Transfer Guide Assemblies for Precise Orthopaedic Bone Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for repairing bone defects along bones and joints, such as those caused by erosion or fracture, often result in joint instability and pain due to inadequate positioning and alignment of surgical instruments.
Innovation Solution
The use of transfer guide assemblies with interchangeable alignment arms and contact legs, configured to fit specific anatomical landmarks, ensures precise positioning of guide elements for accurate surgical procedures, including total knee arthroplasty.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional guides are used for positioning guide pins, then the surgical procedure can be performed, but the positioning accuracy and alignment precision are insufficient leading to joint instability
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment guide is divided into multiple independent components including contact legs with pads, alignment arms with engagement surfaces, and a guide body with guide passages. Each component can be independently positioned and configured to contact specific anatomical landmarks, enabling precise multi-point positioning that ensures both measurement accuracy and joint stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different components of the alignment guide have specialized surfaces designed for specific functions: contact legs have pads for contacting distal condyles, alignment arms have engagement surfaces for contacting anterior aspects of condyles, and guide passages are positioned at specific locations. This local specialization of contact surfaces enables precise positioning at multiple anatomical locations simultaneously.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed guide design is used, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate individual patient anatomy variations
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment guide incorporates adjustable components where the position and orientation of contact legs and alignment arms can be modified to match individual patient anatomy. The guide allows dynamic configuration of contact points on the bone surface, enabling adaptation to varying anatomical landmarks while maintaining a relatively simple base structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide body serves multiple functions: it houses guide passages for guide pins, provides mounting structures for interchangeable contact legs and alignment arms, and maintains spatial relationships between multiple contact points. This multi-functionality allows a single device to accommodate various anatomical configurations without requiring entirely different guide designs.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple contact points are established on bone surfaces, then positioning precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple contact functions are merged into a single integrated alignment guide assembly. The guide body combines multiple guide passages, mounting structures for contact legs, and alignment arm attachments into one unified device that establishes multiple contact points simultaneously, reducing the need for multiple separate positioning devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment guide acts as an intermediary device that translates anatomical landmark positions into precise guide pin placement. The contact legs and alignment arms serve as mediators between the bone surface anatomy and the guide passages, establishing accurate positional relationships without requiring direct measurement or complex calculation during surgery.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to surgical planning systems, instrumentation and methods for modifying a patient anatomy. The planning systems and instrumentation disclosed herein may be utilized for placement of various surgical devices, including a guide member for establishing a position of another surgical device relative to the anatomy.