Orthopedic Jig Pin Pre-Loading Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for affixing orthopedic jigs to bones using pins are time-consuming and prone to pin jamming or stripping, as they require careful insertion of multiple pins during surgical procedures, significantly increasing the overall surgical time.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a pin with a restraining member that can be pre-loaded into a jig's aperture, allowing for releasable retention of the pin before fixation to a bone, enabling pre-loading by a scrub nurse and subsequent secure insertion by the surgeon, reducing the time needed for pinning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple pins are carefully inserted into the jig and drilled into the bone during surgical procedure, then the jig is securely affixed to the bone, but the surgical time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure fixation of jig to boneVSAvoidsurgical procedure time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The pin is pre-loaded into the jig's aperture before the surgical procedure begins. The restraining member is positioned on the pin shaft to hold it within the aperture, allowing the jig to be prepared in advance and reducing the time required during the actual surgical procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If pins are carefully inserted by the surgeon to avoid pin jamming or stripping, then the pin insertion is successful, but the process is time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuccessful pin insertion without jamming or strippingVSAvoidpin insertion speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The pin is pre-loaded into the jig with the restraining member positioned to prevent jamming or stripping during insertion. This preliminary preparation allows for faster and more reliable pin insertion during the surgical procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The restraining member acts as an intermediary mechanism that facilitates smooth pin insertion by preventing jamming or stripping. It controls the pin's movement through the aperture and ensures reliable fixation without requiring excessive caution or time from the surgeon.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If multiple pins are inserted through apertures in the jig, then the jig can be affixed to the bone, but the complexity of the procedure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejig affixing capabilityVSAvoidnumber of pins and insertion steps

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple pins can be pre-loaded into the jig's apertures before the surgical procedure. The restraining members are positioned on each pin to hold them within the apertures, allowing the surgeon to simply engage the pre-prepared pins with the bone without managing multiple separate insertion steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9949743B2Orthopedic jig, pin, and method

Publication Date: 2018.04.24 STRYKER EUROPEAN OPERATIONS HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

An orthopedic jig and pins therefore are disclosed that allow the pins to be pre-loaded into apertures through the jig before the jig is positioned at a desired location with respect to a bone during an orthopedic surgical procedure. At least one of the pin and/or jig includes a retention mechanism whereby the pin can be inserted into the bore and releasably restrained therein until the jig is place is the selected position and the pins driven into the bone.