Arthroplasty Jig Design Using Automated Image Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for manufacturing customized arthroplasty jigs are labor-intensive and prone to operator error, leading to increased time, manpower, and costs, while also compromising accuracy in implant alignment during arthroplasty procedures.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the generation of two-dimensional image data from patient joints, identification of key points for implant alignment, and creation of customized arthroplasty jigs with resection guides based on correlated imaging data to ensure precise alignment and orientation of implants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual methods are used to determine implant location and orientation, then operator flexibility is maintained, but manufacturing precision and reliability deteriorate due to operator error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement and marking methods with an automated image processing system. The system automatically processes MRI or CT images to identify anatomical landmarks, calculate implant locations, and determine orientation angles, eliminating operator-dependent manual measurement errors and improving both precision and reliability of implant placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of the patient's bone structure from imaging data. This virtual 3D model serves as a precise template for determining implant locations and orientations, allowing repeated accurate measurements without physical markups or manual interventions that introduce variability.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple imaging scans and manual processing are used to create customized jigs, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time and productivity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs all necessary measurements, calculations, and jig design decisions during the preoperative planning phase using automated image processing. By completing the complex analysis before the surgical procedure, the system eliminates time-consuming manual measurements during the operating room and accelerates the overall production timeline while maintaining high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces time-consuming manual image analysis with automated computer processing. The system automatically extracts anatomical landmarks, calculates implant positions, and generates customized jig designs from imaging data, significantly reducing the time required compared to manual methods while maintaining or improving precision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual image processing is used, then operator adaptability is maintained, but device complexity and cost increase due to need for multiple scans and processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal automated image processing system that can handle multiple imaging modalities (MRI, CT) and perform various functions including anatomical landmark identification, implant location calculation, and orientation determination. This multi-functional automated system replaces multiple separate manual processes and reduces overall system complexity despite accepting various input formats.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of manufacturing an arthroplasty jig is disclosed herein. The method may include the following: generate two dimensional image data of a patient joint to undergo arthroplasty, identify in the two dimensional image data a first point corresponding to an articular surface of a bone forming the joint, identify a second point corresponding to an articular surface of an implant, identify a location of a resection plane when the first point is correlated with the second point, and create the arthroplasty jig with a resection guide located according to the identified location of the resection plane.