Instrumented Hip Prosthesis for Soft Tissue Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hip arthroplasty techniques face challenges in balancing soft tissue tensions around the hip, leading to potential inelastic deformation and discomfort, as existing methods lack precise measurement and adjustment capabilities during the surgical process.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an instrumented femoral head with force and orientation sensors, a reference module, and a controller that captures and analyzes data to predict and adjust the geometry of artificial hip components to balance soft tissue tensions, avoiding inelastic deformation and ensuring proper tension distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional hip arthroplasty methods are used, then the surgical procedure can be completed, but soft tissue tensions cannot be precisely balanced, leading to inelastic deformation and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical assessment methods with sensor-based measurement systems. Force sensors and orientation sensors are integrated into the femoral head to directly measure soft tissue tensions and component orientations, substituting manual mechanical evaluation with precise electronic sensing and data processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary that processes sensor data and provides real-time feedback to the surgeon. The controller acts as a mediator between the physical surgical field and the decision-making process, translating complex sensor readings into actionable guidance for achieving balanced soft tissue tensions.
2Reliability
If soft tissue tensions are not precisely balanced, then the surgery is faster to perform, but inelastic deformation occurs causing post-operative discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time feedback through sensors that continuously monitor soft tissue tensions during surgery. The force sensors provide immediate data on tension levels, allowing the surgeon to adjust component positioning and geometry dynamically to achieve balanced tensions, ensuring reliability without significantly extending surgical time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assessment of soft tissue tensions and predicts the optimal femoral head geometry before final implantation. By pre-calculating the required adjustments based on initial measurements, the system prepares the surgical plan in advance, maintaining efficiency while ensuring accurate tension balance.
3Manufacturing precision
If traditional methods are used, then the procedure is simpler to perform, but the geometry of artificial components cannot be optimized to prevent inelastic deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces subjective visual and tactile assessment with objective sensor-based measurements. Force sensors quantitatively measure soft tissue tensions, and orientation sensors precisely track component positioning, enabling data-driven selection of optimal femoral head geometry to prevent inelastic deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital representation of the surgical scenario by collecting and processing sensor data. This virtual model allows the controller to simulate different femoral head geometries and predict their effects on soft tissue balance, enabling precise geometry selection without requiring multiple physical trial components.
Data Source
AI summary
Once variation of a system includes: a femoral head including a shank configured to seat on a neck of a femoral stem component installed on a femur, a spherical shell arranged over the shank, force sensors configured to output force data representing forces acting on the spherical shell, and inertial sensors configured to output orientation data representing orientations of the femoral head; a reference module configured to couple to a pelvis of a patient and output reference orientation data representing orientations of the pelvis; and a controller configured to access the force data, the orientation data, and the reference orientation data, calculate orientations of the femoral head relative the pelvis, and based on the orientations of the femoral head and the force data, calculate a force versus angular orientation curve representing forces exerted on the femoral head by the pelvis over a range of motion of the femur.