Pedicle Screw Planning With AR Guidance and Implant Sizing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pedicle screw placement in spinal surgeries relies heavily on surgeon experience and pre-operative imaging, with limited assistance from assistive fluoroscopy and navigation, leading to inefficiencies and risks due to radiation exposure and high costs.
Innovation Solution
A surgical assistance system utilizing machine learning models and virtual reality/augmented reality to guide pedicle screw placement by analyzing patient images and providing optimal implant configurations, reducing reliance on manual techniques and improving precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If free-hand technique is used for pedicle screw placement, then surgeon experience and knowledge are utilized, but precision and reliability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs pre-operative planning and creates a virtual surgical model before the actual surgery. This preliminary action allows the surgical path to be determined and visualized in advance, improving precision without requiring complex intra-operative interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual copy of the patient's anatomy from pre-operative images and uses this digital twin for planning and guidance. This copying approach allows precise measurement and path determination without repeatedly exposing the patient to radiation during surgery.
2Measurement precision
If assistive fluoroscopy is used to guide pedicle screw placement, then real-time guidance is provided, but radiation exposure and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical path and target locations are determined before surgery using pre-operative imaging and virtual modeling. This preliminary determination eliminates the need for continuous fluoroscopy during surgery, reducing radiation exposure while maintaining guidance accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical fluoroscopy guidance system with a computer-based virtual reality and image processing system. This substitution provides the necessary guidance information without the harmful radiation effects of fluoroscopy.
3Measurement precision
If navigation systems are used for pedicle screw placement, then guidance accuracy is improved, but time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
All planning and path determination is completed before surgery in the virtual surgical model. During the actual surgery, the pre-determined paths are simply followed, significantly reducing the time required compared to intra-operative navigation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual surgical model serves as a pre-computed guide that can be quickly referenced during surgery. This digital copy contains all necessary measurement and path information, eliminating the need for time-consuming intra-operative navigation procedures.
4Reliability
If conventional screw selection methods are used, then implant selection is based on surgeon experience, but incorrect selections and operational risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the virtual surgical model to accurately measure and determine the appropriate screw size and type for each patient's unique anatomy. This digital measurement approach eliminates guesswork and ensures correct implant selection based on precise virtual measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback by comparing the planned virtual screw placement with the actual anatomical structures in the virtual model. This feedback mechanism ensures that the selected implants are appropriate for the patient's specific anatomy and surgical requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for providing assistance to a surgeon during an implant surgery are disclosed. A method includes defining areas of interest in diagnostic data of a patient and defining a screw bone type based on the surgeon's input. Post defining the areas of interest, salient points are determined for the areas of interest. Successively, an XZ angle, an XY angle, and a position entry point for a screw are determined based on the salient points of the areas of interest. Successively, a maximum screw diameter and a length of the screw are determined based on the salient points. Thereafter, the screw is identified and suggested to the surgeon for usage during the implant surgery.