Published Technical Disclosure Archive

Hinged Articulating Spacer System for Specialized Environments

Publication ID: 24-11857424_0009_PTD
Published: October 28, 2025
Category:Specialized Variations & Niche Solutions

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Hinged Articulating Spacer System for Specialized Environments,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857424_0009_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857424_0009_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,424.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

A hinged articulating spacer system designed for revision knee arthroplasty in extreme weather conditions, high-security environments, and disaster relief applications, providing a reliable and adaptable solution for unique operational scenarios.

Background and Problem Solved

Revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) often requires specialized solutions for specific environments. The original patent's hinged articulating spacer system, while effective for general TKA, lacks features tailored to extreme weather conditions, high-security needs, or disaster relief scenarios. The present inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing novel adaptations for these niche applications.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The hinged articulating spacer system for specialized environments comprises a femur rod and a tibia rod, hingedly coupled to form a hinged rod assembly. The system is designed to operate effectively in extreme weather conditions, featuring a water-repellent coating on the femur rod and an optional heating element to maintain a minimum temperature of 37°C during cold weather. For high-security environments, the system incorporates tamper-evident fasteners and monitoring capabilities to detect unauthorized access. In disaster relief applications, the system includes a sterilization module with an ultraviolet light source and timer to ensure proper sterilization in the field.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims introduce novel features such as water-repellent coatings, heating elements, tamper-evident fasteners, and sterilization modules, which are not present in the original patent. These adaptations provide a non-obvious solution for specialized environments, demonstrating an inventive step beyond the original patent.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include variations in the materials used for the water-repellent coating, alternative heating sources, or different types of sterilization modules. Additionally, the system could be adapted for use in other specialized environments, such as space exploration or extreme sports.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The hinged articulating spacer system for specialized environments has significant commercial potential in the medical device industry, particularly in markets focused on disaster relief, high-security medical facilities, and extreme weather environments. The system's adaptability and reliability make it an attractive solution for these niche applications.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61F2/3845
A A61 A61F2/30724
A A61 A61F2/389
A A61 A61F2/3859
A A61 A61F2002/305
A A61 A61F2002/30677
A A61 A61F2310/00011

Field of Art

Orthopedic medical devices, specifically knee arthroplasty revision systems, involving biomechanical implant design, surgical techniques, and medical device engineering

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer or orthopedic surgical device designer with advanced degree, expertise in prosthetic design, knowledge of materials science, surgical constraints, and medical device adaptation techniques

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the specialized environmental adaptations represent predictable engineering modifications to an existing hinged articulating spacer system. The core mechanical structure remains fundamentally unchanged, with added functional enhancements that represent standard design optimization approaches in medical device engineering. The variations address known operational challenges in extreme or specialized medical environments through straightforward technical adaptations.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Hinged rod assembly with femur and tibia rods
PTD Variation
Adding water-repellent coating and heating element
Obviousness Reasoning
Material surface modification and thermal management are standard engineering techniques for improving device performance in challenging environments, representing a predictable design optimization
Source Patent Element
Hinge pin connection mechanism
PTD Variation
Incorporating tamper-evident fasteners and monitoring capabilities
Obviousness Reasoning
Security enhancement through fastener modification is a known technique in medical device design, representing a finite solution to access control that would be obvious to a skilled practitioner
Source Patent Element
Surgical implant system
PTD Variation
Integrated sterilization module with UV light source
Obviousness Reasoning
Field sterilization techniques are well-established in medical device engineering, representing a logical extension of existing sterilization protocols using known technological approaches
Source Patent Element
Articulating spacer for knee revision
PTD Variation
Adaptation for disaster relief and high-security environments
Obviousness Reasoning
Contextual device modification represents a standard design approach for expanding medical device utility across different operational scenarios, utilizing known engineering principles
Source Patent Element
Basic rod and hinge structure
PTD Variation
Alternative material and coating configurations
Obviousness Reasoning
Material selection and surface treatment are routine design choices in medical device engineering, representing predictable variations within a known technological framework
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11857424, a person having ordinary skill in the art would find the technical variations disclosed herein to be obvious extensions of the prior art, representing predictable engineering modifications that do not rise to the level of non-obvious invention. The proposed adaptations constitute routine design optimizations that would be apparent to a skilled practitioner without requiring inventive insight.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,424
TitleHinged articulating spacer system for revision knee arthroplasty