Robotic Knee Surgery Soft Tissue Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for soft tissue balancing in orthopedic joint surgeries, such as knee arthroplasty, lack precision and accuracy due to manual evaluations, leading to potential errors in joint stability and alignment.
Innovation Solution
The use of a robotic system equipped with an eLibra device and an adjustable spacer, which wirelessly transmits force and tension data, allowing for precise measurement and adjustment of gap distances and pressures within the knee joint during a range of motion test.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional manual evaluation methods are used for soft tissue balancing, then the surgical process is simple and quick, but measurement precision and accuracy deteriorate leading to errors in joint stability assessment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a robotic system as an intermediary device between the surgeon and the patient's knee joint. This robotic system includes a robotic arm with sensors that can precisely measure gap distances and soft tissue tensions during range of motion tests, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring the surgeon to perform complex manual assessments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional manual mechanical evaluation methods with a robotic system that uses sensors and computer control to measure soft tissue balancing parameters. The robotic arm can automatically position trial implants and measure gap distances with high precision, substituting the imprecise manual hand evaluation with an automated mechanical system
2Manufacturing precision
If manual soft tissue evaluation is performed, then the procedure is faster and less complex, but joint alignment precision and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system performs preliminary actions by pre-planning the surgical procedure using pre-operative imaging and computer modeling. The system can simulate different implant positions and predict soft tissue balancing outcomes before the actual surgery, allowing for optimized alignment precision without extending the actual surgical procedure time
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system incorporates real-time feedback mechanisms during the surgery. Sensors continuously measure gap distances and soft tissue tensions as the robotic arm moves the trial implant through the range of motion, providing immediate feedback to the surgeon about alignment precision and enabling rapid adjustments without significant time loss
3Reliability
If conventional hand evaluation of range of motion is used, then the surgical process remains simple, but reliability of joint stability assessment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system serves as a reliable intermediary that objectively measures joint stability parameters during range of motion tests. The system uses sensors to detect gap distances and soft tissue tensions, providing reliable quantitative data that eliminates the subjectivity and variability inherent in manual hand evaluation methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the unreliable manual mechanical evaluation with an automated robotic system that consistently measures joint stability parameters. The robotic arm can repeatedly test the same range of motion positions with identical precision, eliminating the variability and potential errors associated with manual assessment
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method may be used to evaluate soft tissue. A knee arthroplasty soft tissue evaluation may use an adjustable spacer, such as varying sized physical spacers or an inflatable bladder, along with a sensor to measure force, pressure, gap distance, or the like during a range of motion test. A method may include maintaining an equal pressure or gap distance for a medial component and a lateral component of an adjustable spacer during a range of motion test. Information, including, for example a maximum or minimum gap distance or pressure may be determined during the range of motion test. The determined information may be output for display or used to update a surgical plan.