Computer-Assisted Orthopedic Hardware Placement Outside Tool Path

Solution Overview

Problem

In computer-assisted orthopedic surgery, there is a need to install hardware on bones without it colliding with the end-effector tool, as existing methods often result in collisions, procedure interruptions, and increased surgical time due to the unintentional placement of recovery markers or tracking arrays within the tool's path.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize a digitizer probe to calculate the position of hardware relative to a cut volume, notifying the user if it is within the tool's path, allowing for the installation of additional hardware outside the tool path, and enabling re-registration if bone motion occurs, ensuring safe and accurate placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If recovery markers are installed at any desired location on the bone, then the bone can be re-registered after motion occurs, but the markers may collide with the end-effector tool path causing procedure interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone re-registration capabilityVSAvoidsurgical procedure efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary verification by calculating the position of recovery markers relative to the cut volume before the surgical procedure begins. This advance check ensures markers are placed in safe locations that will not be intersected by the end-effector tool path, preventing collisions and procedure interruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback to the user by notifying them when a recovery marker is calculated to be at or inside the cut volume. This feedback mechanism allows the surgical team to reposition markers before installation to ensure they fall outside the tool path, thereby maintaining both re-registration capability and procedural efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the end-effector collides with recovery markers, then the procedure must be interrupted and markers re-installed, but this increases surgical time and anesthesia duration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision detection accuracyVSAvoidsurgical procedure time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary verification by calculating the position of recovery markers relative to the cut volume before the surgical procedure begins. This advance check ensures markers are placed in safe locations that will not be intersected by the end-effector tool path, preventing collisions and procedure interruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If hardware is installed without verifying position relative to cut volume, then installation is faster, but collisions with the end-effector tool path occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware installation speedVSAvoidend-effector collision risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary verification by calculating the position of recovery markers relative to the cut volume before the surgical procedure begins. This advance check ensures markers are placed in safe locations that will not be intersected by the end-effector tool path, preventing collisions and procedure interruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback to the user by notifying them when a recovery marker is calculated to be at or inside the cut volume. This feedback mechanism allows the surgical team to reposition markers before installation to ensure they fall outside the tool path, thereby maintaining both re-registration capability and procedural efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12064184B2System and method for installing bone hardware outside an end-effectors tool path

Publication Date: 2024.08.20 THINK SURGICAL INC

AI summary

A system and method are described herein for installing hardware in a bone outside an end-effector's tool path prior to modifying the bone. The method includes the installation of a first piece of hardware in the bone. The bone and a cut volume to be created in the bone is registered to a computer-assist device. A processor calculates whether the hardware is within the cut volume based on the geometry and POSE of the hardware relative to the POSE of the cut volume. A user is notified if the hardware is at or inside the cut volume based on the calculation. If so, a second piece of hardware is installed in the bone and the calculation is repeated to determine if the second piece of hardware is at or inside the cut volume. The surgical procedure may commence when an installed piece of hardware is installed outside the cut volume.