Orthopedic Surgical Guide with Stabilizing Member for Bone Cut Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current orthopedic surgical methods for placing implants between bones often result in inaccuracies and imprecise ligamentous balance due to sequential and independent bone cuts, leading to potential overcutting and misalignment of the joint space.

Innovation Solution

A surgical device comprising an intra-articular stabilizing member and guide blocks, where the guide blocks are fixed to the stabilizing member and have slots for cutting instruments, allowing for simultaneous and precise alignment of bone cuts without prior bone cuts, with the stabilizing member adapting to joint morphology and enabling correct positioning of cutting planes relative to each other.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If sequential independent bone cuts are made to place orthopedic implants, then the surgical procedure can be completed, but inaccuracies and imprecise ligamentous balance occur due to cumulative errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone cut alignment precisionVSAvoidligamentous balance accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple independent bone cutting operations into a single integrated surgical procedure by using a stabilizing member that simultaneously references both bones. The guide blocks attached to the stabilizing member enable both bones to be cut in one operation, eliminating cumulative errors from sequential cuts and ensuring precise relative positioning and ligamentous balance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The stabilizing member acts as an intermediary device between the two bones. It provides a stable reference framework to which guide blocks are attached, enabling precise control of bone cut orientations and positions. This intermediary structure eliminates the need for sequential independent cuts and ensures accurate ligamentous balance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If prior bone cuts are made before positioning the stabilizing member, then the surgical sequence follows traditional methodology, but the joint space alignment becomes inaccurate requiring post-operative adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical procedure simplicityVSAvoidjoint space alignment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reverses the traditional sequence by performing the preliminary action of positioning the stabilizing member between the bones before making any bone cuts. This preliminary positioning establishes the correct joint space alignment and reference framework, allowing subsequent cuts to be made with high precision without requiring post-operative adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If guide blocks are fixed to the stabilizing member, then simultaneous positioning of bone cuts is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone cut positioning accuracyVSAvoidsurgical device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into distinct functional components: a stabilizing member for positioning between bones, and separate guide blocks that can be attached to the stabilizing member. This segmentation allows the guide blocks to be removed after the cutting operation, simplifying the device for storage and reducing overall complexity while maintaining precision during the critical cutting phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Manufacturing precision

If the stabilizing member is positioned without prior bone cuts, then direct positioning of cutting planes is achieved, but the surgical technique deviates from conventional sequential procedures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting plane positioning accuracyVSAvoidsurgical procedure familiarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional surgical sequence by positioning the stabilizing member between the bones before making any cuts, rather than making cuts first and then positioning reference devices. This inversion enables direct and accurate positioning of cutting planes relative to each other, improving precision despite deviating from traditional methodology.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP3171795B1Design process of a surgical device for guiding the positioning of an orthopaedic implant between two bones of a patient's joint

Publication Date: 2018.11.07 ONE ORTHO

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AI summary

According to the invention, the surgical device (1) comprises an intra-articular stabilization member (2), which is intended to be positioned between the two bones of the joint (6), and two guide blocks (3) which are fixed to the stabilization member (2) and one on each side of a plane defined by said stabilization member (2), said guide blocks (3) comprising means (4) of fixing to the bone and each having at least one slot (5) for the engagement and guidance of an instrument intended to perform operations of cutting parts of the bones.