Tibial Prosthesis Locking Assembly Guide Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally-invasive knee replacement surgeries face challenges in ensuring proper alignment and stability of tibial prosthesis components due to reduced visibility, and cost-effective manufacturing techniques compromise precision, leading to potential misalignment and increased wear.
Innovation Solution
The tibial prosthetic system incorporates an elongated guide member with overhang and undercut features that align and secure the insert portion to the base portion, utilizing stabilizing elements to maintain alignment and limit movement, enhancing precision and stability without requiring additional fasteners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If minimally-invasive surgical techniques are used to reduce incision size and tissue disturbance, then post-operative pain and recovery time are reduced, but the surgeon's ability to visually inspect the posterior of the completed replacement joint is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthetic system provides self-alignment through its geometric features (guide member, overhang elements, undercut areas) without requiring visual inspection or complex alignment tools by the surgeon. The components automatically align and secure themselves during insertion, making the system self-servicing in terms of alignment verification.
2Ease of manufacture
If cost-effective manufacturing techniques are used to reduce manufacturing costs, then production expenses are reduced, but the precision with which component dimensions match specified design dimensions is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The design incorporates preliminary alignment features (guide member, overhang elements, undercut areas) that pre-establish the correct geometric relationship between components before final assembly. This preliminary action compensates for dimensional variations introduced by cost-effective manufacturing, ensuring proper alignment is achieved despite reduced manufacturing precision.
3Ease of manufacture
If lower cost, less precise manufacturing techniques are employed, then manufacturing costs are decreased, but stability and function of the joint may be compromised due to movement between components
Solution Approach 1:
The tibial prosthesis is divided into separate components (base portion and insert portion) with dedicated alignment and retention features. The guide member and overhang elements create segmented zones that independently control different aspects of alignment and stability, allowing each component to be manufactured separately with standard tolerances while maintaining overall joint stability through their geometric interlocking.
4Reliability
If additional fasteners are used to secure the insert portion to the base portion, then stability and firm engagement are improved, but device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment and retention functions are merged into the geometric features of the base portion itself (guide member, overhang elements, undercut areas) rather than requiring separate fastener components. The overhang element with undercut area combines both the alignment guide and the retention mechanism into a single integrated feature, eliminating the need for additional fasteners and reducing overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An orthopedic prosthetic system comprises a base portion and an elongated guide member protruding from a bottom surface of the base portion. The elongated guide member extends from a posterior edge of the base portion toward an anterior edge of the base portion and comprises an overhang element and an undercut face. The prosthetic system further comprises an insert portion configured to slideably engage the base portion and the elongated guide member. The insert portion comprises an underhang element configured to engage at least a portion of an undercut area defined by the overhang element and undercut face of the elongated guide member.