Total knee arthroplasty systems and processes

Abstract

Systems and processes for tracking anatomy, instrumentation, trial implants, implants, and references, and rendering images and data related to them in connection with surgical operations, for example total knee arthroplasties (“TKA”). These systems and processes are accomplished by using a computer to intraoperatively obtain images of body parts and to register, navigate, and track surgical instruments.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 084,012, filed Feb. 27, 2002 and entitled “Total Knee Arthroplasty Systems and Processes,” which claims the benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 60 / 271,818, filed Feb. 27, 2001 and entitled “Image Guided System for Arthroplasty” and U.S. Ser. No. 60 / 355,899, filed Feb. 11, 2002 and entitled “Surgical Navigation Systems and Processes,” all of which are incorporated herein by this reference.FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] Systems and processes for tracking anatomy, implements, instrumentation, trial implants, implant components and virtual constructs or references, and rendering images and data related to them in connection with orthopedic, surgical and other operations, for example Total Knee Arthroplasty (“TKA”). Anatomical structures and such items may be attached to or otherwise associated with fiducial functionality, and constructs may be registered in position using fiducial functionality whose position and ori...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] As one example, images such as fluoroscopy images showing internal aspects of the femur and tibia can be displayed on the monitor in combination with actual or predicted shape, position and orientation of surgical implements, instrumentation components, trial implants, actual prosthetic components, and rotational axes in order to allow the surgeon to properly position and assess performance of various aspects of the joint being repaired, reconstructed or replaced. The surgeon may navigate tools, instrumentation, trial prostheses, actual prostheses and other items relative to bones and other body parts in order to perform TKA's more accurately, efficiently, and with better alignment and stability. Systems and processes according to the present invention can also use the position tracking information and, if desired, data relating to shape and configuration of surgical related items and virtual constructs or references in order to produce numerical data which may be used with or without graphic imaging to perform tasks such as assessing performance of trial prosthetics statically and throughout a range of motion, appropriately modifying tissue such as ligaments to improve such performance and similarly assessing performance of actual prosthetic components which have been placed in the patient for alignment and stability. Systems and processes according to the present invention can also generate data based on position tracking and, if desired, other information to provide cues on screen, aurally or as otherwise desired to assist in the surgery such as suggesting certain bone modification steps or measures which may be taken to release certain ligaments or portions of them based on performance of components as sensed by systems and processes according to the present invention.

[0023] Another object of certain aspects of the present invention is to use computer processing functionality in combination with imaging and position and / or orientation tracking sensors to present to the surgeon during surgical operations visual and data information useful to show predicted position and movement of implements, instrumentation, trial components, prosthetic components and other items and virtual constructs relative to the human body in order to select appropriate components, resect bone accurately, effectively and efficiently, and thereby improve performance of a repaired, replaced or reconstructed knee joint.

Problems solved by technology

A leading cause of wear and revision in prosthetics such as knee implants, hip implants and shoulder implants is less than optimum implant alignment.

Additionally, surgeons often use visual landmarks or “rules of thumb” for alignment which can be misleading due to anatomical variability.

This intrusion increases the risk of fat embolism and unnecessary blood loss in the patient.

Another challenge for surgeons is soft tissue or ligament balancing after the bone resections have been made.

Releasing some of the soft tissue points can change the balance of the knee; however, the multiple options can be confusing for many surgeons.

In revision TKA, for example, many of the visual landmarks are no longer present, making alignment and restoration of the joint line difficult.

For instance, systems which use CT and MRI data generally require the placement of reference frames pre-operatively which can lead to infection at the pin site.

Current registration methods are less accurate than the fluoroscopic system.

These imaging modalities are also more expensive.

This can be very time intensive resulting in longer operating room time.

This calculation is also time consuming as the system must find multiple points in different planes in order to find the center of rotation.

This is also problematic in patients with a pathologic condition.

Ligaments and soft tissues in the arthritic patient are not normal and thus will give a center of rotation that is not desirable for normal knees.

Robotic systems require expensive CT or MRI scans and also require pre-operative placement of reference frames, usually the day before surgery.

These systems are also much slower, almost doubling operating room time and expense.

None of these systems can effectively track femoral and / or tibial trials during a range of motion and calculate the relative positions of the articular surfaces, among other things.

Also, none of them currently make suggestions on ligament balancing, display ligament balancing techniques, or surgical techniques.

Additionally, none of these systems currently track the patella.

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