Removable Bone Clamp for Hip Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current computer-assisted surgery methods for total hip replacement are complex, expensive, and require extensive pre-operative imaging, making them impractical for widespread adoption, particularly due to the need for sophisticated digital and radiological techniques to accurately navigate hip geometry and track pelvic and femur positions during surgery.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for determining a patient's pelvic position using anatomical reference points and a tracking system, with a trackable femoral marker attached via a removable bone clamp and releasable coupling, allowing for accurate tracking without penetrating the bone and enabling re-establishment of spatial relationships, along with a calibrated patient positioner to locate pelvic landmarks without direct palpation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sophisticated digital and radiological techniques are used for accurate hip navigation, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system is segmented into separate functional components: a tracking system for monitoring positions, a computer for processing data, and simple surgical tools for implementation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement precision through the specialized tracking system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses optical copying and tracking of anatomical landmarks rather than expensive radiological imaging. By creating a digital model based on optical tracking of surface landmarks and using this copy for navigation, the system achieves accurate hip geometry tracking without requiring sophisticated radiological equipment.
2Measurement precision
If extensive pre-operative imaging is performed, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary optical tracking and digital model creation during the surgical procedure itself rather than requiring extensive pre-operative imaging. The tracking system captures anatomical data in real-time, allowing the surgeon to plan and execute the procedure based on actual intraoperative anatomy, reducing pre-operative time while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces mechanical radiological imaging systems with an optical tracking system. This substitution eliminates the need for expensive CT scanners and X-ray equipment, reducing both cost and preparation time while providing real-time measurement precision during surgery.
3Reliability
If bone penetration methods are used for marker attachment, then reliability of tracking is improved, but object-generated harmful factors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an intermediary substance (adhesive or bonding agent) between the marker and the bone surface. This intermediary allows the marker to be securely attached to the bone without penetration, maintaining tracking reliability while eliminating the harmful effects of bone penetration such as structural damage and infection risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses optical copying to create a digital representation of the bone surface and marker positions. This allows for non-invasive attachment methods since the tracking relies on optical detection rather than mechanical fixation, enabling reliable tracking through surface-level marker attachment without bone penetration.
4Ease of operation
If removable bone clamp with releasable coupling is used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment device is segmented into separate components: a bone clamp for securing the marker to the bone, and a releasable coupling mechanism for attaching/detaching the marker. This segmentation allows each component to be simple and intuitive, with the bone clamp providing stable fixation and the coupling mechanism enabling easy removal and reattachment without complex operations.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention includes a method of determining a surgical patient's pelvic position and inputting that position into a computer via a tracking system, suitable for use in navigating partial or total hip replacement surgery. The patient is first aligned with anatomical reference points in relation to corresponding locating features on a patient positioner. The positions of index features on the patient positioner are then acquired via a tracking system. Based on the positions of the index features and their known relationship to the locating features, the locations of the anatomical reference features are calculated and a pelvic plane is defined therefrom. The invention also includes a surgical tool for mounting a trackable target to a human bone, suitable for fixation to a human femur. This tool includes a removable bone clamp and a releasable coupling member, integrated with said removable bone clamp.