Unmet Need
Ankle arthroscopy is an exploratory orthopedic surgery performed to distinguish between stable and unstable grade 2 acute high ankle sprains (1). The procedure itself requires equipment to orient the leg State of the art techniques include non-standard & non-sterile leg positioners which hold the leg in the appropriate position. Orientation of the patient may vary depending on surgeon preference (2). Supine patient placement includes ankle positioning so that the hip is flexed 45 to 50 degrees on a non-sterile thigh holder (3). In this case, appropriate padding must be added to avoid injury to the sciatic nerve. Alternatively, appropriate ankle positioning can be achieved via knee flexion over the end of the operating table(3). The patient can also be positioned in the lateral decubitus position where the body is positioned posteriorly and supported by a beanbag and kidney rest. In this case, neither a thigh or ankle support is needed(3).
Current apparatuses are not ideal as they are difficult to set up and legs must be locked into place (4). This makes it difficult to customize the fit to each patient’s height and size. Surgical draping is also required to maintain a sterile field, which further hinders interoperative movement when needed. Finally, devices also take time to dismantle once surgery is complete. This increases the risk of contaminating the sterile field and reduces OR efficiency (4). It is difficult and time consuming for a surgeon to operate effectively using the current status quo. A suitable alternative would require minimal time to assemble, have a standardized shape that can accommodate a surgical sleeve, and be easy to adjust. Therefore, there is a strong unmet need for a uniformly shaped leg support device during ankle arthroscopy procedures.
Technology Overview
Inventors at Johns Hopkins developed a leg support device intended for use during ankle arthroscopy procedures. Specifications for the present device include a standardized shape with a centralized location to secure and raise the leg of a patient to an appropriate height during surgery. The height, size, and incline angle of the device can be modified to ensure accurate positioning regardless of a patient’s size or weight. The device can be formed from any material intended for use in an OR and can also include provisions for a sterile sleeve. The design can also be modified to include attachments that would secure the leg support itself to the operating table to further increase stabilization.
The present invention fulfills the unmet for a uniformly shaped leg support device that is easy to assemble and easy to adjust during ankle arthroscopy procedures. The device also shows potential to be used for leg positioning in other compatible procedures when used by a medical expert trained in the state of the art for related orthopedic procedures.
Stage of Development
Initial design phase and interested in finding a partner to develop a prototype
Publications
N/A
