Bone Graft Planning System Using 3D Modeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bone grafting procedures rely on intra-operative evaluation, which is suboptimal and often fails to adequately assess internal bone properties such as density and strength, leading to complications like fracture, bleeding, pain, inflammation, and increased surgical time and costs.
Innovation Solution
The development of systems and methods for surgical planning that allow pre-operative or intra-operative assessment of bone size, density, and strength at defect and harvest sites, using three-dimensional modeling, artificial intelligence, and robotic positioning to evaluate bone graft suitability and optimize surgical procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If intra-operative bone graft evaluation is performed relying on surgeon experience and judgment, then the procedure can be completed, but internal bone properties such as density, strength and stiffness are not adequately assessed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual evaluation method (surgeon's physical assessment and judgment) with a computational system that uses imaging data and algorithms to objectively measure bone properties. This substitution enables precise quantification of density, strength, and stiffness without requiring complex physical measurement devices during surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy or model of the bone structure using pre-operative imaging scans. This virtual representation allows for detailed analysis and simulation of bone properties without needing to physically measure the actual bone during surgery, thereby achieving high measurement precision while keeping the surgical system relatively simple.
2Reliability
If bone grafting is performed without preoperative assessment, then surgical time is reduced, but complications such as fracture, bleeding, pain, and inflammation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs bone assessment and graft planning actions before the actual surgical procedure. Pre-operative imaging and computational analysis are completed in advance to identify suitable graft sites and predict outcomes, allowing surgeons to proceed with confidence during the actual surgery without extensive intra-operative evaluation, thus improving reliability while minimizing time loss.
3Reliability
If multiple bone grafts are performed to ensure adequate healing, then healing quality improves, but surgical time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides quantitative feedback about bone properties and graft suitability based on pre-operative analysis. This feedback system allows surgeons to make informed decisions about whether a single graft is sufficient or if multiple grafts are needed, optimizing the number of grafts performed based on objective data rather than trial and error, thereby improving healing quality while maintaining surgical efficiency.
4Ease of operation
If donor site bone is harvested without evaluating internal properties, then the grafting procedure can proceed, but donor site complications such as fracture and bleeding occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent evaluates the internal properties of potential donor sites before harvesting bone. Pre-operative imaging and computational analysis identify sites with adequate density, strength, and volume to safely provide graft material. This preliminary assessment ensures that harvested bone is of sufficient quality while minimizing the risk of complications at the donor site, balancing ease of operation with patient safety.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method of pre-operatively evaluating bone structure for use of a bone graft in a surgical procedure can comprise generating a three-dimensional bone model of a bone of a patient for output in a video display unit, determining a volume of interest (VOI) on the three-dimensional bone model where a bone defect exists, adding an internal bone property for bone matter of the bone structure to the three-dimensional bone model at the volume of interest, analyzing the internal bone property in the volume of interest relative to a treatment for a bone defect, and outputting indicia on the video display unit that indicates utility of a bone graft for the treatment. A surgical planning system can comprise memory having instructions for implementing the computer-implemented method.