Tibial Trial Implant Wedge Mechanism for Height Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tibial trial implants for knee joint replacement surgeries have complex height adjustment mechanisms and require multiple test components with different heights, making them difficult to use and position accurately.
Innovation Solution
A simplified tibial trial implant design featuring an articulation component with a proximal articulation surface and a support component with a distal bearing surface, where the support component can be wedged between the articulation component and the tibial plateau, allowing for linear movement along a guide track to adjust the proximodistal distance, eliminating the need for complex height adjustment mechanisms and multiple test components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If complex height adjustment mechanisms are used, then the proximodistal distance can be adjusted, but the device complexity increases and ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The support component is divided into a first support component and a second support component that can be selectively positioned. Each support component has its own ramp structure, allowing independent adjustment of proximodistal distance in discrete steps, simplifying the overall adjustment mechanism while maintaining precision
Solution Approach 2:
The support components are designed to be movable relative to each other along the guide track, with the articulation component able to slide along the ramps. This dynamic configuration allows continuous adjustment of height without complex mechanical mechanisms, improving ease of operation
2Measurement precision
If multiple test components with different heights are used, then the optimal meniscus component height can be determined, but the quantity of components increases and ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The trial implant is designed as a universal device that can determine multiple height settings through the selective positioning of first and second support components. The guide track and ramp structure allow a single device to provide various proximodistal distances, eliminating the need for multiple separate test components
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second support components can be nested or selectively positioned within the same trial implant structure. The ramps are arranged such that different combinations of support components create different height settings, allowing multiple measurement options in a single device
3Device complexity
If the support component is wedged between the articulation component and tibial plateau, then the adjustment mechanism is simplified, but the stability of the composition may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The guide track is pre-configured with specific geometric constraints that guide the articulation component's movement along the ramp. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that as the support component is wedged in, the articulation component follows a predetermined path, maintaining stability while enabling adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The ramp structure acts as an intermediary element between the wedged support component and the articulation component. It translates the wedging action into controlled linear movement along the guide track, maintaining compositional stability while enabling the adjustment function
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 design enables a straightforward, precise adjustment of the proximodistal distance with a simple wedge-like mechanism, facilitating easier intraoperative determination of the optimal meniscus component height and reducing the complexity of the surgical process.
Implementation Method 1
The ramp and/or the support surface has a surface profiling configured to counteract slipping of the articulation component from the ramp
Data Source
AI summary
A tibial trial implant for use in a knee joint replacement operation includes an articulation component with an articulation surface for articulation with a femoral component, at least one support component having a bearing surface configured for bearing on a tibial plateau, a top side forming a ramp inclined relative to the bearing surface, and a guide device having a guide track parallel to the ramp. A bottom side of the articulation component has a support surface inclined parallel to the ramp. The articulation component is held on the guide device and supported with its support surface on the ramp in a manner linearly movable along the guide track relative to the support component. Relative movement between the articulation component and support component changes a proximodistal distance between the articulation surface of the articulation component and bearing surface of the support component.