Patient-Specific Resection Guide for Foot Osteotomy Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical techniques for orthopedic procedures, particularly those involving the ankle, foot, or hand, face challenges in accurately translating virtual models to physical anatomy, leading to inadequate precision and increased risk of errors due to unique surface configurations and deformities, especially in procedures like joint fusion where minimal bone removal is crucial.
Innovation Solution
Development of patient-specific surgical instruments and systems, including resection guides and fixation systems, that are customized based on medical imaging to accurately align and orient cutting tools for osteotomies, with features such as bone engagement surfaces and attachment mechanisms to secure the guides to bones, ensuring precise alignment and minimal tissue disruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional surgical techniques are used for orthopedic procedures, then the surgical procedure can be performed with standard instruments, but the precision and accuracy in translating virtual models to physical anatomy deteriorates, leading to increased errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a physical copy of the patient's unique anatomy through 3D printing technology. The surgical guide is manufactured as a physical replica based on CT scan data, allowing the surgeon to work with an accurate physical model that mirrors the patient's specific anatomical structure, thereby improving translation precision from virtual to physical domains
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical guide incorporates adjustable parameters including variable osteotomy angles, depths, and positions that can be modified during the surgical procedure. The guide allows dynamic adjustment of cutting tool trajectories and bone resection parameters to accommodate the patient's specific anatomical variations, enhancing both precision and adaptability
2Manufacturing precision
If standard surgical instruments are used, then the device complexity is low, but the manufacturing precision and adaptability to unique patient anatomy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical guide is divided into multiple functional segments including bone engagement features, osteotomy guides, fixation guides, and alignment references. Each segment serves a specific purpose in the surgical procedure, allowing the complex system to be broken down into manageable components that can be manufactured and assembled with high precision
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical guide is designed and manufactured before the actual surgical procedure, incorporating pre-calculated osteotomy angles, depths, and positions based on the patient's CT scan data. This preliminary preparation allows the surgeon to execute the procedure with high precision without needing complex real-time calculations or adjustments during surgery
3Reliability
If patient-specific instruments are developed, then the precision and accuracy in orthopedic surgeries improve, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical guide integrates multiple functions into a single device, including bone engagement features, osteotomy guides, fixation guides, alignment references, and cutting tool guides. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple separate instruments, thereby managing device complexity while maintaining high procedural reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical guide acts as an intermediary tool that bridges the gap between preoperative virtual planning and intraoperative execution. It translates the virtual surgical plan into physical guidance during surgery, ensuring that the intended bone resection and fixation procedures are performed with high precision and reliability
4Loss of substance
If minimal bone removal is pursued in joint fusion, then the preservation of bone tissue improves, but the difficulty in achieving precise alignment and resection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical guide incorporates visual indicators such as colored markers, contrasting surfaces, or illuminated features that help the surgeon detect and measure bone alignment during the procedure. These visual cues make it easier to identify precise alignment points and ensure accurate bone resection with minimal tissue removal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical measurement and alignment methods with digitally guided systems. The surgical guide is designed based on precise digital modeling from CT scans, and the cutting tool paths are predetermined through computer-aided design, eliminating the need for complex real-time mechanical measurements and improving alignment precision
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for remediating a condition present in a patient. In some implementations, the apparatus may include a resection guide having: a body having an anterior side, a posterior side, a medial side, a lateral side, a superior side, and an inferior side. The resection guide also includes a first resection feature configured to guide a cutting tool to form a first osteotomy in a first bone. The first osteotomy is defined based at least partially on user directions and at least partially on a bone model of at least a portion of the first bone. The bone model is based on medical imaging of a patient's foot. The resection guide includes bone attachment feature configured to secure the resection guide to the first bone.