Extramedullary Tibial Cut Guide Alignment System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current knee arthroplasty procedures face challenges in accurately positioning tibial cut guides for bone resection, particularly in terms of proximal-distal, varus-valgus, sagittal cut angle, and medial-lateral alignment, which can affect the precision and efficiency of the surgical process.
Innovation Solution
An extramedullary tibial alignment guide system that includes adjustable mechanisms for precise positioning of the tibial cut guide, featuring an ankle clamp, distal and proximal assemblies, and actuation mechanisms to facilitate extension and retraction, allowing for quick and accurate alignment along multiple axes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional fixed alignment guides are used, then the device complexity is low, but the manufacturing precision and positioning accuracy of the tibial cut guide deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment guide incorporates adjustable mechanisms that allow dynamic modification of the tibial cut guide's position and orientation. The guide features adjustable components that can be modified during surgery to achieve precise proximal-distal, varus-valgus, sagittal, and medial-lateral alignment, transforming a static device into a dynamic one that adapts to different surgical requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment guide is divided into multiple adjustable components and segments. Each segment can be independently adjusted to control specific aspects of positioning (proximal-distal location, varus-valgus location, sagittal cut angle, medial-lateral location), allowing for precise control while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple adjustment mechanisms are added to the alignment guide, then the manufacturing precision improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment guide incorporates self-aligning features and automatic positioning mechanisms that reduce the need for complex manual adjustments. The guide includes features that automatically establish correct anatomical relationships and positioning, allowing the system to self-adjust and self-position without requiring extensive surgical expertise or complex manipulation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment guide introduces intermediary components and reference features that facilitate the adjustment process. These intermediaries include alignment references, guide pins, and positioning blocks that mediate between the surgeon's intent and the final positioning, simplifying the adjustment process while maintaining high precision through standardized intermediary elements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the alignment guide is made more adjustable, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment guide is designed as a universal system that can accommodate multiple adjustment requirements through a single integrated device. The guide incorporates multi-functional components that can adjust for proximal-distal location, varus-valgus location, sagittal cut angle, and medial-lateral location, allowing one device to perform multiple positioning functions that would otherwise require separate specialized tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment guide employs dynamic adjustment mechanisms that allow real-time modification of positioning parameters during surgery. The guide features movable and adjustable components that can be dynamically reconfigured to adapt to different patient anatomies and surgical requirements, providing versatility while maintaining a relatively simple base design that evolves as needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system that can be used in a knee replacement procedure can include a tibial cut guide and an alignment guide. The tibial cut guide can have a first guide portion coupled to and adjustable relative to a second guide portion. The first guide portion can be configured to define a sagittal cut slot and a proximal cut slot. The alignment guide configured for extramedullary mounting to the patient and configured to couple with the second guide portion of the tibial cut guide, the alignment guide having a first mechanism and a second mechanism of differing construction, the first mechanism and the second mechanism are both configured to be actuated to facilitate extension and retraction of the alignment guide to position the tibial cut guide in a desired proximal-distal location relative a tibia of a patient when the tibial cut guide and the alignment guide are assembled together.