Patient-Specific Resection Guide Locator for Precise Bone Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for total joint replacement surgeries, such as knee, hip, and ankle procedures, lack effective solutions for generating patient-specific prostheses, surgical instruments, guides, and fixtures that accurately position resection guides relative to the patient's body, leading to potential misalignment and complications.
Innovation Solution
A resection guide locator system that uses computer-aided design and medical imaging technologies to create anatomically accurate guides with complementary surface topographies, allowing for precise positioning and locking onto the bone without external fixtures, utilizing a resilient housing to maintain the guide in place during surgery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional cutting guides with intramedullary stems and multiple pins are used to align with the mechanical axis, then the mechanical axis can be determined and used for alignment, but the device complexity increases and manual alignment becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the intramedullary stem and complex pin-based alignment system from the cutting guide. Instead, it uses a simplified guide that aligns with the anatomical axis of the femur through its natural geometry, eliminating the need for internal stem insertion and multiple alignment pins while maintaining alignment accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than determining the mechanical axis through complex intramedullary measurement and manual computation of valgus angles, the patent inverts the approach by using the anatomical axis as the primary reference and deriving the mechanical axis relationship from there, simplifying the alignment process
2Measurement precision
If multiple fixtures and external alignment devices are used to position the cutting guide, then alignment can be achieved, but the number of fixtures increases and the procedure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the alignment function and the cutting guide function into a single integrated device. The guide incorporates alignment features directly into its structure, such as engagement surfaces that mate with anatomical landmarks on the femur, eliminating the need for separate alignment fixtures and external positioning devices
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting guide is designed to self-align with the femur through its geometric features that complement anatomical surfaces. The guide automatically positions itself relative to the bone's natural axis without requiring external fixtures or complex manual alignment procedures by the surgeon
3Measurement precision
If manual alignment of the cutting guide with the femoral shaft axis is performed, then the mechanical axis can be approximated, but time is lost and alignment precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The guide's alignment features are pre-configured during manufacturing to match the anatomical geometry of the femur. This preliminary preparation allows the guide to achieve accurate alignment through simple placement rather than requiring time-consuming manual measurement and calculation of the mechanical axis during surgery
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables precise and accurate alignment of resection guides, reducing the complexity and number of fixtures needed, thereby enhancing the accuracy of bone resections and improving surgical outcomes by ensuring proper alignment of prostheses.
Implementation Method 1
A resilient wall of the resection guide locator defines the peripheral extent of said socket, and is sized and shaped for storing energy when a resection guide is press-fit into the socket
Data Source
AI summary
A resection guide locator includes a bone engagement portion with surfaces that are complementary to the surface topographies of a bone to be resected during surgery. A housing includes a socket defined by a resilient annular wall that is sized and arranged so to accept a resection guide by press-fit to thereby position and hold the resection guide within the socket. The resection guide is maintained in a predetermined, preferred position while the surfaces are releasably locked in position on the bone. A method is disclosed for forming and using the resection guide locator.