Patient-Specific Orthopedic Implant Guides Without Fluoroscopy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Total joint replacement surgeries face challenges with misalignment of prostheses due to the use of intra-operative fluoroscopy, which increases surgery time and exposes patients to ionizing radiation, leading to discomfort and potential degradation of the prosthesis.
Innovation Solution
Custom surgical guides and instruments are created using pre-surgical CT or MRI imaging to match patient anatomy, reducing or eliminating the need for fluoroscopy by providing precise bone resection tools that align with the patient's unique bone structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If intra-operative fluoroscopy is used to check alignment of intramedullary cavities, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases and object-affected harmful factors increase
Solution Approach 1:
Patient-specific surgical guides are manufactured before surgery based on pre-operative imaging (CT or MRI scans). These guides incorporate alignment features and blocking features that pre-determine the correct positioning and orientation of intramedullary cavities and prosthetic components, eliminating the need for intra-operative fluoroscopy to verify alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patient-specific surgical guide acts as an intermediary device between the pre-operative planning stage and the actual implantation. It translates the virtual alignment plan into physical guidance during surgery through precisely engineered guide bores, alignment surfaces, and blocking features that mechanically enforce the correct geometry without requiring radiation-based verification.
2Measurement precision
If intra-operative fluoroscopy is used to check alignment of intramedullary cavities, then measurement precision is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase
Solution Approach 1:
All alignment measurements and planning are performed in advance using non-ionizing imaging modalities (CT or MRI scans) before surgery. The patient-specific surgical guide is manufactured based on these pre-operative images, transferring the alignment information to the surgical site without requiring any intra-operative radiation exposure for verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the radiological measurement system (fluoroscopy) with a mechanical guidance system. The patient-specific surgical guide uses precisely engineered mechanical features including guide bores, alignment surfaces, and blocking features that physically constrain and guide the placement of intramedullary cavities and prosthetic components according to the pre-determined alignment plan.
3Device complexity
If standard jigs or fixtures are used for bone resections, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision worsens due to inability to match unique patient anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical guide is customized for each patient's specific anatomical geometry, with locally adapted features including patient-specific bone surface matching surfaces, custom-shaped guide bores positioned at precise locations, and blocking features tailored to the individual patient's anatomy. This local customization ensures high manufacturing precision for each unique patient while maintaining reasonable overall device complexity through systematic design approaches.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a cartridge having an elongate body extending from a first end to a second end and having a top side and a bottom side. The cartridge defines a first hole adjacent to the first end that extends through the cartridge from the bottom side to the top side. The top side of the cartridge defines a pair of parallel slots that extend perpendicular with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cartridge. Each slot of the pair of parallel slots is equidistant from a central axis defined by the first hole.