Modular Orthopaedic Instrument System for Prosthetic Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current orthopaedic surgical instruments lack a comprehensive system for efficiently assembling and selecting orthopaedic prostheses for knee joint replacement, particularly in revision surgeries where precise alignment and component selection are critical.

Innovation Solution

A surgical instrument system comprising modular instruments with a base, carriers, and a stabilizing arm, allowing for the alignment and securement of prosthetic and trial components, enabling precise positioning and orientation of prosthetic components to match the configuration of the patient's anatomy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional separate instruments are used for assembling prosthetic components, then each component can be handled individually, but the alignment precision and assembly efficiency are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidinstrument system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate surgical instruments into a single integrated assembly instrument system. The base structure integrates multiple carriers (first carrier for femoral component, second carrier for tibial component, third carrier for cruciate component) that can be simultaneously positioned and secured. This merging allows all components to be assembled with precise alignment in one operation, eliminating the need for multiple separate instruments and improving alignment precision while maintaining manageable complexity through modular carrier design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If multiple separate instruments are used for securing different prosthetic components, then each component can be secured independently, but the assembly time and surgical procedure duration increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly efficiencyVSAvoidnumber of instruments
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument system merges multiple component-securing functions into a single integrated base structure with multiple carriers. The first carrier secures the femoral component, the second carrier secures the tibial component, and the third carrier secures the cruciate component, all simultaneously secured to the base in one assembly operation. This dramatically improves assembly efficiency compared to using separate instruments for each component, while the modular carrier design keeps the overall device complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The base structure serves multiple functions: it provides a common reference plane for alignment, supports multiple carriers for different components, and enables simultaneous securing of all prosthetic components. This multi-functionality improves productivity by allowing all assembly operations to be performed through one instrument system rather than requiring multiple separate instruments and operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If a comprehensive instrument system is designed to handle all prosthetic components, then assembly precision and efficiency improve, but the device complexity and difficulty of operation increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidease of assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The comprehensive instrument system is segmented into modular carriers (first carrier, second carrier, third carrier) that can be independently positioned and secured to the base. Each carrier is designed to handle a specific prosthetic component type, allowing the surgeon to work with one component at a time while maintaining precise positioning. This segmentation reduces the operational complexity despite the comprehensive nature of the system, as each modular unit can be manipulated independently rather than requiring coordination of all components simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The carriers are pre-configured with securing mechanisms and positioning features that enable accurate placement before the actual assembly operation. The base provides pre-established alignment references, and each carrier is designed with predetermined attachment points and orientation features. This preliminary preparation of the instrument system ensures that when assembly is performed, high positioning accuracy is achieved without requiring complex real-time adjustments, thereby improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3698762B1Method and instruments for assembling a femoral orthopaedic prosthesis
Publication Date: 2022.03.30 DEPUY (IRELAND) LTD
  • EP3698762B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3698762B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3698762B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A method an instruments to assembly a femoral prosthesis is disclosed. The system may also include prosthetic trial components (710), which may be used to size and select the components of the orthopaedic prosthesis. The system may include components of the orthopaedic prosthesis such as, for example, a prosthetic femoral component (16), a prosthetic tibial component (18), a prosthetic stem component (640), and a prosthetic sleeve component (628).