Modular Tibial Implant Subunits for Broad Cortical Bone Support

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing osteotomy procedures for knee joint rebalancing in patients, particularly those with morbid obesity, face challenges in providing sufficient structural support during healing, leading to slow recovery and increased risk of structural failure due to insufficient material support and tissue damage.

Innovation Solution

A surgical method and implant system using U-shaped implant subunits made of carbon-fiber or carbon-fiber reinforced PEEK, which are individually inserted through minimized incisions to cover a substantial area of cortical bone, secured with cables or screws, and assembled to provide immediate and improved mechanical support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional structural materials are used to fill the wedge-like-cut-out, then the structural support is limited to a small section of cortical bone, but the majority of the cut-out remains unsupported leading to insufficient support for obese patients

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural supportVSAvoidcoverage area on cortical bone

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The implant is divided into multiple segments including a first structural material positioned medially and a second structural material positioned laterally within the wedge-like-cut-out. This segmentation allows each material to contact and support different sections of the cortical bone, thereby increasing the overall coverage area from limited to extensive while maintaining strong structural support for obese patients.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines two different structural materials (first structural material and second structural material) within the same implant structure. This merging of materials enables the implant to provide comprehensive support across the entire cortical bone surface area of the wedge-like-cut-out, resolving the contradiction between limited coverage and sufficient support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Strength

If a large implant is inserted to cover substantial cortical bone area, then structural support is improved, but the surgical incision size and tissue damage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural supportVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The implant is divided into multiple segments including a first structural material positioned medially and a second structural material positioned laterally within the wedge-like-cut-out. This segmentation allows each material to contact and support different sections of the cortical bone, thereby increasing the overall coverage area from limited to extensive while maintaining strong structural support for obese patients.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines two different structural materials (first structural material and second structural material) within the same implant structure. This merging of materials enables the implant to provide comprehensive support across the entire cortical bone surface area of the wedge-like-cut-out, resolving the contradiction between limited coverage and sufficient support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If traditional bone grafting methods are used, then healing occurs naturally, but recovery is slow and painful with high risk of structural failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehealing successVSAvoidrecovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The implant uses composite materials including structural materials positioned to contact cortical bone and void filling material with osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties. This composite approach provides both immediate structural support and promotes active bone growth, significantly reducing recovery time and increasing healing success compared to traditional bone grafting alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material properties within the implant by incorporating void filling material with specific osteoinductive and osteoconductive parameters. This parameter change in material properties accelerates the bone healing process and reduces recovery time while maintaining high healing success rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12370049B2Method and apparatus for orthopedic implant

Publication Date: 2025.07.29 PONTIUS UWE R

AI summary

A tibial implant may include a plurality of implant subunits. The implant subunits may be configured for individual insertion within a wedge-shaped-void of the tibia. The implant subunits may further be configured for assembly in order to provide an implant substantially covering an exposed portion of cortical bone formed when performing a surgical osteotomy. Methods and kits for insertion and assembly of implants are further described.