Adjustable Orthopaedic Guide with Pre-calculated Screws
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for positioning cutting guides in orthopaedic surgery, such as patient-specific guides and navigation systems, face challenges including inflexibility, high costs, additional surgical steps, and increased bone fragility due to additional holes required for tracking, as well as inaccuracies from unseen anatomical elements like ligament behavior and debris.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable surgical device with multiple screws calculated for precise contact points based on preoperative CT or MR images, combined with a navigation system for real-time adjustment and verification, allowing for flexible intra-operative adjustments without additional bone fixation, using a dedicated screwdriver for precise positioning and a motorized option for automated adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If patient-specific guides are manufactured as solid blocks from preoperative images, then positioning precision is improved, but flexibility and adaptability during surgery deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The solid block guide is segmented into multiple adjustable components that can be independently positioned and fixed. The guide consists of a base element with multiple adjustable elements, each capable of independent adjustment to adapt to actual anatomical variations during surgery while maintaining precise positioning through calculated screw lengths.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide transitions from a static solid block to a dynamic adjustable structure. The adjustable elements can be modified during surgery to accommodate unexpected anatomical conditions, allowing the guide to adapt its configuration while maintaining manufacturing precision through pre-calculated screw lengths based on preoperative imaging.
2Manufacturing precision
If navigation systems are used to track instrument positions, then positioning accuracy is improved, but surgical workflow complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
All positioning calculations are performed preoperatively based on patient-specific imaging data. The optimal positions and orientations of the guide elements are determined in advance, and the corresponding screw lengths are calculated beforehand. This eliminates the need for complex real-time navigation adjustments during surgery, simplifying the surgical workflow while maintaining high positioning accuracy.
3Manufacturing precision
If additional trackers are attached to bone surfaces for navigation, then real-time positioning is improved, but bone integrity and surgical time deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Positioning is determined preoperatively through imaging and calculations rather than requiring real-time tracking during surgery. The guide's position is predetermined based on patient-specific anatomy, eliminating the need for additional bone fixation holes and trackers, thus preserving bone integrity and reducing surgical time.
4Manufacturing precision
If patient-specific guides are machined for each patient, then positioning precision is improved, but manufacturing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
All positioning calculations and screw length determinations are performed preoperatively based on patient imaging data. This allows for precise patient-specific guides to be manufactured in advance without adding time to the surgical procedure itself, as the guide is prepared before surgery and requires no intraoperative adjustment or navigation setup.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a surgical navigation device, for the purpose of adjusting cutting planes to a desired position with respect to a bone of a patient, the device comprising:an adjustable guide (15) that contains several adjustable screws (1) that create contact points with the surface of the bone or cartilage such that the guide fits to the bone in a unique position calculated such that the holes and cutting blocks of the adjustable guide fit with the position planned on preoperative CT or MR images of the patient,a dedicated screwdriver (7) to adjust automatically the screws (1) to their target length,a navigation system used to check the correct position of the adjustable guide with respect to essential anatomical points and if necessary means to correct the positions of the adjustable screws.