Navigation-Guided Bone Cut Guide Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current orthopedic surgical devices face challenges in accurately and efficiently positioning cut guides on target bones during surgeries like joint replacements, leading to potential complications such as impingement, implant dislocation, and increased procedure time.

Innovation Solution

An orthopedic surgical device featuring a cut guide with adjustable positioning and landing members, which includes guide members to constrain cutting tools and landing members with coupling features to securely attach to the target bone, facilitating precise bone resection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional mechanical jigs are used for cut guide positioning, then the device structure is simple, but the positioning accuracy and reliability are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecut guide positioning accuracyVSAvoidpositioning system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical positioning jigs with a computer-aided navigation system that uses imaging data (CT or MRI) to digitally plan and guide cut guide positioning. The navigation system provides real-time feedback on the position and orientation of the cut guide relative to the target bone, achieving high positioning accuracy without relying on complex mechanical alignment structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If computer-aided navigation is used to assist positioning, then the positioning accuracy is improved, but the procedure time and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecut guide positioning accuracyVSAvoidprocedure time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs all positioning planning and trajectory calculation operations before the surgery using pre-operative imaging data. The computer-aided navigation system pre-determines the optimal cut guide position and orientation, allowing the surgeon to simply follow the pre-planned guidance during surgery, thereby reducing intraoperative decision-making time and procedure duration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If traditional cutting guides are used, then the device design is simple, but the cutting precision and reliability are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebone resection precisionVSAvoidcut guide design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical alignment features and physical reference structures with a computer-aided navigation system that uses digital imaging and software algorithms to determine precise cutting trajectories. The cut guide itself can be simpler in design, relying on the navigation system to provide real-time positional feedback and guidance for achieving high bone resection precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If manual positioning methods are used, then the operation process is simple, but the positioning reliability and consistency are poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning reliabilityVSAvoidpositioning operation difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the computer-aided navigation system continuously monitors the position and orientation of the cut guide relative to the target bone and provides real-time visual feedback to the surgeon. This feedback loop allows the surgeon to make small adjustments to achieve the pre-planned positioning, significantly improving positioning reliability and consistency while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3733096B1System for positioning bone cut guide
Publication Date: 2025.04.09 BLUE BELT TECH INC
  • EP3733096B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3733096B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~1D
  • EP3733096B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B

AI summary

Systems and methods for positioning a cut guide using navigation-based techniques are discussed. A system for use in an orthopedic surgery on a target bone can comprise a cut guide adjustably positionable onto the target bone via two or more coupling receptacles created on the target bone. The coupling receptacles can include one or more guide members and a plurality of landing members. The system can include an input interface that can receive a target bone representation, and a model receiver module that can receive a generic post-coupling bone model. The target bone representation can include a data set representing two or more landing sites of the target bone, and the generic post-coupling bone model can include a data set representing a bone having two or more coupling receptacles each sized, shaped or otherwise configured to receive and secure the respective coupling feature of the landing members.