Hip Prosthesis Positioning via Electronic Sensor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical methods for hip arthroplasty face challenges in accurately measuring and maintaining precise angular placement of prosthetic implants, particularly due to limitations in monitoring pelvic tilt and leg length changes during surgery, leading to potential malpositioning and post-operative complications.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing electronic position, angle, and distance sensors, along with specialized software, to accurately measure and display pelvic tilt, acetabular and femoral component angles, and leg length in real-time, ensuring precise intra-operative positioning of prosthetic components relative to the patient's true anatomical axes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional surgical methods are used for hip arthroplasty, then the surgical procedure can be performed, but accurate measurement and precise angular placement of prosthetic implants cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical alignment tools and visual estimation methods with electronic sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers) and computer processing. The system uses electronic measurement devices attached to surgical instruments and the patient's body to automatically calculate and display angular placement data, eliminating the need for complex mechanical alignment devices and manual measurement techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a computer as an intermediary between the physical surgical field and the surgeon's decision-making process. The computer receives raw sensor data from multiple electronic sensors, processes this information through specialized software, and presents processed angular placement measurements to the surgeon, serving as a mediator that transforms complex sensor data into actionable surgical guidance.
2Reliability
If pelvic tilt and leg length changes are not monitored during surgery, then the surgical procedure is simpler, but malpositioning and post-operative complications occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time feedback by continuously monitoring pelvic tilt and leg length changes during surgery using electronic sensors attached to the patient's body and surgical instruments. The system provides immediate visual feedback through a display device showing current angular placement measurements compared to target values, allowing the surgeon to adjust positioning in real-time and achieve accurate prosthesis placement without increasing operational complexity.
3Measurement precision
If visual alignment guide devices are used, then implant alignment can be assessed, but the devices are cumbersome and do not provide real-time monitoring of pelvic position changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces cumbersome visual alignment guide devices with compact electronic sensors that can be attached directly to the patient's body and surgical instruments. The measurement function is transferred from large mechanical alignment devices to small electronic sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers) that provide digital readings processed by a computer, eliminating the need for bulky visual guides while improving measurement precision and enabling real-time monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are systems and methods for precise intra-operative placement and positioning of components of hip prostheses, particularly with respect to avoiding acetabular prosthetic implant malpositioning in the human hip. In one embodiment the system includes at least a pair of electronic sensors as tilt and direction sensors, which are positioned on the patient's native bone structure and the prosthesis, plus at least one of an electronic angle sensor and an electronic leg length measurement unit, plus a computer processor running application software that is capable of receiving and using information from the various electronic sensors to calculate relevant angular relationships and, optionally, distance relationships. The system electronically measures a living subject's pelvic tilt and position while lying in the lateral decubitus position during the surgery. The systems and methods provide accurate and precise measurements of the subject's pelvic tilt, angle of inclination, and angle of forward flexion to the surgeon during the procedure by which the hip prosthesis is surgically implanted into the subject.