Fractured Bone Length Measurement Using Reference Bodies
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Solution Overview
Problem
In computer-assisted surgery, determining the actual length of a fractured bone is challenging due to the difficulty in positioning fractured bone parts anatomically correctly, especially when only one bone section is visible in fluoroscopic images, as the healthy counterpart bone is usually not visible to provide necessary alignment information.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize reference bodies and bone models to determine the spatial relations between visible and non-visible bone features in fluoroscopic images, allowing for the calculation of the actual bone length by combining data from multiple images and a 3D bone model, even when one end of the bone is not visible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fluoroscopic images are used to guide bone alignment, then real-time imaging is available, but the healthy counterpart bone is not visible to provide alignment information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual 3D model that copies the geometric characteristics of the healthy counterpart bone based on the visible fractured bone section. This virtual model serves as a reference to determine the correct anatomical alignment, effectively copying the missing healthy bone information without requiring the actual healthy bone to be visible in fluoroscopic images.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual 3D bone model as an intermediary between the visible fluoroscopic images and the hidden alignment information. This intermediary contains the geometric relationships and anatomical features of the healthy bone, allowing physicians to determine correct alignment indirectly through the virtual model rather than directly observing the healthy counterpart.
2Device complexity
If only one bone section is visible in fluoroscopic images, then imaging complexity is reduced, but determining actual bone length becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2D fluoroscopic images to a 3D virtual bone model to solve the measurement problem. By reconstructing the bone geometry in three dimensions, the system can calculate the actual bone length and spatial relationships even when only one bone section is visible in the 2D fluoroscopic images, effectively adding a dimensional perspective to overcome the limitation.
3Productivity
If bone parts are positioned without reference to healthy counterpart, then surgery can proceed quickly, but anatomically correct positioning cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary reconstruction of the virtual 3D bone model before the actual bone positioning surgery. This pre-operative or intra-operative modeling provides the anatomical reference information in advance, allowing physicians to plan and execute the positioning with higher precision without significantly extending the surgical time, as the reference framework is already prepared.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate determination of the actual length of a fractured bone by using reference bodies and bone models to establish spatial relations, ensuring anatomically correct positioning and alignment during surgery, even when only one bone section is visible in the images.
Implementation Method 1
a first 2D fluoroscopic image is received, the first image including the first reference body and a first bone feature
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a device are provided, for measuring an actual length of a fractured bone based on 2D fluoroscopic images of proximal and distal sections of the bone, each of the images including a reference body. Based on the images, a spatial position of a first end point and a spatial position of a second end point are determined, taking into account dimensions taken from a bone model of a bone corresponding to the imaged bone and the spatial positions of the reference bodies. The actual length of the fractured bone is defined as the distance between the two end points.