Tibial Cutting Block with Modular Attachment Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current orthopaedic surgical instruments lack a comprehensive and efficient system for preparing the proximal end of the tibia during revision knee replacement surgeries, particularly in terms of securely attaching and detaching components and guiding precise bone resection for optimal prosthetic fit.

Innovation Solution

The orthopaedic surgical instrument assembly includes an attachment device with a housing and rails, a mounting frame, and a cutting block, along with intramedullary instruments like surgical reamers and broaches, which are designed to securely attach to the tibia, facilitate precise resection, and ensure proper alignment and attachment of tibial components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional orthopaedic surgical instruments are used for revision knee replacement, then the surgical procedure can be performed, but the attachment and detachment of instruments and components is time-consuming and lacks efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of instrument attachment and detachmentVSAvoidtime for securing and detaching components

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical instrument system is divided into separable modules including an intramedullary instrument, an attachment device with housing and rails, a mounting frame, and a cutting block. This segmentation allows each component to be independently attached and detached through the standardized interface, significantly reducing the time required for instrument changes during revision knee replacement surgery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment device with its housing, rails, and mounting frame creates a universal interface that can accommodate multiple different intramedullary instruments and cutting blocks. This multi-functional interface allows rapid interchange of various surgical tools without requiring separate attachment mechanisms for each instrument type, thereby improving surgical efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If precise bone resection is achieved during revision knee replacement, then optimal prosthetic fit is obtained, but the complexity of the surgical instrument system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of bone resectionVSAvoidcomplexity of surgical instrument system

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting frame acts as an intermediary component between the attachment device and the cutting block. It provides a stable platform that ensures precise positioning of the cutting block relative to the bone, enabling accurate bone resection. The intermediary structure distributes the complexity across multiple components rather than concentrating it in a single complex device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting block is removably coupled to the mounting frame, which itself is positioned on the rails of the attachment device housing. This nested arrangement allows multiple functional elements to be compactly organized while maintaining precise relative positioning, achieving accurate bone resection without requiring an overly complex monolithic instrument structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If tibial components are accurately aligned and attached during revision knee replacement, then long-term implant success is improved, but the time required for component attachment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of tibial component alignmentVSAvoidtime for component attachment and alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The alignment and attachment mechanism is pre-configured in the mounting frame and attachment device assembly. The rails and mounting frame geometry are designed to automatically guide the cutting block and subsequently the tibial component into the correct alignment position before final attachment. This preliminary positioning action ensures accurate alignment while reducing the time required for manual adjustment during surgery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11207085B2Surgical instruments and methods of surgically preparing a patient's tibia

Publication Date: 2021.12.28 DEPUY (IRELAND) LTD

AI summary

A method of surgically preparing a proximal end of a tibia includes inserting an intramedullary orthopaedic surgical instrument into a medullary canal of the tibia, securing an attachment device to the intramedullary orthopaedic surgical instrument, attaching a cutting block to the attachment device, resecting the proximal end of the tibia using the cutting block to form a surgically-prepared surface, positioning a tibial base trial on the surgically-prepared surface, and inserting a keel punch through a slot defined in the tibial base trial and into the surgically-prepared surface of the tibia.