Provisional Tibial Prosthesis Shim Stacking for Surgical Configuration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing provisional knee prosthesis systems require a complex process with multiple components and often necessitate the use of tools for insertion and removal, complicating the determination of a proper configuration for a permanent tibial prosthesis system.
Innovation Solution
A provisional tibial prosthesis system utilizing a minimal number of components, including shims that can be stacked and form a bearing surface, allowing for easy insertion and removal by hand, with the option of using a tool for removal, to simplify the configuration process for a permanent tibial prosthesis system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple provisional components are stacked to achieve desired configuration, then the configuration accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The provisional tibial prosthesis is segmented into a base component and multiple removable shim components of different thicknesses. This segmentation allows the surgeon to stack specific shims to achieve precise height and spacing adjustments, improving configuration accuracy while keeping each individual component simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The shim components are designed with varying thickness parameters to provide different height adjustments. By changing the thickness parameter of the selected shims, the surgeon can precisely control the spacing and configuration of the permanent prosthesis, achieving accurate positioning without requiring complex components.
2Manufacturing precision
If provisional components are designed for precise stacking, then the configuration determination is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to tool requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The shim components are designed to be easily inserted and removed by hand without requiring specialized tools. The shims can be manually placed onto the base component and positioned as needed, allowing the surgeon to perform configuration adjustments independently and simplifying the overall surgical procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring tools to insert and secure complex provisional components, the design inverts the approach by making the simple shim components tool-free for insertion, with removal facilitated by a simple tool only when necessary. This reverses the conventional complexity model and prioritizes ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If a minimal number of components is used, then the ease of operation is improved, but the adaptability to achieve various configurations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The base component is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate multiple different shim components. This multi-functional design allows a single base component to work with various shim thicknesses and configurations, providing adaptability for different surgical scenarios while maintaining overall system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmentation of the prosthesis into a reusable base component and interchangeable shim components provides versatility. The shims can be selected and stacked in different combinations to achieve various height and spacing configurations, allowing the minimal component system to adapt to diverse surgical requirements.
4Reliability
If tools are required for insertion and removal, then the reliability of component placement is improved, but the productivity and surgical time deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The design extracts the tool requirement from the insertion process, allowing shims to be placed by hand without specialized instruments. This eliminates the time-consuming step of using tools for insertion while maintaining reliable placement through the simple, intuitive design of the shim components that can be easily positioned and secured.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
Systems including a provisional tibial prosthesis system (318) are disclosed. The provisional system can include a tibial component (320), a base component (322), and a shim component (324). The tibial component can have a proximal surface (317) and a distal surface, the distal surface can be configured to seat on a resected proximal surface of a tibia (316). The base component can have a proximal surface (328) and can be configured to couple with the tibial component when disposed on the proximal surface thereof. The shim component can have a proximal surface (326) and a distal surface. The proximal surface can be configured as an articulating surface sized and shaped to articulate with a femoral prosthesis (314) and the distal surface can be configured to couple with the base component at the proximal surface thereof.