Surgical Cutting Guide With Convex End Stops for Low-Friction Cutting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical cutting guides experience high friction and friction-induced wear due to flat end stop surfaces, limiting the inclination angle and accuracy of surgical cutting instruments.

Innovation Solution

The end stop surfaces of the surgical cutting guide are designed with convex surface contours to reduce friction and wear, allowing for a larger inclination angle and improved guiding of the cutting instrument, while incorporating surface reduction recesses and apertures to minimize contact and weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If flat end stop surfaces are used in the cutting slot, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but friction and wear between the cutting instrument and the slot increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidfriction and wear

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The end stop surfaces are designed with convex curvature instead of flat surfaces. This curvature reduces the contact area between the cutting instrument and the end stop surfaces, thereby reducing friction and wear while maintaining structural simplicity and ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Device complexity

If flat end stop surfaces are used, then the cutting slot structure is simple, but the longitudinal inclination angle of the cutting instrument is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidinclination angle

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The convex curved surfaces of the end stops allow the cutting instrument to be inclined at larger longitudinal angles while maintaining stable contact. The curvature provides a natural pivot point that accommodates various inclination angles without increasing overall structure complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Reliability

If convex surface contours are added to end stop surfaces, then friction and wear are reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefriction and wearVSAvoidease of manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The convex curved surfaces can be manufactured using standard CNC machining or molding processes. The curvature is achieved through simple radial tool paths or mold cavity design, making the manufacturing process straightforward despite the non-flat geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS12558104B2Surgical cutting guide

Publication Date: 2026.02.24 AESCULAP AG

AI summary

A surgical cutting guide includes a body having at least one first cutting slot formed between a first cutting guide surface and an opposing second cutting guide surface. The first cutting slot extends longitudinally between a first end stop surface and an opposing second end stop surface. The first end stop surface has a first convex surface contour and/or the second end stop surface has a second convex surface contour. The surgical cutting guide can be used in a surgical procedure, such as a total knee arthroplasty.