Offset Guide Angled Surface for Precise Surgical Rod Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical implant systems face challenges in securely fastening guide rods to bones, particularly in joint reconstruction surgeries, where achieving the correct angle and minimizing damage to the bone and surrounding tissues is crucial.

Innovation Solution

An offset guide system with an angled surface and adjustable offset members allows for precise placement and support of guide rods at specific angles relative to the bone, minimizing damage and facilitating the use of multiple instruments during surgery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a guide rod is driven into bone using drills and hammers, then the guide rod can be securely fastened to the bone, but damage to the bone and surrounding tissues occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure fastening of guide rodVSAvoidbone and tissue damage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The offset guide acts as an intermediary device between the surgeon and the bone. It provides a controlled interface for inserting the guide rod, replacing direct impact methods (drills and hammers) with a guided, offset mechanism that reduces direct trauma to the bone and surrounding tissues while still achieving secure fastening

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If traditional drilling and hammering methods are used to insert the guide rod, then the guide rod can be implanted, but vibration-induced damage occurs to the bone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguide rod implantationVSAvoidvibration-induced bone damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The offset guide extracts and isolates the vibration-generating impact action from direct contact with the bone. By creating an offset mechanism, the vibrational energy is dissipated through the guide structure itself rather than being transmitted directly to the bone, allowing guide rod implantation while minimizing vibration-induced damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Manufacturing precision

If precise angular placement of the guide rod is achieved, then surgical accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the placement system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveangular placement precisionVSAvoidplacement system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The offset guide incorporates a curved or angled surface geometry that naturally guides the guide rod at the desired angle. This geometric constraint provides precise angular placement through the shape of the device itself, rather than requiring complex adjustable mechanisms, thereby achieving surgical accuracy without proportionally increasing system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP3629948B1Offset guide
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 BIOMET MFG LLC
  • EP3629948B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3629948B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3629948B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An offset guide can include a body, an arcuate portion, a first fin, and a second fin. The body can have a first surface. The arcuate portion can extend from the body and have a second surface. The first surface and the second surface can define an opening. The first fin can extend from the first surface into the opening. The second fin can extend from the first surface into the opening. A portion of the first surface can be located between the first fin and the second fin and arranged at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the offset guide.