Patella Resection Guide with Independent Jaw and Saw Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing patella resection guides lack the ability to adjust the saw guiding surfaces accurately to accommodate the variability in patellar geometry, leading to unreliable and insecure clamping due to fixed jaw designs that do not account for individual patient anatomy, resulting in awkward bone geometries and potential bone stock loss during resection.
Innovation Solution
A patella resection guide with adjustable jaws and an arm that can rotate and translate relative to the frame, allowing for precise alignment of the cutting tool along multiple axes, including a planar surface for guiding the saw, and movable mandibles to conform to the patella's contour.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed jaw designs are used in resection guides, then the device structure is simple, but the guide cannot accommodate variability in patellar geometry leading to unreliable clamping
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw structure is transformed from a fixed, static design to a dynamic, adjustable design. The jaw includes movable mandibles that can be positioned along curved tracks to accommodate different patellar geometries. This dynamic capability allows the jaw to adapt its shape and size to match the specific contours of each patient's patella, thereby improving clamping reliability without requiring a completely new device design.
Solution Approach 2:
The jaw's geometric parameters are made variable through the inclusion of movable mandibles that can be repositioned along curved tracks. By changing the position of these mandibles, the effective shape and dimensions of the jaw's clamping surface can be adjusted to match different patellar geometries. This parameter variability enables reliable clamping across diverse patient anatomies while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the saw guiding surface is fixed relative to the clamping jaws, then the guide structure is simple, but the resection plane cannot be adjusted to account for individual patient anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
The relationship between the saw guiding surface and the clamping jaws is transformed from fixed to dynamic. The saw guiding arm is made movable relative to the jaw assembly, allowing the resection plane to be adjusted independently of the clamping position. This dynamic configuration enables the guide to adapt to individual patient anatomy by allowing the surgeon to reposition the cutting plane while maintaining secure clamping of the patella.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide structure is segmented into functionally independent components: the clamping jaw assembly and the saw guiding arm. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized and adjusted independently - the jaw can be positioned to match the patient's patellar geometry while the saw guiding arm can be oriented to achieve the desired resection plane. This modular segmentation provides adaptability without requiring complete redesign of the entire guide structure.
3Manufacturing precision
If the patella is tilted relative to the clamp to obtain the desired resection plane, then the resection accuracy is improved, but the clamping becomes insecure due to awkward clamping angles
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows dynamic adjustment of both the clamping orientation and the resection plane orientation independently. The movable mandibles in the jaw can be repositioned to accommodate tilted or angled clamping positions, while the saw guiding arm can be adjusted to maintain the correct resection plane angle. This dynamic independence allows the surgeon to secure the patella at the optimal angle for clamping while still achieving precise resection, eliminating the trade-off between clamping security and resection accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A patellar resection guide includes a frame, a first jaw, and a second jaw. The frame includes a first end, at which the first jaw is disposed, and a second end opposed to the first end at which the second jaw is disposed. The guide further includes an arm with a planar surface for guiding a cutting tool. The arm is either or both of rotatable and translatable relative to the frame.