Intra-operative Feedback for Orthopaedic Implant Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current orthopaedic surgical procedures face challenges in accurately positioning and orienting prosthetic components during joint arthroplasty, as existing methods lack precise intra-operative feedback to ensure correct alignment and placement without moving the patient or altering their position relative to a reference plane.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a hand-held device to perform intra-operative scans that transmit data to a computing device for comparison with a surgical plan, allowing for real-time adjustments of prosthetic component placement and orientation, including the use of optical detectors for precise surface mapping and wireless data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional orthopaedic surgical methods are used without intra-operative scanning, then the surgical procedure can be performed with simpler equipment and fewer steps, but the positioning and orientation accuracy of the prosthetic component deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where intra-operative scans of the bone are obtained and compared to the surgical plan to generate feedback information. This feedback is used to adjust the planned position and orientation of the prosthetic component, ensuring accurate placement while maintaining a relatively simple surgical system through iterative refinement.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical plan is prepared in advance with predetermined position and orientation parameters for the prosthetic component. The hand-held scanning device is positioned and configured before the actual implantation, allowing for pre-planned measurements that guide the surgical procedure without requiring complex real-time adjustments.
2Manufacturing precision
If the patient is repositioned to achieve correct alignment, then the positioning accuracy improves, but the surgical time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of repositioning the patient, the system uses feedback from intra-operative scans to adjust the planned component position and orientation. The feedback information allows the surgical team to modify the implantation parameters to match the actual bone position, achieving accurate placement without time-consuming patient repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical plan is made dynamic by allowing real-time adjustments to the planned position and orientation of the prosthetic component based on intra-operative scanning feedback. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to adapt to actual anatomical variations without requiring physical repositioning of the patient.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hand-held scanning devices are used for intra-operative scans, then the measurement precision and adaptability improve, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hand-held scanning device is designed to be versatile, serving multiple functions including obtaining intra-operative bone scans, comparing scans to surgical plans, and generating feedback information. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized equipment, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity despite adding scanning capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate and precise positioning and orientation of orthopaedic prosthetic components, minimizing the need for patient repositioning and improving the accuracy of prosthetic placement based on real-time feedback, thereby enhancing the success of orthopaedic surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
an optical detector positioned on the hand-held device, the optical detector being configured to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected from a surface of interest on the patient
Implementation Method 2
a white light scanner configured to determine one or more locations of a surface of interest on the patient by detecting one or more characteristics of white light reflected from the surface of interest
Implementation Method 3
a laser scanner that includes one or more optical detectors configured to determine one or more locations on a surface of interest on the patient by detecting one or more characteristics of laser light reflected from the surface of interest
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for performing orthopaedic surgical procedures including generating scan data from the intra-operatives scans and comparing the scan data to a surgical plan are disclosed. The scan data and other feedback data are used to validate the position and orientation of orthopaedic prosthetic component implanted in a body of the patient.