Robotic Bone Preparation Contingency Holes for Manual Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic surgical systems in joint arthroplasty procedures may fail mid-surgery, leaving surgeons without a clear contingency plan to complete the procedure using conventional instruments, especially when non-planar cuts have already been made, making it difficult to transition to manual instrumentation.
Innovation Solution
A method is developed to create contingency holes or plan points during robotic bone preparation that align with guide holes for manual cutting tools, allowing surgeons to seamlessly transition from robotic to manual surgery, ensuring completion of the procedure according to the original plan even if the robot fails, by using alignment rods and surgical navigation systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If robotic bone preparation is used to achieve increased accuracy and repeatability, then manufacturing precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential mid-surgery failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by creating contingency holes and plan points during the robotic bone preparation process before actual failure occurs. These pre-prepared reference features enable seamless transition to manual instruments if robotic system failure happens, thus maintaining surgical continuity while preserving the accuracy benefits of robotic preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the state of the bone preparation by creating specific reference features (contingency holes and plan points) that serve dual purposes: they are part of the normal robotic surgical plan and simultaneously serve as backup reference points for manual instruments. This parameter change enables adaptability between robotic and manual modes.
2Ease of manufacture
If robotic systems perform non-planar cuts, then ease of manufacture is improved for complex bone geometries, but ease of operation deteriorates when transitioning to manual instruments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing contingency holes and plan points that serve multiple functions: they are integral to the robotic surgical plan for achieving complex non-planar cuts, and simultaneously serve as reference features for manual cutting guides. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate contingency planning and simplifies transition to manual instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses alignment rods as intermediary elements that connect manual cutting guides to the pre-existing contingency holes and plan points in the bone. These alignment rods facilitate the transition by providing a mechanical bridge between the robotic-prepared bone features and manual instruments, making the transition process straightforward despite complex prior resections.
3Strength
If robotic preparation is used to optimize implant-bone interface, then strength is improved, but device complexity increases requiring contingency planning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating contingency holes and plan points into the preoperative surgical plan and creating them during robotic bone preparation. This advance preparation ensures that if robotic system failure occurs, the surgeon can immediately transition to manual instruments without needing to create new reference features, thus managing complexity proactively rather than reactively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surgical workflow parameters by integrating contingency feature creation into the normal robotic preparation sequence. Instead of treating contingency planning as a separate complex add-on, the methodology embeds it within the existing robotic operations, thereby managing system complexity through parameter integration rather than addition.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of performing surgery on a bone includes providing a robotically controlled bone preparation system and creating at least one hole in the bone with the robotically controlled bone preparation system prior to machining the bone. The bone hole aligns with a hole or a post in a guide for a manual cutting tool. If the robot fails during surgery, or if the surgeon does not wish to complete the procedure with the robot, the guide is attached to the bone after aligning the guide hole with the bone hole. The surgery is completed manually after the guide is attached to the bone, and the robot is not used after the guide is attached to the bone.