Inertial-Sensor Hip Navigation Jig for Component Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hip replacement surgeries often result in poor placement of prosthetic cup and ball components due to misalignment with the acetabulum plane, leading to complications like dislocation and increased surgical risks, and current navigation methods are inefficient and time-consuming, especially when transitioning the patient from a supine to lateral position.
Innovation Solution
A hip joint navigation system using inertial sensors and jigs to accurately align prosthetic components with anatomical landmarks, allowing for precise placement without requiring pre-operative imaging in some cases, and incorporating patient-specific data for enhanced accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the patient is moved from supine to lateral position for posterior approach hip replacement, then the surgical approach is enabled, but the surgical workflow becomes inefficient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system performs preliminary registration of anatomical landmarks and calculation of the anterior pelvic plane while the patient is in the supine position. This preliminary action allows the navigation system to be ready for use immediately when the patient is repositioned to lateral position, eliminating the need for re-registration and reducing workflow interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation system acts as an intermediary that bridges the supine and lateral positions by maintaining the registered anatomical data and calculated planes across position changes. The system uses inertial sensors and computational algorithms to continuously track and adjust the reference frame, enabling seamless navigation throughout the surgical workflow without requiring breaking sterility or re-draping.
2Ease of operation
If the patient is moved from supine to lateral position, then hip surgery can be performed, but sterility must be broken and re-draping is required
Solution Approach 1:
All navigation setup, registration, and calibration actions are performed preliminarily while the patient is in the supine position with the surgical site prepared and draped. The navigation system registers anatomical landmarks and calculates the anterior pelvic plane before the patient is repositioned, so that when the patient moves to lateral position, the navigation system is already configured and ready, eliminating the need to break sterility or re-drape.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional instrumentation is used for hip replacement, then the procedure can be performed, but precise measurements of leg length and joint offset are difficult to visualize
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical instrumentation with a computer-based navigation system that uses inertial sensors, optical tracking, and computational algorithms to measure and visualize leg length and joint offset. The system processes data from multiple sensors and displays precise measurements on a screen, providing real-time feedback to the surgeon during the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation system serves as an intermediary between the physical surgical instruments and the surgeon's visual perception. It captures data from sensors attached to bones and instruments, processes this information through computational algorithms, and presents enhanced visual representations of leg length and joint offset measurements, making precise measurements visible and measurable during the procedure.
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
Improves the alignment of hip joint components, reducing the risk of dislocation and surgical complications, and enhances surgical efficiency by minimizing patient movement and maintaining sterility during the procedure.
Implementation Method 1
At least one inertial sensor is coupled to the jig. The second portion of the jig is moved relative to the first portion to touch, e.g., sequentially, a plurality of anatomical landmarks.
Data Source
AI summary
In another embodiment, a hip joint navigation jig is provided that includes an anatomical interface comprising a bone engagement portion. A registration jig is also provided that is coupled, e.g., removeably, with the anatomical interface. A rotatable member is provided for rotation about an axis that is not vertical when the jig is mounted to the bone adjacent to a hip joint and the registration jig is coupled with the anatomical interface. An anatomy engaging probe is coupled with the rotatable member for rotation about the axis and is translatable to enable the probe to be brought into contact with a plurality of anatomical landmarks during a procedure. An inertial sensor is coupled with the probe to indicate orientation related to the landmarks, the sensor being disposed in a different orientation relative to horizontal when the probe is in contact with the landmarks.