Dynamic Ankle Kinematic Analysis for Precise Joint Replacement

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical joint replacement procedures, such as total ankle arthroplasty, lack a comprehensive understanding of the actual kinematic behavior of the ankle joint, leading to inadequate implant positioning and increased stress on the implant and bone-implant interface, which can result in wear, debris generation, and implant loosening.

Innovation Solution

A computing system performs dynamic ankle analysis using patient-specific data to determine the kinematic properties of the ankle, generating a surgical plan that adjusts tissue and selects an implant to achieve a desired kinematic axis, and provides intraoperative guidance through a mixed reality system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional surgical joint replacement procedures are used without dynamic kinematic analysis, then the surgical procedure can be performed with standard protocols, but the implant positioning is inadequate and stress on the implant-bone interface is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplant positioning precisionVSAvoidsurgical planning complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs dynamic kinematic analysis and generates a customized surgical plan before the actual surgery. Patient-specific 3D models are created from preoperative imaging, and virtual surgical simulations are conducted to determine optimal implant positioning and surgical steps in advance, allowing the surgeon to execute a pre-planned procedure with enhanced precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a virtual 3D copy of the patient's ankle joint from preoperative CT or MRI images. This digital replica allows for simulation and planning of the surgical procedure without manipulating the actual patient anatomy, enabling repeated virtual trials of different implant positions and orientations to achieve optimal positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If dynamic kinematic analysis and patient-specific surgical planning are implemented, then implant positioning precision is improved, but the surgical planning time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical outcome reliabilityVSAvoidsurgical planning time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The dynamic kinematic analysis and surgical planning are performed in advance before the surgery date. Patient-specific 3D models are generated from preoperative imaging data, and virtual surgical simulations are completed beforehand, allowing the actual surgical procedure to execute efficiently with pre-determined implant positioning and surgical steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces time-consuming manual measurement and trial-and-error surgical planning with automated computational algorithms. Machine learning models and optimization algorithms automatically analyze patient anatomy, determine kinematic properties, and generate surgical plans, significantly reducing planning time while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If standardized implant designs are used without patient-specific customization, then device availability and ease of surgery are improved, but the ability to address individual kinematic variations is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplant adaptability to patient anatomyVSAvoidimplant manufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system customizes specific aspects of the implant design to match the patient's unique anatomical features and kinematic properties. While the overall implant design may remain standardized, key parameters such as implant size, orientation, and positioning are individually optimized based on the patient's 3D model and kinematic analysis, achieving local customization without requiring complete redesign of the entire implant.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical planning system dynamically adjusts implant positioning and orientation based on the patient's specific kinematic properties determined from dynamic analysis. The system can adapt implant placement to account for individual variations in joint motion, ligament tension, and bone geometry, providing personalized surgical guidance that optimizes outcomes for each patient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4181813B1Dynamic joint analysis for joint replacement

Publication Date: 2025.12.31 HOWMEDICA OSTEONICS CORP

Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B~2C

AI summary

Devices, systems, and techniques are described for determining surgical guidance for a joint replacement implantation based on dynamic joint analysis. Techniques include receiving patient specific data indicative of pre-operative motion associated with an ankle (300) of a patient and determining, based on the patient specific data, a current kinematic axis (302) of the motion associated with the ankle. Techniques also include determining a target kinematic axis (304) of motion for the ankle, the target kinematic axis being different than the current kinematic axis, and generating a transform function between the current kinematic axis and the target kinematic axis. Additionally, techniques include generating, based on the transform function, a recommended surgical intervention that adjusts tissue associated with the ankle to achieve the target kinematic axis of motion.