Patient-Specific Knee Osteotomy Guides for Precise Tibial Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tools and procedures for high tibial osteotomies lack accuracy and precision in correcting the alignment of the knee joint, limiting the effectiveness of pressure distribution adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A preoperative planning method involving 3D modeling of patient bones, designing patient-specific guides, and using a surgical kit with patient-specific and generic tools to achieve precise surgical steps, along with customized fixation plates and guides for bone alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing generic tools and procedures are used for high tibial osteotomies, then the surgical procedure can be performed with standard equipment, but the accuracy and precision of knee alignment correction is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical system is segmented into multiple specialized components: patient-specific guides tailored to individual anatomy, generic surgical tools for standard operations, and a fixation plate system with adjustable elements. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
Patient-specific guides are designed and manufactured before surgery based on preoperative planning. These guides incorporate patient-specific anatomical data to predetermined the exact location, angle, and depth of osteotomy cuts, eliminating the need for complex intraoperative measurements and alignment procedures.
2Manufacturing precision
If patient-specific guides are designed and manufactured for each patient, then the precision of surgical steps is improved, but the complexity of the surgical system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates patient-specific elements (guides and fixation plates) from generic surgical tools. The patient-specific guides are designed to work with standard generic tools, reducing the need for custom tooling while maintaining high precision. This segmentation allows the complex customization to be confined to the guides rather than the entire surgical system.
Solution Approach 2:
Patient-specific guides act as intermediaries between the surgeon's intent and the actual bone cutting action. These guides translate preoperative planning data into precise physical guidance for generic surgical tools, bridging the gap between digital planning and physical execution without requiring custom tools for each patient.
3Reliability
If the tibia is realigned relative to the femur with high precision, then the pressure distribution in the knee is optimized, but the surgical procedure requires more complex preoperative planning and customization
Solution Approach 1:
Comprehensive preoperative planning is performed including 3D modeling of patient anatomy, determination of desired correction angles, and design of patient-specific guides and fixation plates. This preliminary action ensures that the complex customization work is completed before surgery, allowing the actual surgical procedure to focus on execution rather than decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback loops where preoperative imaging and 3D modeling provide data for guide design, and the guides themselves provide physical feedback during surgery to ensure precise alignment. The fixation plates are designed to maintain the corrected alignment, providing ongoing feedback on the success of the realignment procedure.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect, a preoperative planning method for a high-tibial knee osteotomy procedure is provided. The method includes: a) constructing a 3D model of a patient's bones; b) analyzing the 3D model to select a desired correction angle to apply to the patient's tibia bone to adjust a mechanical axis thereof; c) determining surgical steps required to apply the desired correction angle to the patient's tibia bone; d) designing a patient-specific guide to guide generic surgical tools in performing the surgical steps, the patient-specific guide being designed to conform to the anatomy of the patient's bones based on the 3D model; and e) manufacturing the patient-specific guide designed in step d). A corresponding kit, system and computer readable medium for performing the method are also provided.