Patella Implant Selection via Joint Reaction Force Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) often experience anterior knee pain due to mechanical and functional issues related to the patellofemoral joint, leading to increased healthcare costs and potential re-operations.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that uses sensors to record reaction forces within the knee joint during TKA, allowing for the comparison of data sets from initial and trial implant conditions to provide guidance for selecting the optimal patella implant and positioning it correctly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional TKA surgery is performed without sensor-based measurement, then the surgical procedure is simpler and faster, but anterior knee pain occurs in 5-10% of patients due to incorrect patella implant selection or positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement and analysis of patellofemoral joint reaction forces before final implant selection. Sensors record force data during trial implantation, allowing the surgeon to evaluate different implant configurations and select the optimal one before committing to the final implant, thereby improving success rate while maintaining procedural efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback on patellofemoral joint reaction forces during surgery. By comparing measured forces against target ranges, the system guides implant selection and positioning decisions, enabling data-driven surgical choices that reduce anterior knee pain without significantly increasing procedural complexity
2Measurement precision
If multiple trial implants are tested to find the optimal patella implant, then implant selection accuracy improves, but surgical time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces subjective visual inspection and manual assessment with objective sensor-based measurement of joint reaction forces. This automated measurement system quickly quantifies the effect of different implant configurations, allowing accurate implant selection without requiring extensive trial-and-error testing that would extend surgical time
Solution Approach 2:
The system measures and compares multiple parameters (joint reaction force magnitude, direction, and distribution) to evaluate different implant options. By analyzing these force parameters, the system identifies the optimal implant configuration that brings joint forces within target ranges, enabling precise implant selection efficiently
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method including positioning at least one sensor within a joint of a patient; receiving, by a processor, a first data set representing a first series of reaction forces within the joint while the joint is moved through a range of motion; receiving, by the processor, a second data set representing a second series of reaction forces within the joint while the joint is moved through the range of motion while a first trial implant is attached within the joint; calculating, by the processor, a difference between the second data set and the first data set; and providing, by the processor, an instruction based on the difference, the instruction including either an instruction to select a second trial implant if the difference exceeds a threshold, or an instruction to proceed with an actual implant matching the first trial implant if the difference does not exceed the threshold.