Navigated TKA Kinematic Alignment Using Native Tibial Slope
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional total knee arthroplasty (TKA) techniques often result in residual complications due to systematic alignment methods, lacking personalized and reproducible implantation, which affects prosthetic knee function and patient satisfaction.
Innovation Solution
A method for planning TKA procedures involving the use of pre-operative imaging to identify a patient's native posterior tibial slope, utilizing a camera tracking system and navigated instruments to confirm and plan a tibial cut plane that replicates the native slope, ensuring accurate placement of tibial and femoral implants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If systematic alignment techniques (MA or AA) are used for TKA, then the surgical procedure is standardized and reproducible, but residual complications occur due to lack of patient-specific physiological alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by transitioning from uniform systematic alignment to patient-specific kinematic alignment. Each patient's unique native alignment parameters (mechanical axis, joint line, tibial slope) are measured and replicated individually, allowing the implant placement to be customized to each patient's physiological anatomy rather than applying a standardized alignment protocol to all patients.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by measuring and replicating specific anatomical parameters that define each patient's native knee alignment. Key parameters including mechanical axis, joint line orientation, and tibial slope are quantified preoperatively and used to guide implant positioning, thereby changing from fixed systematic alignment parameters to variable patient-specific parameters.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional systematic alignment is used, then implant placement is simplified, but patient satisfaction and component lifespan are reduced due to residual complications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing preoperative measurement and planning of patient-specific alignment parameters before the actual implantation surgery. The native mechanical axis, joint line, and tibial slope are measured and documented in advance, allowing the surgical team to prepare a customized implant placement plan that guides the intraoperative procedure, thereby simplifying the actual implant placement while ensuring optimal alignment.
3Reliability
If patient-specific kinematic alignment is implemented, then prosthetic knee function and patient satisfaction are improved, but the surgical procedure becomes more complex requiring advanced measurement and navigation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the alignment measurement process into distinct anatomical components: mechanical axis determination, joint line orientation measurement, and tibial slope assessment. Each parameter is measured and planned separately using specific surgical instruments and navigation techniques, allowing complex patient-specific alignment to be achieved through systematic breakdown of measurement tasks rather than attempting to measure all parameters simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices are provided for performing a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedure to provide a patient with kinematic alignment of the knee. Such methods, systems, and devices include image-based and imageless workflows for pre-operatively or intra-operatively identifying the patient's native posterior tibial slope, and planning the TKA procedure based on the identified slope, including planning of the tibial cut plane.