Patient-Specific Device Fitting Tool with Visual Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The correct positioning of patient-specific devices during orthopedic procedures is challenging due to minor discrepancies caused by soft tissue presence and lack of clear fit perception, leading to potential incorrect placement and deviations from surgical planning.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a fitting tool with a functional alignment element and patient-specific landmarking elements that align with the user's line of sight or medical imaging apparatus, ensuring correct positioning by matching with predetermined anatomical landmarks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If patient-specific devices are used for accurate placement, then positioning precision is improved, but operator uncertainty increases due to inability to verify correct position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidoperator uncertainty

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by providing visual verification mechanisms (alignment marks, indicators) that allow operators to confirm correct device positioning. The system displays information about whether the device is properly aligned with anatomical landmarks, enabling real-time verification and reducing operator uncertainty while maintaining high positioning precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If fitting tools are added to verify device position, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the fitting tool with the patient-specific device into a single integrated unit. The alignment marks and verification features are incorporated directly into the device structure, eliminating the need for separate fitting tools and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If soft tissue is removed entirely to improve fit perception, then positioning reliability is improved, but surgical time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning reliabilityVSAvoidsurgical time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-marking anatomical landmarks and incorporating alignment features into the device before surgery. The pre-operative planning phase includes identifying and marking landmarks, so that during surgery the device can be quickly positioned and verified without requiring extensive soft tissue removal or time-consuming manual measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8939982B2Methods and devices for validating the position of patient-specific devices

Publication Date: 2015.01.27 MATERIALISE NV

AI summary

The present invention relates to methods for validating the correct position of a patient-specific device on a chosen anatomy of the human body as well as such patient-specific devices. More specifically, the devices are provided with a fitting tool which allows in alignment of the patient-specific device with one or more predetermined patient-specific landmarks.