once locked, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and positioning accuracy.
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 secure attachment and easy sterilization of the implant insertion tool components, reducing the risk of contamination and enhancing surgical efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a locking nut threadingly engaged to the locking threads of the shaft so as to non-rotatably secure the grip to the elongated shaft
Implementation Method 2
tightening of the locking nut urges a proximal end of the grip in a direction toward the impact head of the elongated shaft
Implementation Method 3
Each of the number of flanges is received into a corresponding one of the number of slots so as to prevent the grip from rotating relative to the elongated shaft
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.