Shoulder Implant Frame Interface for Bone Fixation and Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional prosthetic implants, particularly those with metal back plates, face issues such as increased wear rates, glenoid loosening, stress shielding, excessive glenoid bone loss, osteolysis, and dissociation, while anatomic-to-reverse total shoulder arthroplasty procedures are complex and challenging due to independent configurations and potential bone loss.
Innovation Solution
A combination of a frame and prosthetic component, where the frame is anchored to bone and the prosthetic component is directly engaged with the bone through various attachment interfaces, allowing for secure fixation and conversion between anatomic and reverse shoulder configurations, using materials like metals and plastics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a metal back plate is added to a polyethylene glenoid implant to improve durability and fixation, then strength and fixation are improved, but wear rates increase and stress shielding occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into separate functional components: a metal back plate for fixation to bone and a polyethylene bearing surface for articulation. The metal back plate includes a interface for attaching the polyethylene component, allowing each material to perform its optimal function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant combines metal and polyethylene materials in a composite structure. The metal back plate provides structural strength and fixation, while the polyethylene component provides wear-resistant bearing surfaces. This composite approach allows optimization of each material's properties for its specific function.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the polyethylene component is made thinner to reduce stress on bone, then stress shielding is reduced, but wear rates accelerate
Solution Approach 1:
The implant structure separates the load-bearing function (metal back plate) from the wear-bearing function (polyethylene component). This allows the polyethylene to be thinner without compromising overall structural integrity, as the metal back plate assumes the primary load-bearing role while the polyethylene provides a wear-resistant articulating surface.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the polyethylene component is made thicker to reduce wear, then wear rates decrease, but stress shielding increases and rotator cuff is over-tensioned
Solution Approach 1:
The metal back plate and polyethylene component are segmented into distinct functional zones. The metal back plate provides structural support and load bearing, allowing the polyethylene component to be thinner without increasing stress shielding, while still providing adequate wear resistance through its articulating surfaces.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional anatomic-to-reverse conversion procedures are performed with independent implant configurations, then conversion is achieved, but procedure complexity increases and bone loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The glenoid implant is designed with universal attachment interfaces that can accommodate both anatomic and reverse shoulder configurations. The metal back plate includes standardized interfaces that allow the same base implant to be used with different bearing components, enabling conversion procedures without requiring complete implant removal and reducing surgical complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides for prosthetic implants to be used in various surgical repairs, including for procedures like total shoulder arthroplasties and reverse total shoulder arthroplasties. The implants include two main parts—a frame and a prosthetic component. The frame includes an aperture that is configured to receive the prosthetic component, allowing the prosthetic component to make direct contact with bone at the surgical site. Various configurations are provided that allow the prosthetic component to be coupled to or otherwise engage with the frame, and at least some of the configurations are such that the reverse procedures can be done without having to fully re-tool and/or modify the bone. A variety of procedures resulting from the improved implants are also provided.