Orthopaedic Sensor System for Joint Force Validation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Orthopaedic surgical procedures, such as knee replacements, often rely on generic surgical instruments that require manual adjustment by surgeons to balance joint forces, leading to variability and potential inaccuracies in implant placement and bone resection.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a sensor module, a data tag, and a hand-held display module that provides real-time joint force data and surgical procedure parameters, allowing for patient-specific orthopaedic surgical instruments with customized contours to guide precise instrument placement and validation of surgical plans during procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If generic surgical instruments are used, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but manufacturing precision and measurement precision deteriorate due to lack of patient-specific customization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of implant placementVSAvoidcomplexity of surgical instrument

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Patient-specific orthopaedic surgical instruments are fabricated before surgery based on pre-operative imaging and planning. The instruments incorporate patient-specific anatomical contours and surgical parameters that are determined in advance, eliminating the need for intraoperative manual adjustment and estimation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Each surgical instrument is customized with specific local features matching the patient's anatomy, such as patient-specific bone surface contours, unique drill hole locations, and customized cutting guides. This local customization ensures precise fit and orientation for each patient's unique anatomy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If manual adjustment by surgeons is used, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to variability in manual estimation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of joint force balancingVSAvoidoperational simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Manual mechanical adjustment by the surgeon is replaced with a sensor-based measurement system that objectively quantifies joint forces. Sensors provide real-time feedback on joint force distribution, replacing subjective manual assessment with objective digital measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

Sensors integrated into the surgical system provide real-time feedback on joint force measurements during the procedure. This feedback allows the surgeon to verify proper instrument placement and achieve accurate joint force balancing through informed adjustment rather than trial-and-error manual estimation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If patient-specific instruments are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to customization requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of bone resectionVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

All manufacturing parameters for patient-specific instruments are determined during pre-operative planning based on imaging data. The instruments are manufactured in advance with precise patient-specific features, eliminating the need for complex intraoperative adjustments and simplifying the surgical procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Patient-specific instruments combine multiple functions into single components, such as integrating alignment guides, cutting guides, and depth markers into one customized instrument. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed while maintaining manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enhances the accuracy and consistency of orthopaedic surgical procedures by providing real-time joint force feedback and validated surgical plans, reducing the reliance on manual estimation and improving the precision of implant placement and bone resection.

Implementation Method 1

The sensor module may include a sensor array configured to generate sensor signals indicative of a joint force of a patient's joint

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSensor detection:

Data Source

PatentUS11051955B2System and method for validating an orthopaedic surgical plan

Publication Date: 2021.07.06 DEPUY SYNTHES PROD INC

AI summary

A system and method for validating an orthopaedic surgical plan includes a data tag associated with a patient-specific orthopaedic surgical instrument and a data reader to read the data tag to obtain surgical procedure parameters from the data tag. A display module may display the surgical procedure parameters and/or identification data to validate the patient-specific orthopaedic surgical instrument. Additionally, the system may include a sensor module to generate joint force data indicative of a joint force of a patient's joint. The display module may be configured to display the joint force data in association with the surgical procedure parameters.