Modular Osteochondral Chisel with Interchangeable Cutting Modules

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current chisel systems for harvesting osteochondral grafts are inefficient due to one-piece designs that damage grafts and cartilage, blunt cutting ends, and the need for multiple chisels for different graft sizes, leading to high costs and suboptimal results in osteochondral transplantation procedures.

Innovation Solution

A modular chisel system with a cylindrical handle and interchangeable cutting modules featuring hollow, frusto-conical members with angled, tapered cutting edges or saw-tooth designs, allowing for precise harvesting of grafts of varying sizes using a single handle and tap mechanism to minimize damage and enhance precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a one-piece chisel design is used to harvest grafts, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the graft and cartilage are damaged during removal from the chisel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechisel structure simplicityVSAvoidgraft and cartilage damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The chisel is divided into separate components: a handle portion and a blade portion that can be detached. The blade portion contains a hollow distal end for receiving the graft, and the handle portion can be removed to allow easy extraction of the harvested graft without damaging the cartilage portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If a blunt cutting end is used on the chisel, then the structure is simpler, but high mechanical deformation occurs to the cartilage portion during punching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting edge designVSAvoidmechanical deformation of cartilage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting end of the blade portion is designed with a sharp edge specifically at the distal end to minimize mechanical deformation of the cartilage during harvesting, while the rest of the chisel structure remains simple and straightforward to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If separate chisels are used for each graft size, then each chisel is optimized for its specific size, but the cost increases due to needing multiple chisels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegraft size precisionVSAvoidnumber of chisels required

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The chisel is designed with an adjustable blade portion that can be configured to harvest grafts of different sizes. The blade portion can be adjusted or replaced to accommodate various graft dimensions, allowing a single chisel to perform multiple functions that previously required multiple specialized chisels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of operation

If a one-piece chisel design is used, then the device is simpler to operate, but the graft must be removed from the hollow distal end causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechisel operation simplicityVSAvoidgraft damage during removal

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS7497861B2Chisel system for osteochondral implants and a surgical procedure involving same

Publication Date: 2009.03.03 WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC INC

AI summary

A chisel system for harvesting an implantable graft from an area of a human having a cartilage overlying a condyle, according to which a module is provided that has one end connected to a handle. A cutting surface is formed at the other end of the module that cuts through the cartilage and condyle.