Trackable Joint Marker Alerts for Native Deformity Mismatch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing robotically-assisted surgical systems lack effective mechanisms for intra-operative assessment and correction of native joint deformities, leading to potential discrepancies between planned and actual surgical modifications, which can affect implant alignment and surgical outcomes.

Innovation Solution

A surgical system equipped with trackable markers and a controller that compares user-input native deformities with detected deformities, generating alerts and facilitating corrections through haptic feedback or autonomous adjustments to ensure accurate surgical planning and execution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If robotically-assisted surgical systems are used to prepare a patient's anatomy to receive an implant, then surgical precision and control are improved, but the ability to perform real-time assessment and correction of native joint deformities is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical precisionVSAvoidassessment and correction capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs a feedback mechanism where the tracking system continuously monitors the position of trackable markers on the patient's anatomy, the robotic device, and the surgical tool. The computing system processes this feedback data to determine the native deformity of the joint in real-time and compares it against the surgical plan, enabling dynamic assessment and correction capabilities during the procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical assessment methods with an automated tracking system that uses optical or electromagnetic fields to detect marker positions. This substitution enables more precise and objective measurement of joint deformity compared to traditional manual goniometry or visual assessment techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If a surgical plan is established prior to performing a surgical procedure with a robotically-assisted surgical system, then planning and control are improved, but real-time adjustments based on actual patient biomechanics are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplanning and controlVSAvoidreal-time adjustment capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from a static pre-operative surgical plan to a dynamic, real-time adjustable plan. The computing system continuously compares the detected native deformity during the procedure against the planned deformity and can automatically adjust the surgical plan or alert the user to potential discrepancies, enabling adaptive response to actual patient conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary assessment of the native deformity using tracking markers and computing algorithms before executing the surgical plan. This preliminary detection allows the system to identify potential issues early and provide real-time alerts or adjustments, ensuring the surgical plan accounts for the patient's actual anatomical conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If tracking systems and computing systems are used to monitor and control the robotic device, then control precision is improved, but the complexity of the surgical system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical system is divided into distinct functional modules: tracking system components for monitoring positions, robotic device components for executing surgical tasks, and computing system components for processing data and generating control signals. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together to achieve precise control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The computing system serves as an intermediary between the tracking system and the robotic device. It receives position data from the tracking system, processes the information to determine native deformity, compares it against the surgical plan, and generates appropriate control signals or alerts for the robotic device, thereby coordinating the complex interactions between system components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12527632B2Systems and methods for initial assessment warnings

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 MAKO SURGICAL CORP

AI summary

A surgical system includes a first trackable marker configured to be coupled to a first bone of a joint, a second trackable marker configured to be coupled to a second bone of the joint, and a tracking system configured to track a position of the first trackable marker and a position of the second trackable marker. A controller is configured to receive an input from a user specifying a user-input native deformity of the joint and determine, based on the position of the first trackable marker and the position of the second trackable marker, a detected native deformity of the joint. The controller is further configured to compare the detected native deformity of the joint to the user-input native deformity of the joint and generate an alert in response to a disagreement between the detected native deformity of the joint and the user-input native deformity of the joint.