Patient-Specific Joint Implant Design via Anatomical Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in accurately determining and addressing abnormal anatomical features in patients undergoing joint replacement surgery, as existing implants designed for typical anatomy may be unsuitable for individuals with abnormal or deformed joints, leading to instability and suboptimal outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the derivation of anatomical features through indirect measurements and comparisons with patient-specific data, using anatomical relationship correlations and databases to design and select appropriate implant components and surgical procedures tailored to individual patient anatomy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If standard implants designed for typical anatomy are used, then the surgical procedure is simple and quick, but the implant may be unsuitable for patients with abnormal or deformed joints, leading to instability and suboptimal outcomes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of patient anatomy using imaging data and anatomical relationship correlations before implant selection. This advance analysis identifies abnormal anatomical features and allows for custom implant design or selection, ensuring implant stability is addressed before surgery begins, rather than discovering incompatibility during the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of implant selection by moving from fixed-size standard implants to variable parameters based on derived anatomical measurements. By using anatomical relationship correlations to derive multiple possible values for anatomical features, the system can select or design implants with parameters specifically matched to the patient's actual anatomy, improving reliability.
2Measurement precision
If direct measurement of all anatomical features is performed, then measurement accuracy is high, but the process is time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces anatomical relationship correlations as intermediary elements that connect easily measurable anatomical features to difficult-to-measure or abnormal features. By measuring straightforward dimensions and using established anatomical relationships to derive other measurements, the system achieves high measurement precision without the time and complexity of direct measurement of all features.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts only the essential anatomical measurements needed for implant selection rather than measuring all possible anatomical features. By identifying and measuring only the key dimensions that correlate with implant fit and function, the system maintains high accuracy while significantly reducing assessment time and complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple anatomical measurements are taken to account for abnormal features, then implant suitability improves, but the complexity of the design process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a virtual copy or model of the patient's anatomy using imaging data and anatomical relationship correlations. This digital anatomical model allows for virtual implant trial and evaluation, enabling assessment of implant suitability without complex physical prototyping or multiple design iterations, thereby reducing design process complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
Data Source
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AI summary
Improved systems and methods for deriving anatomical structures from indirect anatomical measurements as well as identifying abnormal, deformed, unusual and/or undesirable anatomical structures, and related improvements in designing and/or selecting patient-adapted (e.g., patient-specific and/or patient-engineered) orthopedic implants and guide tools, as well as related methods, designs, and models.