Pivoting Tibial Resection Guide for Kinematic Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current knee arthroplasty techniques using kinematic alignment methods face challenges with imprecise placement of resection planes and prolonged procedure times due to subjective measurement methods, leading to increased risk of infection, trauma, and the need for additional surgical steps.
Innovation Solution
A distally referencing linking drill guide assembly is introduced, comprising a femoral portion, a tibial portion, and a body connecting them, with femoral and tibial engagement members that allow for precise alignment and transfer of alignment information from the femur to the tibia, reducing subjectivity and procedural time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If independently referencing measurement methods are used for kinematic alignment, then surgeon autonomy and subjectivity are maximized, but resection plane placement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a distally referencing linking drill guide assembly as an intermediary tool that mechanically links the femoral referencing instrument to the tibial resection guide. This mediator transfers alignment information objectively from the femur to the tibia, eliminating the need for subjective independent measurements while preserving surgeon control through the instrumented guidance system.
2Ease of operation
If independently referencing measurement methods are used, then subjectivity in resection plane placement increases, but procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The linking drill guide assembly serves as a mechanical intermediary that directly transfers alignment data from the femoral side to the tibial side without requiring subjective measurement calculations. This eliminates trial-and-error adjustments and subjective decision-making, thereby reducing procedure time while maintaining surgeon control through the instrumented system.
3Manufacturing precision
If traditional measurement instrumentation is used for kinematic alignment, then resection plane placement accuracy improves, but procedure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the femoral referencing instrument and tibial resection guide into a single integrated linking drill guide assembly. This combination eliminates the need for multiple separate measurement instruments and complex independent referencing procedures, reducing overall instrumentation complexity while maintaining high resection plane placement accuracy through direct mechanical linkage.
4Manufacturing precision
If prolonged surgical procedures are performed to achieve precise alignment, then resection plane placement precision improves, but infection risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The linking drill guide assembly acts as a mechanical intermediary that enables precise resection plane placement through direct alignment transfer, eliminating the need for prolonged subjective measurement procedures. This reduces surgical time and exposure duration, thereby lowering infection risk while maintaining high placement precision.
5Manufacturing precision
If multiple measurement and adjustment steps are performed, then resection plane placement accuracy improves, but procedural efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple measurement and adjustment steps into a single integrated linking drill guide assembly that performs alignment transfer in one operation. This merger eliminates sequential measurement, calculation, and adjustment steps, improving procedural efficiency while maintaining high resection plane placement accuracy through direct mechanical linkage.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and assemblies for transferring kinematic alignment references from the distal aspect of a femur to the proximal aspect of an adjacent tibia, while permitting adjustment of the anterior-posterior slope. An exemplary pivoting tibial resection guide comprises: a body, a pivoting recess extending laterally into the body, the pivoting recess further comprising one or more anterior openings, the one or more anterior openings communicating with the pivoting recess, a locking mechanism recess, and multiple pin holes extending anteroposteriorly through the body and a pivoting assembly disposed within the pivoting recess, the pivoting assembly comprising one or more complimentary tibial engagement members disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the one or more complimentary tibial engagement members communicates with the one or more anterior openings in the body, and wherein the pivoting assembly is closely dimensioned to rotate axially within the pivoting recess relative to the body.