Stemless Shoulder Prosthesis with Porous Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shoulder prosthetics require a stem to be inserted into the humeral canal, increasing the complexity and cost of surgical procedures, trauma, and post-operative pain, while also adding weight and size to the humeral component.
Innovation Solution
A stemless humeral prosthesis design featuring a central body with arms that provide structural support for a prosthetic humeral head, utilizing a porous coating to facilitate bone integration and reduce the need for stem insertion, thereby simplifying the surgical procedure and minimizing bone removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a stem is inserted into the humeral canal to provide structural support, then the stability and load-bearing capacity of the prosthesis is improved, but the surgical complexity, trauma, and post-operative pain increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the stem component from the prosthesis design entirely, extracting the problematic element that caused surgical complexity and bone trauma. The stemless prosthesis achieves stability through alternative means (press-fit design, porous coating for bone ingrowth) without requiring insertion into the humeral canal, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and surgical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The prosthesis incorporates a porous coating on its outer surface that facilitates bone ingrowth and integration. This porous structure provides mechanical interlocking with the surrounding bone tissue, achieving stable fixation without requiring a stem insertion, thereby maintaining prosthesis stability while avoiding the complexities of stem-based installation
2Duration of action of stationary object
If a stem is inserted into the humeral canal, then the structural support and longevity of the prosthesis is improved, but additional bone removal is required which increases trauma and post-operative pain
Solution Approach 1:
The stem is completely extracted from the prosthesis design, eliminating the need for humeral canal reaming and stem insertion. This preserves the patient's bone structure while the prosthesis achieves longevity through press-fit stabilization and biological integration via porous bone ingrowth, thus maintaining durability without bone loss
Solution Approach 2:
The prosthesis changes the fixation parameters from mechanical (stem-based cement fixation requiring canal preparation) to biological (porous coating enabling bone ingrowth). This parameter change allows the prosthesis to achieve long-term stability and longevity through biological integration rather than mechanical anchoring, avoiding additional bone removal
3Force
If a stem is used in the humeral component, then the load-bearing capacity is improved, but the weight and size of the prosthesis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stem is removed from the prosthesis design, eliminating the additional weight and bulk associated with stem structures. The stemless design achieves adequate load-bearing capacity through the press-fit geometry and distributed stress transfer to the surrounding bone, avoiding the weight penalty of stem components
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The stemless design reduces surgical complexity, trauma, and post-operative pain, while promoting bone integration and stability, thus enhancing the effectiveness of shoulder arthroplasty without increasing the weight or size of the prosthetic component.
Implementation Method 1
a porous coating completely covers the outer surface of the central body between the first end and the second end
Data Source
AI summary
A prosthesis is provided and includes a central body having an outer surface and a longitudinal axis extending between a first end having an opening operable to receive an installation tool and a second end spaced apart from the first end. The outer surface extends between and connects the first end and the second end and defines the length of the central body. The prosthesis additionally includes a plurality of arms each attached to the outer surface of the central body and having an outer shape defined by a porous coating independent from a shape of the central body. The porous coating completely covers the outer surface of the central body between the first end and the second end.