Patient-Specific Tibial Osteotomy Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tibial tubercle osteotomy systems are complex and not tailored to individual patient anatomy, making them difficult to use and less effective in treating patellofemoral conditions.
Innovation Solution
A patient-specific guide system for tibial osteotomy that includes a guide body with a bone-engaging surface and apertures configured to match the patient's anatomy, allowing for precise repositioning of the tibial tubercle and insertion of pins as a saw guide for resecting the tibia, along with a custom-made implantable wedge for bone in-growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If commercially available osteotomy systems are used, then the surgical procedure can be performed with standardized tools, but the systems are complicated to use and not tailored to specific patient anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
The guide system is divided into multiple components including a guide body with bone-engaging surface, guide portions with apertures, and detachable elements. This segmentation allows the complex system to be manufactured using standardized techniques while providing custom fit to patient anatomy through modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
Patient-specific imaging and planning are performed before surgery to create a customized guide design. The guide body and guide portions are configured in advance to match the specific patient's anatomy, allowing the actual surgical procedure to proceed with simplified, pre-planned steps rather than complex intraoperative decision-making.
2Ease of operation
If multiple units are used in commercially available systems, then the system can provide comprehensive functionality, but the system becomes complicated to use
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional elements are integrated into a single guide assembly where the guide body with bone-engaging surface combines with guide portions containing apertures. This merging reduces the number of separate units the surgeon must handle while maintaining comprehensive surgical functionality through integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide system is designed to self-align and self-position on the patient's anatomy through the customized bone-engaging surface. Once positioned, the guide portions and apertures automatically provide the correct orientation and placement guidance without requiring complex alignment procedures or multiple adjustment steps by the surgeon.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mass-produced systems are used, then manufacturing costs are reduced, but the systems cannot be tailored to specific patient anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
Patient-specific anatomical data is collected and processed before manufacturing to create a customized guide design. Digital modeling and planning are performed in advance, allowing the guide body and guide portions to be manufactured with patient-specific geometries using modern additive manufacturing or CNC machining techniques, bridging the gap between customization and manufacturability.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide system design parameters such as bone-engaging surface geometry, guide portion orientation, and aperture positions are varied based on patient-specific anatomical measurements. This parameter customization allows each guide to be tailored to the individual patient while still being manufactured using standardized production processes and materials.
Data Source
AI summary
Patient-specific guides for a tibial tubercle osteotomy are provided. The guides include a guide body defining a portion with a bone-engaging surface that conforms as a negative surface to a corresponding surface of a specific patient's tibia, and a guide portion that guides a surgical instrument to a specific location on the specific patient's tibia, wherein the bone-engaging surface and guide portion are configured during a pre-operative planning stage. Methods for performing a tibial tubercle osteotomy with the patient-specific guides are also provided.