Spherical Surgical Guide for Multi-Plane Tool Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical guide models offer limited range of motion and often require cumbersome intra-operative x-ray imaging, leading to excessive radiation exposure and increased operating times, as they are not designed for precise placement of surgical tools within bones or joints without visible target points.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical surgical guide with adjustable base and member arcs, allowing movement in multiple planes, which aligns a base circle and member circle to define a sphere centered at the surgical target, ensuring precise placement of surgical tools without ancillary imaging, featuring adjustable arc lengths and locking mechanisms for secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current guide models are used, then hardware placement is achieved, but range of motion is limited and radiation exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical guide employs a spherical geometry where the base circle and member circle define a sphere with the surgical target at its center. This spherical configuration enables the guide to accommodate movements in multiple planes while maintaining precise alignment, eliminating the need for limited-range mechanical guides and reducing reliance on radiation-based imaging for verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from planar guide movements to three-dimensional spherical coordination. By defining a sphere centered at the surgical target through the intersection of base and member circles, the system enables positioning in multiple dimensions simultaneously, providing comprehensive adaptability without requiring multiple separate guides or repeated imaging.
2Measurement precision
If current guide models are used, then hardware placement is achieved, but operating time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical guide is pre-configured with the base circle and member circle geometry that inherently defines the surgical target position. The channels are pre-aligned to radiate from the target, allowing the surgeon to simply insert tools through the channels without requiring time-consuming alignment adjustments or verification imaging during the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide structure itself provides the alignment function through its spherical geometry. The base and member circles automatically define the target location and tool trajectories, making the system self-aligning and eliminating the need for external imaging verification, thereby reducing operating time while maintaining precision.
3Measurement precision
If mechanical surgical guide with adjustable arcs is used, then precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical guide is divided into distinct modular components: a base element with a base circle, a member element with a member circle, and adjustable arc mechanisms. Each component can be independently manufactured and adjusted, allowing precise configuration for different surgical scenarios while maintaining overall system simplicity through functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide incorporates adjustable arc lengths that can be modified to match different anatomical configurations. The base arc and member arc can be independently adjusted within their respective ranges, providing dynamic adaptability to various surgical sites while maintaining the fundamental spherical geometry that ensures precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An easy to use mechanical apparatus intended for aiming a surgical tool is provided. Embodiments of the apparatus offer movement in multiple planes while guaranteeing, given proper placement of the leading end of a locator tool at a target, that the leading end of a second tool be placed at precisely the same target. Methods of using the apparatus as well as kits including the apparatus are also provided.