Tibial Prosthesis Shim and Sensor for Knee Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing provisional tibial prosthesis systems fail to provide surgeons with insight into knee joint kinematics for angled bone cuts and require a high number of components to achieve proper configuration, lacking real-time force or pressure data for balance indication.
Innovation Solution
The system includes a shim component with varying edge heights and a sensor integrated with the bearing component, allowing for real-time kinematic insight and reduced component usage by providing adjustable spacing and force sensing during surgery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a high number of provisional components are stacked to achieve proper configuration, then the system can arrive at an appropriate configuration of the permanent tibial prosthesis system, but the device complexity increases and the number of components required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The provisional tibial prosthesis system is divided into multiple components including a bearing component, a bearing support component, and one or more shim components. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for specific functions and enables precise configuration through selective assembly rather than requiring a high number of stacked components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates shim components with varying thicknesses that can be selectively inserted and removed to dynamically adjust the spacing between the bearing component and bearing support component. This dynamic adjustability allows for precise configuration with fewer components compared to static stacked arrangements.
2Device complexity
If existing provisional systems are used, then the system can be simplified, but real-time force or pressure data providing indication of knee joint balance is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing component includes a sensor that provides real-time feedback on force or pressure data during the surgical procedure. This feedback mechanism enables the surgeon to assess knee joint balance dynamically and make adjustments as needed, eliminating the information loss present in traditional provisional systems.
3Device complexity
If existing provisional systems are used, then the system can be simpler, but insight into knee joint kinematics for angled bone cuts is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor integrated with the bearing component provides real-time data on force distribution and joint mechanics, giving the surgeon insight into knee joint kinematics. This information is particularly valuable when planning angled bone cuts, as the sensor data reflects the actual mechanical behavior of the joint during the procedure.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems for determining force balance on a knee joint during a surgical procedure are disclosed. A system can include a tibial prosthesis (340). The tibial prosthesis can include a bearing component (342), a base component (344), and a shim component (346). The bearing component can have a superior articulating surface (460) and an inferior surface (348). The bearing component can include a top portion (816), a bottom portion (823), a frame (818) disposed between the top portion and the bottom portion, and a plurality of sensors (822) disposed between the frame and the bottom portion. The frame can have a plurality of apertures (828) corresponding in size or shape to the plurality of sensors. The base component can have a superior surface (352) and an inferior surface (476). The shim component can be configured to be slidable between the inferior surface of the bearing component and the superior surface of the base component in an anterior to posterior direction.