Digital Orthopedic Templating Magnification Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current orthopedic templating methods, both traditional and digital, face challenges in accurately sizing orthopedic implants due to variations in patient magnification, leading to potential complications such as incorrect implant size and increased surgical risks.
Innovation Solution
A digital templating system that allows a computing device to overlay and adjust a template object to match a target bone structure by determining the magnification level using a reference object of known size, enabling precise sizing and alignment of orthopedic implants without requiring integration with proprietary medical imaging software.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional manual templating with fixed magnification templates is used, then the process is simple and inexpensive, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to variations in patient body habitus causing magnification differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the magnification parameter of the template based on measured reference objects in the radiograph. Instead of using fixed magnification templates, the system calculates the actual magnification factor from known-size reference objects (like the femoral head or implanted markers) and rescales the template accordingly, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by automatically determining the magnification factor through measurement of reference objects within the radiograph itself. The templating process self-adjusts without requiring external calibration tools or complex setup procedures, as the radiograph contains the necessary reference information to drive the magnification correction
2Measurement precision
If digital templating with magnification adjustment is implemented, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity and cost increase due to proprietary software requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the magnification adjustment functionality from complex proprietary medical imaging software and implements it as a standalone algorithm that can process standard radiograph images. By separating the templating function from the imaging software, the system achieves precise magnification correction without requiring integration into expensive proprietary systems, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The templating system is designed with universality by being application-agnostic and able to interface with multiple different radiograph viewing applications. The magnification calculation and template adjustment algorithms can work with any standard image format and viewing software, making the solution broadly applicable without requiring proprietary software integration
3Measurement precision
If proprietary digital templating systems are used, then the measurement precision and magnification control improve, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficult setup and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs self-service principles by automatically calculating magnification factors from reference objects visible in the radiograph itself, eliminating the need for manual calibration procedures or external calibration tools. The software autonomously identifies reference objects, computes the magnification factor, and adjusts templates accordingly, greatly simplifying operation while maintaining precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses reference objects within the radiograph as an intermediary to bridge the gap between the imaging system and the templating system. These reference objects (such as the femoral head or implanted markers of known size) serve as a common reference that both the magnification calculation and template positioning can rely on, simplifying the interface between different software components
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional templates with single magnification are used, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability deteriorates because templates cannot be adjusted for different patient body habits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the template magnification dynamic rather than static. The template size automatically adjusts based on the calculated magnification factor derived from reference objects in each patient's radiograph. This dynamic adaptation allows the same template to be accurately applied across patients with different body habits and magnification levels without requiring multiple fixed magnification templates
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices for digital image templating are presented. According to example embodiments, a computing device may match a template image (e.g., an implant) to a target image (e.g., a bone structure). The both the target image and the template image may be displayed on an output of the computing device. The displayed template image may be oriented with respect to the displayed target image according to at least a scale (e.g., a magnification level of the template image). Based on received input, at least the scale of the displayed template image may be adjusted so that the adjusted displayed template image substantially fits the part of the displayed target image. Then, based on this fit, a physical template size may be selected from a discrete range of physical template sizes.