Tibial Cutting Guide With Hands-Free Ankle Clamp
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tibial cutting guides for knee arthroplasty procedures face challenges such as difficult single-handed operation, inaccurate length adjustment, and the need for two-handed manipulation, which can complicate the precise placement and repositioning of cutting guides during surgery, potentially damaging surrounding tissues.
Innovation Solution
A tibial cutting guide with a guide base, cutting head, alignment mechanism, and ankle clamp that includes a removable mechanism with microadjustment capabilities and a mode selector allowing for hands-free operation, enabling precise positioning and adjustment with one hand, and a modular capture device for accurate alignment and resection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ankle clamp arms are designed to move independently, then the clamp can be opened for placement, but it requires two-handed operation which reduces surgical efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the operation of both ankle clamp arms into a single-handed action. The surgeon operates one arm while the other arm responds in coordination, allowing the clamp to be opened and closed for placement and removal without requiring two hands, thereby improving surgical efficiency while maintaining ease of operation
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cutting head is made as a single integrated piece, then the structure is simpler, but it cannot be removed to check the gap or reposition for accurate re-cutting
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting head is divided into a base portion that remains attached to the guide and a removable mechanism that can be detached. This segmentation allows the removable mechanism to be taken off to check the gap between bone surfaces and repositioned for accurate re-cutting, while the base portion maintains the overall structural integrity of the guide
3Manufacturing precision
If the blade guide position is fixed relative to the cutting head base, then the structure is more stable, but microadjustment for precise resection depth is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The blade guide is designed with microadjustment capability that allows it to be positioned at multiple locations relative to the cutting head base. This dynamic adjustment feature enables precise control of resection depth while maintaining structural stability through a controlled adjustment mechanism rather than complete freedom of movement
4Adaptability or versatility
If the cutting guide length is fixed, then the structure is simpler, but it cannot be adjusted to accommodate different patient anatomies or surgical requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting guide incorporates a hands-free length adjustment mechanism that allows the guide to be extended or retracted without requiring the surgeon to use their hands to manipulate adjustment controls. The mechanism automatically maintains the selected length position, enabling accommodation of different patient anatomies while keeping the surgeon's hands free for surgical tasks
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates precise and efficient resection of the tibia with reduced tissue damage by allowing single-handed operation and hands-free length adjustment, improving surgical efficiency and accuracy during knee arthroplasty procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a first arm with a first pivot and two or more first gear teeth spaced along a radius from the first pivot, the first arm being pivotally coupled to the housing at the first pivot, and a second arm with a second pivot and two or more second gear teeth spaced along a radius from the second pivot, the second arm being pivotally coupled to the housing at the second pivot, and having its two or more second gear teeth interdigitating with the two or more first gear teeth of the first arm
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention include a cutting guide (360) and methods of using the cutting guide to prepare bone for one or more knee arthroplasty implants. Some embodiments include an alignment mechanism (200), a cutting head (300), and an ankle clamp (400).