Universal Knee Arthroplasty Cutting Block with Adjustable Wings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current knee arthroplasty systems require multiple cutting blocks for guiding and directing cuts on the femur and tibia, leading to increased costs, complexity, and inefficiency due to the large number of instruments needed.
Innovation Solution
A single cutting block or a reduced set of cutting blocks with adaptable features, including wings and adjustable holes, that can be coupled with alignment instruments to position medially, laterally, or centrally relative to the tibia or femur, allowing for precise cutting guidance for both distal femoral and proximal tibial cuts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cutting blocks are used to guide cutting of femur and tibia, then cutting precision and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and number of instruments increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting block is designed with multiple openings that can accommodate different alignment instruments (femoral and tibial), allowing a single cutting block to perform multiple functions for both femoral and tibial cutting operations, eliminating the need for separate cutting blocks for each bone and orientation
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting block includes adjustable components such as wings with openings that can be repositioned or removed to change the block's configuration, enabling it to adapt to different cutting requirements dynamically during the surgical procedure rather than requiring multiple fixed-purpose blocks
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cutting blocks are included in the instrument set, then comprehensive cutting guidance is achieved, but manufacturing cost and handling cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting block incorporates a universal design with multiple openings that can interface with both femoral and tibial alignment instruments, allowing one cutting block to replace multiple specialized blocks, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and instrument set complexity while maintaining comprehensive cutting guidance capability
3Device complexity
If a single cutting block is used for both femur and tibia, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but adaptability to different orientations and sizes may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting block is divided into functional segments including a body portion and removable wings, each with specific openings that can be independently configured. This segmentation allows the block to be adapted to different cutting requirements by adjusting which wings and openings are used, while maintaining a single unified device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting block features adjustable wings with openings that can be repositioned, removed, or reconfigured during the procedure, enabling the single block to dynamically adapt to different bone sizes, orientations, and cutting requirements for both femur and tibia without compromising versatility
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention include a cutting block and methods for guiding the cutting of a tibia and a femur in preparation for one or more knee arthroplasty implants. Some embodiments include configurations and methods that enable a common cutting block positioned medially, laterally, or centrally relative to a tibia, and to be positioned relative to a femur on either of a patient's left leg or right leg.