Tibial Alignment Instrument for Parallax-Resistant Knee Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
In orthopaedic surgery, particularly for knee joint procedures, the alignment of surgical instruments like tibial jig instruments is challenging due to the need for precise positioning and orientation, which is often compromised by parallax errors and referencing to anatomical features obscured by skin and muscle tissue, leading to potential misalignment of prosthetic implants.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with an elongate element, clamp operating mechanism, and clamp elements that allow for precise alignment by maintaining a constant mid-point between open and engaging states, enabling co-linear positioning with the tibial mechanical axis, and featuring adjustable mounting elements that can abut or penetrate anatomical features for stable fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If alignment is checked from the front (anterior) and side (lateral) outside the sterile zone, then alignment accuracy is improved, but surgical sterility is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sterile alignment indicator system that acts as an intermediary between the surgical site and the alignment verification process. The indicator is placed within the sterile zone on the surgical instrument, allowing alignment to be verified through the indicator's position relative to anatomical landmarks visible through the sterile drape, thus maintaining sterility while enabling accurate alignment checking
2Reliability
If alignment is checked from within the sterile zone using anterior view, then surgical sterility is maintained, but alignment accuracy deteriorates due to parallax errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/visual alignment checking method (which is prone to parallax errors) with an optical indicator system. The alignment indicator uses optical references and visual cues that can be accurately interpreted without requiring the surgeon to move outside the sterile zone, thereby maintaining both sterility and alignment accuracy
3Ease of operation
If tibial jig is referenced to the axis of the tibia covered in skin and muscle tissue, then ease of operation is improved, but alignment accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the alignment reference from the obscured anatomical features (tibia axis covered by skin and muscle) and replaces it with visible external references. The alignment indicator system uses references that can be seen through the sterile drape, such as skin landmarks or external anatomical features, allowing accurate alignment without directly referencing the obscured bony axis
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument for positioning and orienting instruments for use in an orthopaedic surgical knee procedure is disclosed. A surgical instrument system and method of performing an orthopaedic surgical knee procedure are also disclosed.