Surgical Referencing Apparatus for Hip Prosthesis Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hip replacement surgery faces challenges such as large incisions leading to prolonged hospital stays, post-operative pain, increased risk of blood clotting and infection, reliance on surgeon experience for accurate prosthetic placement, and potential misalignment causing long-term complications like accelerated wear and early surgery repetition.
Innovation Solution
A referencing apparatus with locating elements and an electronic orientation monitor is used to calibrate the monitor's orientation relative to anatomical sites, allowing for precise placement of prosthetic components through surgical drapes, reducing reliance on surgeon experience and enhancing accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a large incision (40cm) is made to provide sufficient access for manual manipulation of the hip and femur, then the surgeon can manually access and manipulate the hip joint, but the risks of blood clotting and infection increase tenfold for each cm of incision, and hospital stay is prolonged to three days or more
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical manipulation with an electronic orientation monitor and referencing apparatus that provides automated guidance for prosthetic placement. The system uses electronic sensors and digital orientation data to guide the surgeon, eliminating the need for large incisions required for manual manipulation while maintaining placement accuracy.
2Ease of operation
If the surgeon relies on experience and eye to ensure accurate placement of the cup into the hip socket, then manual manipulation is straightforward, but misalignment may lead to post operative complications such as misalignment of the leg, incorrect leg length, and accelerated wear of components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces subjective surgeon judgment with an electronic orientation monitor that objectively measures and displays the precise orientation of prosthetic components. The system uses electronic sensors to detect the actual orientation of the cup and provides real-time feedback, eliminating reliance on surgeon experience and eye while ensuring accurate alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation monitor provides real-time feedback to the surgeon during the surgical procedure. The system continuously monitors the orientation of prosthetic components and displays the data, allowing the surgeon to make immediate adjustments to achieve precise alignment and avoid post-operative complications.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If surgical drapes are used to cover the patient, then infection risk is reduced, but the referencing apparatus must be positioned through the drapes which may obstruct the procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the surgical drape as an intermediary that can be engaged by the referencing apparatus without compromising either infection control or procedural access. The system is designed to work through or with the drape in place, allowing the drape to maintain its protective function while the referencing apparatus achieves proper positioning for accurate measurements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a referencing apparatus for application onto a patient at least partially covered by surgical drapes. The referencing apparatus includes a plurality of locking elements shaped for engagement with the surgical drapes. The surgical drapes are disposed intermediate the plurality of locking elements and a respective plurality of predefined anatomical sites on the patient. The engagement causes a docking system disposed on the referencing apparatus to assume a reference orientation relative to the plurality of predefined anatomical sites.