Removable Tibial Post With Bone Ingrowth Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing artificial tibial components in total knee arthroplasty procedures face challenges in revisionary surgeries, where significant bone loss occurs during removal, due to the rigid connection and lack of precision in disassembly, leading to instability and potential complications.
Innovation Solution
The development of artificial tibial components with a selectively removable base plate and post, featuring a layer of bone ingrowth material along the post and base plate, allowing for biological fixation without cement and enabling precise removal with minimal bone loss during revisionary procedures, using a modular design and etched metal for enhanced bone integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid connection between base plate and post is used, then stability during normal operation is improved, but difficulty of removal and bone loss during revisionary surgery worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial tibial component is divided into two separate segments: a base plate and a post. These segments are connected through a modular interface with features such as a pilot cylinder and bore, allowing them to be assembled and disassembled. This segmentation enables the component to maintain stability during normal operation while allowing for controlled removal during revisionary surgery, thereby resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of repair.
2Stability of the object's composition
If bone ingrowth material is applied to the post, then biological fixation and stability are improved, but bone loss during removal worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The bone ingrowth material is applied selectively to specific surfaces of the post (such as the outer surface and wings) rather than the entire surface. This allows bone to grow into the material for stable fixation during normal operation, while during revisionary surgery, the modular design enables removal of the post with minimal disruption to the surrounding bone structure. The selective application of bone ingrowth material helps balance biological fixation with ease of future removal.
3Ease of repair
If a modular design with selective removability is used, then ease of repair and precision in removal are improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial tibial component is segmented into a base plate and a post with a defined interface. The interface includes alignment features such as a pilot cylinder projecting from the base plate and a corresponding bore in the post, along with fastening mechanisms. This segmentation provides precise alignment and controlled assembly/disassembly, improving ease of repair while maintaining reasonable device complexity through straightforward geometric features.
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
This solution provides increased stability and reliability of the artificial tibial component's connection to the bone, allowing for precise removal with minimal bone loss, thereby reducing surgical complications and improving the success rate of revisionary procedures.
Implementation Method 1
an outer surface of the post includes a layer of the bone ingrowth material along substantially the entire length of the post
Implementation Method 2
the bone ingrowth material is provided by a layer of etched metal
Data Source
AI summary
A component of an artificial joint according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, inter alia, a base plate and a post selectively removable from the base plate. Further, an outer surface of the post includes a layer of the bone ingrowth material along substantially the entire length of the post.