Spherical Osteotomy Cuts for Multi-Plane Bone Realignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bones, such as those in the foot, often exhibit anatomical misalignment that requires surgical intervention to correct and improve patient comfort and quality of life.
Innovation Solution
A series of osteotomy techniques involving crescent-shaped and spherical-shaped cuts are used to transect bones, allowing for the realignment of bone portions in multiple planes, followed by fixation using plates, screws, or pins to secure the new alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional linear cuts are made to correct bone misalignment, then the surgical procedure is simple to perform, but the ability to realign bone portions in multiple planes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by using crescent-shaped and spherical-shaped cutting paths instead of traditional linear cuts. The cutting member traverses along a curved trajectory to create crescent-shaped cut surfaces, or rotates along a spherical path to create spherical cut surfaces. These curved geometries enable bone portions to be realigned in multiple planes (frontal, transverse, and sagittal planes) by facilitating rotational and angular adjustments that linear cuts cannot achieve.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple crescent-shaped cuts are made to achieve precise realignment, then bone alignment accuracy is improved, but the surgical time and procedure complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bone correction procedure into distinct cutting phases: first making a primary crescent-shaped cut to create initial separation and alignment correction, then optionally making a second crescent-shaped cut or a transverse planar cut to achieve final precise realignment. This segmentation allows the surgeon to progress from gross alignment correction to fine-tuned precision alignment in manageable steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic cutting techniques where the cutting member can change its trajectory and orientation during the procedure. The crescent-shaped cut is created by traversing the cutting member along a curved path that can be adjusted in real-time. The ability to transition between different cutting geometries (crescent vs. spherical vs. planar) and to make additional cuts based on intraoperative findings provides dynamic adaptability to achieve optimal alignment accuracy.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex multi-planar realignment is performed, then anatomical positioning is improved, but the difficulty of the surgical procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical-shaped cutting technique simplifies multi-planar realignment by creating a spherical cut surface that naturally accommodates rotation and angular adjustment in multiple planes. The spherical geometry provides a uniform curvature that facilitates smooth rotational movement of bone portions around a central point, making it easier to achieve complex multi-planar alignment compared to flat or irregular cut surfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
An osteotomy procedure may be performed to correct a misalignment of a bone, such as a bunion deformity. In some examples, the osteotomy procedure involves making a spherical-shaped cut transecting a first metatarsal, thereby forming a first metatarsal portion having a spherical-shaped projection and a second metatarsal portion having a spherical-shaped recess. The method further involves moving the second metatarsal portion in at least two planes relative to the first metatarsal portion, thereby adjusting an anatomical alignment of the second metatarsal portion.