Offset Guide for Stable Joint Reduction and Centered Coracoid Drilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guides for joint reconstruction, particularly in the acromioclavicular joint, fail to stabilize the coracoid and clavicle in a reduced configuration, risking fracture due to drilling through thinner sections and generating metal debris, while lacking clear visualization of drill and implant placement.
Innovation Solution
An offset guide that engages the bone at a stable location with a larger cross-section, allowing drilling through a centered trajectory that avoids metal-to-metal contact and provides clear visualization of implant deployment, maintaining joint reduction and reducing fracture risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the guide arm is positioned at the apex portion of the coracoid to hold the joint in reduced configuration, then stable joint reduction is achieved, but the drill trajectory passes through a thinner cross-section of the coracoid increasing fracture risk
Solution Approach 1:
The guide arm is offset laterally from the drill trajectory, creating a spatial separation between the joint reduction function and the drilling function. This dimensional separation allows the guide arm to stabilize the joint at the apex while the drill passes through a thicker, more robust portion of the coracoid, thereby resolving the contradiction between joint stability and bone strength preservation
2Strength
If the guide arm is moved distally along the coracoid towards thicker sections for drilling, then fracture risk is reduced, but stable holding of the coracoid becomes difficult due to the arch shape
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing a lateral offset dimension between the guide arm position and the drill trajectory, the invention enables the guide arm to remain positioned at the apex portion where it can effectively stabilize the joint, while the drill trajectory is directed through thicker bone sections, thus simultaneously achieving both joint stability and reduced fracture risk
3Ease of operation
If the drill trajectory is offset from the center of the coracoid cross-section, then drilling may be easier, but the risk of coracoid fracture increases due to uneven stress distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The guide body acts as an intermediary structure that receives the drill at an offset location but redirects the drill trajectory to pass through the center of the coracoid cross-section. This intermediary mechanism allows the guide arm to be positioned for stable joint reduction while ensuring the drill creates a centrally located trajectory that distributes stress evenly, maintaining bone strength
Data Source
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Figure 2A
AI summary
An offset guide that places a surgical tool through a bone of a surgical joint. The offset guide may hold the surgical joint in a reduced configuration at a first location along the bone; the first location preferred for engaging the bone. The offset guide may engage the bone with a hook that engages two opposing sides of the bone to center the surgical tool through the bone. The offset guide may guide placement of a surgical tool through the bone center at a second location along the bone, the second location offset from the first location. The second location may be a preferable location for receiving the surgical tool therethrough. The surgical tool may include both a drill and an implant insertion tool. The implant insertion tool may place an implant at the second location, while the offset guide holds the surgical joint.