Patient-Specific Guide Tool for Finger and Toe Joint Implant Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical methods for repairing damaged cartilage and bone in toe and finger joints are invasive and lack precision, often requiring larger implants and not well-suited for the unique shape and size of these joints, leading to inefficiencies and complications.
Innovation Solution
A guide tool with patient-specific contact surfaces and a directing flange for secure placement, allowing for minimally invasive surgery with precise implant placement and reduced tissue interference, utilizing a design method that incorporates surgical preference, image, and demographic data to create customized tools for each patient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If current surgical methods are used for repairing damaged cartilage and bone in toe and finger joints, then surgical intervention can be performed, but the procedures are invasive and lack precision, requiring larger implants and causing more tissue interference
Solution Approach 1:
The guide tool is divided into multiple functional components: a body portion with patient-specific contact surfaces for positioning, a directing flange for orientation control, and an implant receiving portion for precise implant guidance. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, achieving high precision without requiring overly complex overall system design
Solution Approach 2:
The guide tool serves as an intermediary device between the surgeon and the implant placement process. It translates patient-specific anatomical data into precise physical positioning and orientation, mediating the complex relationship between surgical intent and actual implant placement while simplifying the surgical procedure
2Ease of operation
If larger implants are used to accommodate current surgical methods, then implant placement can be achieved, but tissue interference increases and minimally invasive surgery cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The guide tool is designed to be self-positioning through patient-specific contact surfaces that match the unique anatomy of the patient's joint. The directing flange automatically orients the tool correctly without requiring complex external alignment devices, enabling minimally invasive surgery while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention moves from two-dimensional implant placement planning to three-dimensional precise positioning by incorporating patient-specific contact surfaces and a directing flange that control positioning in multiple spatial dimensions, allowing minimal tissue interference while maintaining surgical accessibility
3Adaptability or versatility
If standard surgical tools are used for toe and finger joints, then surgery can be performed, but the tools are not well-suited for the unique shape and size of these joints
Solution Approach 1:
The guide tool incorporates patient-specific contact surfaces with unique shapes and sizes that match the local anatomy of the specific joint being treated. Each contact surface is customized to the patient's joint geometry, providing both adaptability to the unique joint characteristics and precise positioning for accurate implant placement
Solution Approach 2:
The guide tool design embraces the asymmetric nature of toe and finger joint anatomy through patient-specific contact surfaces and a directing flange configured to match the unique geometric characteristics of each patient's joint, achieving both adaptability and precision
4Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive surgery is attempted without specialized guide tools, then tissue interference is reduced, but implant placement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guide tool is designed and customized before surgery based on patient-specific imaging and anatomical data. The contact surfaces and directing flange are pre-configured to match the patient's joint geometry, enabling minimally invasive surgery with high precision by eliminating the need for complex intraoperative alignment procedures
Data Source
AI summary
A guide tool for guiding surgical instrumentation and facilitating insertion of surgical implants for repair of cartilage and/or bone damage and/or for remodeling of a joint surface for improved mobility in a finger or toe joint is disclosed. The guide tool includes an attachment part including a patient specific contact surface adapted to fit the proximal phalanxes or metatarsal bones in a toe or the distal-, middle-, or proximal phalanxes or metacarpal bones in a finger and further including a directing flange. A design model designing a guide tool described above and the use of the instruments are also disclosed.