Bone Surface Registration Using Negative Joint Geometry Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthopaedic surgical procedures face challenges in accurately registering and generating bone surface geometry, particularly for inaccessible or non-exposed bone surfaces, often requiring lengthy physical registration and relying on medical imaging, which can be inaccurate.
Innovation Solution
A computing device projects and maps geometry data from a first bone-contacting surface to a coordinate space of a second bone, using sensors and registration tools to generate accurate geometry data for inaccessible bone surfaces without direct registration, employing techniques like laser scanning and ultrasound imaging to capture and filter data for precise bone surface reconstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical registration methods are used to capture bone surface geometry, then direct measurement of bone surfaces is possible, but registration time increases and inaccessible surfaces cannot be captured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy (point cloud) of the accessible bone surface using a registration tool, then uses computational projection to generate the geometry of inaccessible surfaces. Instead of physically measuring every surface, the system captures accessible areas and mathematically derives the rest based on anatomical relationships and joint kinematics.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary capture of accessible bone surfaces and pre-computes the geometry of inaccessible surfaces before surgery. The projection and mapping algorithms are executed in advance to generate accurate representations of surfaces that cannot be directly measured, reducing intraoperative registration time.
2Ease of operation
If medical imaging is used to obtain bone surface geometry, then inaccessible surfaces can be captured, but imaging accuracy is insufficient for surgical precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the accessible bone surface as an intermediary to derive the geometry of inaccessible surfaces. By capturing precise data from accessible areas and using computational projection through the coordinate space mapping, the system indirectly obtains accurate geometry of surfaces that cannot be directly measured, achieving both accessibility and precision.
3Reliability
If direct registration of inaccessible bone surfaces is attempted, then complete surface coverage is possible, but surgical time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical registration process with a computational system. Instead of using physical tools to directly measure inaccessible surfaces, the system uses software algorithms to project geometry from accessible surfaces through coordinate space transformations, significantly reducing procedural complexity while maintaining complete surface coverage.
4Measurement precision
If comprehensive bone surface data is captured through multiple scanning methods, then geometry accuracy improves, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bone surface into accessible and inaccessible regions, applying different capture and processing methods to each. The registration tool captures accessible surfaces with high precision, while inaccessible surfaces are computed through projection. This segmentation allows tailored processing strategies that maintain accuracy while managing complexity.
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
This method allows for improved accuracy and reduced reliance on medical imaging, enabling precise registration of bone surfaces, especially for complex joint structures like the femoral condyle, with enhanced coverage and reduced physical registration time.
Implementation Method 1
capturing coordinate data may comprise receiving surface scan data from a laser scanner
Implementation Method 2
capturing the coordinate data may comprise receiving volumetric scan data from an ultrasound scanner
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for bone surface geometry generation include a computing device. The computing device projects first geometry data indicative of a first bone-contacting surface of a first bone of a patient to a coordinate space of a second bone of the patient to generate projected geometry. The second bone includes a second bone-contacting surface that interfaces with the first bone-contacting surface. The computing device also maps the projected geometry to a plurality of poses in a range of motion of the first bone relative to the second bone using position data indicative of relative positions of the first bone and the second bone at the plurality of poses in the range of motion. The computing device further selects intersecting geometry from the mapped, projected geometry to generate second geometry data indicative of the second bone-contacting surface.