Floating Patella Clamp Alignment for Precise Implant Impaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing patella impaction devices struggle to reliably align and impact patella implants of varying geometries during total knee replacement surgery, necessitating adjustments in the holding structure for precise alignment.

Innovation Solution

A shell-shaped clamping element mounted on a holding structure that allows movement along multiple axes (medio-lateral and proximal-distal) within a plane perpendicular to the pressure axis, enabling alignment of the patella implant's peak point with the clamping element's center without adjusting the holding structure's position, combined with a guiding slot and guiding elements for precise alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the holding structure is fixed in position, then the device structure is simple and stable, but the alignment precision with patella implants of varying geometries deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoiddevice structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping element is made movable relative to the holding structure along medio-lateral and proximal-distal axes, allowing dynamic adjustment to match the peak point axis of patella implants with different geometries while keeping the holding structure itself fixed and simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device is divided into a fixed holding structure and a movable clamping element, separating the functions of structural stability and alignment precision, allowing each part to be optimized independently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If the holding structure position is adjusted for each implant geometry, then alignment precision improves, but the operation time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidoperation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The movable clamping element can be quickly repositioned along predefined axes without requiring adjustment of the entire holding structure, significantly reducing the time needed to adapt to different implant geometries

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The single movable clamping element design allows the device to handle multiple implant geometries and sizes with different peak point positions, eliminating the need for multiple specialized fixtures or repeated adjustments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the clamping element is fixed relative to the holding structure, then the device structure is simple, but the adaptability to different implant geometries deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to implant geometriesVSAvoiddevice structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping element is designed to move along medio-lateral and proximal-distal axes relative to the holding structure, enabling it to adapt to different implant geometries and peak point positions while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The guiding elements and guiding slots act as intermediaries that enable controlled movement of the clamping element, providing adaptability without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4534048B1Patella impaction device and patella preparation set
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 AESCULAP AG
  • EP4534048B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4534048B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4534048B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a patella impaction device (10), comprising a first clamp (12) configured to be pressed along a pressure axis and onto a dome-shaped surface of a patella implant (24) to be connected to a resected patella (20), wherein the first clamp comprises a shell-shaped clamping element (42) which is mounted on a holding structure (50) of the first clamp in a floating manner and allowing the clamping element (42) to move at least along one axis of movement within a plane (62) extending perpendicular to the pressure axis. The invention also relates to a patella preparation set.