Orthopaedic Prosthesis Positioning via 3D Anatomical Landmarks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current orthopaedic surgical procedures face challenges in accurately positioning orthopaedic prostheses due to variations in patient anatomy, leading to unnatural motion and instability of the prosthetic joint, as existing methods rely heavily on manual or computer-aided planning that may not account for individual anatomical differences effectively.

Innovation Solution

A surgical planning computing system that uses processors and memory to identify anatomical landmarks and determine positioning criteria for orthopaedic prostheses in three-dimensional anatomical images, aligning features of the prosthesis with patient anatomy to generate precise surgical plans, including alignment with specific anatomical points and offsets, to ensure proper placement and natural joint motion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual or computer-aided planning is used for prosthesis positioning, then the surgical procedure can be performed, but the positioning accuracy is insufficient due to variations in patient anatomy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidanatomical variation adaptation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs pre-operative planning by importing patient-specific 3D anatomical data, automatically identifying anatomical landmarks, and calculating optimal prosthesis positioning parameters before surgery. This preliminary digital planning accounts for individual anatomical variations and generates a customized surgical guide that improves positioning accuracy during the actual procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a digital copy of the patient's anatomy through 3D imaging data and virtual models. This digital replica allows for precise measurement, analysis, and planning without physical manipulation, enabling accurate positioning calculations that adapt to the patient's unique anatomical structure while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Ease of operation

If standardized prosthesis positioning is used, then the surgical procedure is simplified, but the joint stability and natural motion are compromised due to anatomical variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical procedure simplicityVSAvoidjoint stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different positioning strategies to different anatomical regions based on local characteristics. By identifying specific anatomical landmarks and analyzing local geometric features, the system determines optimal positioning parameters tailored to each patient's unique anatomy, ensuring joint stability and natural motion while maintaining surgical simplicity through automated calculations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If personalized surgical planning is implemented, then the joint functionality is improved, but the device complexity and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejoint functionalityVSAvoidcomputing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex manual measurement and planning processes with automated computer-based algorithms. The computing system automatically imports 3D anatomical data, identifies landmarks, calculates positioning parameters, and generates surgical guides, eliminating the need for complex manual procedures while achieving personalized planning that improves joint functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Productivity

If automated landmark identification is used, then the planning efficiency is improved, but the measurement precision may be affected by algorithm limitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplanning efficiencyVSAvoidlandmark identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the automated landmark identification algorithm processes 3D anatomical data and generates preliminary positioning recommendations. These results can be reviewed, validated, and adjusted by surgeons, ensuring measurement precision while maintaining the efficiency benefits of automation through iterative refinement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11786308B2Orthopaedic implant placement system and method

Publication Date: 2023.10.17 DEPUY SYNTHES PROD INC

AI summary

A surgical planning computing system and related surgical method include identifying an anatomical landmark of a patient's bony anatomy in a three-dimensional anatomical image and determining positioning criteria for an orthopedic prosthesis to be implanted into the patient's bony anatomy. The positioning criteria may define an alignment between the anatomical landmark and a feature of the orthopaedic prosthesis. A three-dimensional model of the orthopaedic prosthesis is positioned in the three-dimensional model based on the positioning criteria to provide a surgical plan for the implantation of the orthopaedic prosthesis.