Dual-Purpose Orthopedic Impactor for Slap Hammer Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

The use of multiple impactors and slap hammers during knee arthroplasty procedures leads to space constraints and increased sterilization costs in the operating room, as well as the need for multiple surgical trays.

Innovation Solution

A dual-purpose orthopedic surgery instrument that functions as both a modular impactor and a slap hammer, featuring an elongated body with an impactor block and a strike block, and an externally accessible channel for receiving an extractor rod, allowing it to be used as a weight component of a slap hammer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple impactors and slap hammers are used during knee arthroplasty procedures, then the functionality and versatility of surgical instruments is improved, but the space requirements and sterilization costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctionality of surgical instrumentsVSAvoidnumber of surgical instruments

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The impactor device is designed with a dual-function capability: it can serve as both an impactor for inserting trial components and as a slap hammer for extracting them. The device includes an impactor block for impacting trial components and a strike block with a strike surface for receiving hammer strikes. An extractor rod can be selectively inserted through an externally accessible channel to transform the device into a slap hammer configuration, eliminating the need for separate impactor and slap hammer instruments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctionality of surgical instrumentsVSAvoidspace in operating room

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple impactors and slap hammers are used during knee arthroplasty procedures, then the functionality and versatility of surgical instruments is improved, but the sterilization costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctionality of surgical instrumentsVSAvoidsterilization costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple surgical trays are used to accommodate different impactors and slap hammers, then the functionality of surgical instruments is improved, but the mass constraints and tray requirements worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctionality of surgical instrumentsVSAvoidnumber of surgical trays

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12521159B2Dual-purpose orthopedic surgery instrument

Publication Date: 2026.01.13 JOINT DEVELOPMENT INC

AI summary

The dual-purpose orthopedic instrument includes an elongated body, an impactor block formed from a first end of the elongated body selectively couplable with a modular impactor head and a strike block formed from a second end of the elongated body including a strike surface for selectively receiving a strike force thereof. An externally accessible channel formed within the elongated body has a size and shape for pass-through reception and select retention of an extractor rod therein. As such, the elongated body is usable as a modular impactor when the impactor block is selectively coupled with the impactor head and as a weight of a slap hammer when selectively coupled with the extractor rod in slidable relation relative thereto.