Multifunctional PCL Guide Arm for Bone Tunnel Alignment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional drill guide assemblies face challenges in securely seating against varying bone contours, particularly during PCL reconstruction, often requiring multiple instruments that increase the risk of damage to surrounding structures.

Innovation Solution

A multifunctional drill guide arm with an L-shaped design, featuring a distal tip and indicator, shield, and aperture, which provides guidance and protection while minimizing the number of instruments needed, using a radiopaque material for visualization and a shield to prevent damage to critical structures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional drill guide assemblies are used with multiple instruments and parts, then the guidance function is provided, but the risk of damage to surrounding structures increases due to the number of insertions and removals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical safetyVSAvoidnumber of instruments and parts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated drill guide assembly. The guide body, guide arm, drill guide sleeve, and positioning features are merged into one unified device that can be inserted and removed as a single unit, eliminating the need for multiple separate instruments and reducing the risk of damage from repeated insertions and removals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The drill guide assembly is designed with universal applicability through adjustable positioning features that can adapt to various bone contours and drilling angles. The guide arm can be positioned at multiple angles (e.g., 45°, 90°, 135°) and the assembly can accommodate different drill sizes, making it a multi-functional device that replaces multiple specialized instruments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If conventional drill guides are used on bones with severe contours, then drilling guidance is attempted, but proper seating of the drill guide against the bone becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrill alignment accuracyVSAvoidadaptability to bone contours

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The guide arm is designed with dynamic positioning capabilities, allowing it to be adjusted and secured at various angles relative to the guide body. This dynamic adjustability enables the drill guide to adapt to different bone contours and maintain proper alignment even on irregular surfaces, ensuring accurate drill placement while accommodating anatomical variations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12446901B2Multifunctional PCL guide arm

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 CONMED CORP

AI summary

A drill guide arm for providing guidance for placement of a bone tunnel, while protecting against trauma. The guide arm includes a first arm at a proximal end connected at an angle to a second arm, the second arm extending to a distal end. The angle can be within the range of 80°-110°. The second arm extends along a first axis. The guide arm also includes a distal tip extending at a second angle from the second arm at the distal end, and an indicator feature extending from the distal tip toward the first arm. The indicator feature extends along a second axis, the second axis being substantially parallel to the first axis. The guide arm can also include a shield feature of the distal tip. The shield feature has a width wider than the remainder of the distal tip.