3D C-Arm Positioning for Fewer Spine Fluoro Shots

Solution Overview

Problem

The current use of C-arms for 2D x-ray imaging in spine surgery requires multiple fluoro shots to achieve optimal alignment, leading to increased radiation exposure, procedural delays, and higher costs due to the need for manual adjustment by radiological technicians.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for determining the optimal 3-dimensional position and orientation of an imaging device by taking test images, identifying vertebral bodies, segmenting them, and aligning a 3-dimensional model to automatically determine the imaging arm's position and orientation for optimal AP and lateral x-ray images.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple fluoro shots are taken manually to achieve optimal alignment, then imaging quality is improved, but radiation exposure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging qualityVSAvoidradiation exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary computation by aligning a 3D vertebral model with 2D test images before actual surgery. This pre-planning determines the optimal C-arm positions and angles in advance, eliminating the need for multiple trial fluoro shots during the procedure and thereby reducing radiation exposure while maintaining imaging quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a digital copy (3D model) of the vertebral body from preoperative CT or MRI data. This virtual model is then used to simulate and determine optimal imaging positions, replacing the need for repeated physical fluoro shots and reducing radiation exposure while achieving the same imaging precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If multiple fluoro shots are taken manually to achieve optimal alignment, then imaging quality is improved, but surgical time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging qualityVSAvoidsurgical time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary computation by aligning a 3D vertebral model with 2D test images before actual surgery. This pre-planning determines the optimal C-arm positions and angles in advance, eliminating the need for multiple trial fluoro shots during the procedure and thereby reducing radiation exposure while maintaining imaging quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical adjustment process (radiological technician physically positioning the C-arm) with an automated computational system that uses image processing and 3D modeling to determine optimal positions, significantly reducing the time required to achieve optimal imaging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If manual positioning by radiological technician is used, then flexibility is maintained, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidsurgical efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically determining optimal C-arm positions through computational alignment of 3D models with 2D images. The process requires minimal human intervention beyond providing initial test images, and the system autonomously calculates and displays the optimal positioning, significantly improving surgical efficiency while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical adjustment process (radiological technician physically positioning the C-arm) with an automated computational system that uses image processing and 3D modeling to determine optimal positions, significantly reducing the time required to achieve optimal imaging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20260013818A1System and method of determining optimal 3-dimensional position and orientation of imaging device for imaging patient bones

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 GLOBUS MEDICAL INC

AI summary

A method of determining the imaging arm's optimal 3-dimensional position and orientation for taking images of a body implant or body structure such as vertebral body is provided. Test images of vertebral body of interest are initially taken by the user and are received by the imaging device. The test images typically include AP and lateral x-ray images of the vertebral body. From the test images, the vertebral body is segmented. A 3-dimensional model of the vertebral body is then aligned against the corresponding vertebral body in the test images. Based on the alignment, a 3-dimensional position and orientation of the imaging arm for taking optimal A-P and lateral x-ray images are determined based on the aligned 3-dimensional model. The present method eliminates the need to repeatedly take fluoro shots manually to find the optimum images to thereby reduce procedural time, x-ray exposure and procedure costs.