Modular Augment Segmentation for Bone Loss Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional artificial joint augments are limited in their ability to adjust to individual patient bone loss, leading to excessive bone removal and complications during revision surgeries, as they are typically designed as single, non-modular units that do not account for varying degrees of bone damage.
Innovation Solution
A modular augment system where additional units can be selectively coupled to a center unit based on the patient's bone loss, allowing for adjustable reinforcement on medial and lateral sides, with features such as sliding coupling, locking mechanisms, and porous/non-porous structures to enhance coupling strength and anatomical fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single body augment is used, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the augment cannot be adjusted according to patient's bone loss and causes excessive bone removal
Solution Approach 1:
The augment is divided into a center unit and multiple additional units that can be selectively coupled together. The center unit includes a coupling part with a cut part, and additional units can be attached to medial and lateral sides based on the degree of bone loss, allowing customization while using standardized components
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling part design with cut parts and locking mechanisms serves multiple functions: it enables selective attachment of additional units, provides stable fixation once coupled, and allows for future removal or adjustment. This universal coupling mechanism handles various bone loss scenarios with a single design
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional units are separably coupled to center unit, then adaptability to patient's bone loss is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The augment system is segmented into modular components (center unit and additional units) that can be independently manufactured and stored, then assembled based on surgical needs. This segmentation enables adaptability without requiring completely different designs for each case
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple additional units can be coupled to the center unit to create a customized augment configuration. The locking part mechanism merges the additional units with the center unit into a stable, integrated structure that functions as a single implant
3Reliability
If locking part with first and second vertical parts is used, then reliability of coupling is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism concentrates the critical coupling function in specific localized features (the first and second vertical parts of the locking part). These localized features require high precision, while other portions of the augment can be manufactured with standard tolerances, balancing overall manufacturing requirements
Data Source
AI summary
Proposed is a modular augment, and, more specifically, a modular augment in which an additional unit is separably coupled to a center unit so as to selectively couple the additional unit to the center unit according to the degree of a patient's bone loss so that the degree of bone reinforcement can be easily adjusted, and thus a manufacturer is capable of covering various types of patients even though the types of units are minimized, thereby reducing manufacturing costs, the number of products to be prepared for surgery by a user such as a hospital is remarkably reduced, thereby preventing the unnecessary costs and facilitating inventory management, and a patient can receive an optimal augment that is appropriate for the patient' condition.