Knee Prosthesis Positioning Through Navigation and Robotic Resection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current orthopaedic surgical procedures for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty lack precise planning and execution methods, particularly in determining the positioning and sizing of prosthetic implants relative to the patient's femur and tibia, leading to suboptimal alignment and potential complications.
Innovation Solution
A surgical navigation system captures multiple measurements of the knee joint to develop a surgical plan, including the positioning and rotation of tibial and femoral prostheses, using spatial relationships and projected vectors to align prosthetic implants accurately, and employs a robotic-assisted surgery device to constrain resections according to the plan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual instruments or basic computer-assisted navigation is used for knee arthroplasty, then the surgical procedure can be performed with simpler equipment, but the precision of prosthesis positioning and alignment is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement and positioning methods with an automated optical navigation system that uses cameras, markers, and computer processing to detect and calculate prosthesis positioning, thereby improving precision while managing complexity through automation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual 3D model (digital copy) of the patient's knee joint anatomy and prosthesis positioning, allowing precise measurement and adjustment of alignment parameters without physical trial-and-error during surgery
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional surgical navigation without robotic assistance is used, then the system is easier to operate, but the consistency and accuracy of resection execution are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system autonomously executes resections by automatically positioning and controlling surgical tools based on pre-planned parameters, reducing reliance on manual operator skill while maintaining high precision through programmed consistency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual control of surgical resection tools with robotic automation that precisely follows computer-generated cutting paths, ensuring consistent execution of alignment plans
3Reliability
If simple prosthesis positioning methods are used, then the surgical procedure is faster and simpler, but edge loading and overhang problems occur leading to complications
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system continuously monitors prosthesis positioning during surgery, providing real-time feedback on alignment parameters such as edge loading and overhang, allowing the surgeon to adjust positioning to prevent complications
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs virtual surgical planning and positioning optimization before the actual surgery, calculating optimal prosthesis placement to avoid edge loading and overhang issues before they occur
Data Source
AI summary
A method for an orthopaedic surgical procedure includes capturing, using a surgical navigation system, a plurality of measurements of a knee joint of a patient including measurements on an operative side of a femur of the patient relative to a femur coordinate space, measurements on an operative side of a tibia of the patient relative to a tibia coordinate space, and a spatial relationship between the femur coordinate space and the tibia coordinate space at each of a plurality of different poses of the knee joint. The method also includes developing, using the surgical navigation system, a surgical plan for the orthopaedic surgical procedure based on the plurality of measurements. The surgical plan includes a position of a tibial prosthesis in the tibia coordinate space, and a position of a femoral prosthesis in the femur coordinate space. A surgical navigation system is also disclosed.