Cutting Guide for Minimally Invasive Osteotomy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for calcaneal displacement osteotomies require large incisions, leading to potential wound complications post-surgery.

Innovation Solution

A minimally invasive system comprising a cutting guide with a pivotable guide element and a handle, allowing for precise positioning and angulation of a cutting instrument to form osteotomies without large incisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a large incision is made to allow formation of the osteotomy, then the osteotomy can be formed, but wound complications occur post-surgery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveosteotomy formationVSAvoidwound complications

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting guide is divided into separate components including a guide body, handle, and cutting instrument that can be assembled and positioned independently. This segmentation allows for minimally invasive insertion through smaller incisions while maintaining the capability to form the required osteotomy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting guide serves as an intermediary device that translates the desired osteotomy geometry into precise cutting paths. It mediates between the surgical incision and the bone cutting process, enabling accurate osteotomy formation through smaller incisions by providing a structured pathway for the cutting instrument

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a minimally invasive approach is used, then tissue disruption is reduced, but positioning and angulation precision becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue disruptionVSAvoidosteotomy precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting guide is pre-configured with built-in angulation features and geometric constraints that establish the correct osteotomy angles and positioning before the cutting process begins. This preliminary setup ensures precision is built into the system architecture rather than relying on manual adjustment during surgery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual positioning and angle measurement with a mechanically constrained guide structure that inherently enforces the correct geometry. The guide body and handle configuration substitute for complex manual alignment procedures, maintaining precision through mechanical design rather than operator skill

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20250176981A1Minimally invasive displacement osteotomy system and method

Publication Date: 2025.06.05 WRIGHT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

A cutting guide includes a body extending between an upper surface and a lower surface and defined by a perimeter. The cutting guide further includes a guide foot having a contact surface. A guide element is pivotably coupled to the body. A handle extends from a first end to a second end. The first end is configured to be coupled to the body.