Bone Marker 3D Reference System for Precise Implant Fitting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current bone grafting procedures face challenges in accurately fitting replacement bones due to reliance on visual adjustments, which are often unreliable and time-consuming, especially in complex fractures or those affected by conditions like osteoporosis.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing one or more bone markers to create a three-dimensional reference system for virtual resection, allowing for the selection and shaping of an optimal bone replacement that matches the resected portion precisely, using either the patient's contralateral bone or a suitable virtual bone from a database, and manufacturing an implant or graft portion with precise cutting edges and bore holes for accurate alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If visual adjustments are used to fit the replacement bone, then the surgeon can manually adjust the replacement bone, but the fitting accuracy is unreliable and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefitting accuracyVSAvoidsurgical time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs virtual resection and implant selection before the actual surgery. A three-dimensional representation of the bone is created, and the virtual resection is performed in advance to determine the optimal implant size and shape. This preliminary planning eliminates the need for time-consuming manual adjustments during surgery while ensuring high fitting accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a three-dimensional digital copy of the patient's bone using imaging data. This virtual model allows for precise measurement and planning of the resection and implant fitting without requiring physical manipulation of the actual bone during surgery, thereby improving accuracy and reducing surgical time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If visual adjustments are used to fit the replacement bone, then the surgeon can manually file the replacement bone, but the reliability of the procedure is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocedure reliabilityVSAvoidadjustment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of visual adjustment and filing with a computer-based virtual resection system. The three-dimensional representation allows for precise digital planning of the resection and implant fitting, eliminating the unreliable manual adjustments while reducing the time required for the procedure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If a three-dimensional reference system with markers is used, then the virtual resection precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevirtual resection precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces markers as intermediary reference points attached to the bone. These markers serve as mediators between the physical bone and the virtual three-dimensional model, enabling precise registration and alignment. The markers simplify the complex task of achieving accurate virtual resection by providing clear reference points for the computer system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2590588B1Advanced bone marker and custom implants
Publication Date: 2020.08.19 SYNTHES GMBH
  • EP2590588B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2590588B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2590588B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6

AI summary

A method for replacing a portion of a target bone in a living body includes the steps of attaching one or more first markers to a target bone, establishing a medical three-dimensional representation of the target bone, performing a virtual resection of a resection portion, the virtual resection constructing a three-dimensional representation of the resection portion and a three-dimensional representation of the remaining target bone including cutting edges, providing a virtual pattern of the resection portion, obtaining an implant or graft portion for replacing the resection portion of the target bone by using the virtual pattern of the resection portion, resecting the resection portion from the target bone according to the virtual resection using the first reference system of coordinates and coupling the implant or graft portion to the target bone in a position substantially matching a position of the resection portion before the actual resection.