Oscillating Orthopedic Saw Blade for Implant Removal
Solution Overview
Problem
Orthopedic saw blades face difficulties in loosening implants with anchoring features during revision procedures, often requiring larger incisions and excessive soft tissue retraction due to the need for a straight-line approach, which is obstructed by the implant's anchoring features.
Innovation Solution
A saw blade with a base and cutting edge configuration that allows for oscillation and a unique arm structure enabling cutting through an open area, allowing the blade to access areas on either side of the anchoring feature, facilitating cuts without the need for a straight-line approach, thus reducing incision size and soft tissue retraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a straight-line approach is used with conventional saw blades, then the cutting path is simple and direct, but the incision size must be large and soft tissue retraction is excessive when anchoring features block the path
Solution Approach 1:
The saw blade transitions from a straight-line cutting path to an arced oscillating path, adding a dimensional component to the cutting motion. This allows the blade to reach areas blocked by anchoring features by moving along an arc rather than a straight line, improving accessibility without requiring larger incisions or excessive soft tissue retraction
2Ease of operation
If larger incisions are made to access blocked areas, then cutting accessibility is improved, but the incision size increases and soft tissue manipulation is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillating blade moves along an arced path rather than requiring a straight-line approach, allowing access to blocked areas through the arc's curvature. This enables the surgeon to reach implant surfaces that would otherwise require larger or additional incisions, maintaining smaller incision sizes while improving cutting accessibility
3Ease of operation
If additional incisions are made to access blocked areas, then cutting accessibility is improved, but the device complexity and procedure time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillating saw blade performs multiple functions: it can cut bone along straight paths when needed and switch to arced oscillating paths to reach areas blocked by anchoring features. This multi-functionality allows a single incision to provide access to both anterior and posterior surfaces of the implant, eliminating the need for additional incisions and reducing procedural complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A saw blade has a base configured for attachment with a driver, the saw being configured for cutting bone. The saw blade includes a body extending from the base to a free end, the body enclosing at least three sides of an open area adjacent the base. The blade further includes a cutting edge having a width and disposed on the body adjacent to the free end thereof and adjacent to the open area such that at least a portion of the cutting edge is disposed toward the base. The open area of the saw blade can be sized to receive a portion of a long bone therein.