Augmented Reality Surgical Guidance for Knee Arthroplasty
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical technologies for total knee arthroplasty rely on physical objects that are costly, time-consuming to configure, and can obstruct the surgical field, increasing procedural time and cost while reducing the surgeon's ability to make critical decisions based on experience.
Innovation Solution
The use of an augmented reality (AR) device during surgical procedures to display virtual components and representations of real objects overlaid on the real environment, allowing for improved visualization of soft tissues, virtual guides for pin placement, and real-time modification of surgical plans without the need for physical objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical objects and devices are used for surgical guidance, then surgical precision can be improved, but the surgical field becomes obstructed and procedural time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses virtual copies of surgical guides, anatomical structures, and implant positions displayed through augmented reality head-mounted display. Instead of physical guides that obstruct the field, virtual representations are projected onto the surgical site, providing the same guidance information without physical interference. The system creates digital twins of the patient's anatomy preoperatively and overlays them during surgery to guide precise cutting and implant placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical physical guides and positioning devices with optical and computational systems. The augmented reality head-mounted display uses cameras, processors, and display optics to provide surgical guidance information visually without requiring physical contact with the surgical field. This substitution eliminates the need for physical guide fixtures while maintaining or improving surgical precision through real-time visual feedback.
2Measurement precision
If physical guides and devices are used for surgical guidance, then surgical precision can be improved, but manufacturing and configuration costs and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The augmented reality head-mounted display serves multiple functions: it displays virtual surgical guides, shows real-time camera feeds of the surgical field, provides anatomical landmark overlays, displays implant positioning information, and offers measurement data. This single device replaces multiple specialized physical guides and display systems, reducing the overall complexity of equipment needed while maintaining surgical precision through integrated multi-functional capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs comprehensive preoperative planning and 3D modeling before surgery, creating detailed virtual representations of the patient's anatomy and surgical plan. All guides, measurements, and implant positions are calculated and prepared in advance as digital data. During surgery, this preprocessed information is simply overlaid visually, eliminating the need for complex last-minute configuration of physical guides and reducing setup time while maintaining precision.
3Productivity
If traditional surgical methods are used, then procedural time can be reduced, but surgical precision and customization capability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The augmented reality system provides continuous visual guidance throughout the entire surgical procedure. The head-mounted display maintains a constant overlay of virtual guides, anatomical landmarks, and measurement data, allowing the surgeon to work continuously without interruption to check physical guides or recalibrate equipment. This continuous feedback maintains high surgical precision while improving efficiency by eliminating breaks in the surgical workflow.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods may use an augmented reality device during a surgical procedure. The systems and methods may use an augmented reality display of an augmented reality device to present or project a virtual feature during a surgical procedure while permitting physical aspects of a surgical field to be viewed through the augmented reality display. The virtual feature may include aspects of a preoperative plan, a surgical device, an anatomical aspect of a patient, etc.