Robotic Shoulder Repair With Real-Time Bone Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical procedures, particularly those involving shoulder joints, face challenges due to the complex anatomy and limited visibility, leading to imprecision in guide pin placement, bone reaming, and implant positioning, which can result in complications such as loss of motion, failed implants, and the need for additional surgeries.
Innovation Solution
A robotic surgical system that utilizes a computing system to create virtual models from pre-operative medical images, assisted by a robotic arm and tracking system to ensure precise placement of surgical instruments, allowing for real-time adjustments to account for patient movement and anatomical structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional manual surgical methods are used for guide pin placement and implant positioning, then the surgeon has flexibility in adapting to patient anatomy, but precision and accuracy deteriorate due to limited visibility and complex shoulder anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
A robotic arm acts as an intermediary between the surgeon's planning and the actual surgical execution. The robotic arm receives pre-operative imaging data and surgical plans, then autonomously positions surgical instruments with high precision according to the planned trajectory, overcoming the limitations of manual visualization and positioning in complex shoulder anatomy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning by the surgeon with an automated robotic positioning system. The robotic arm uses computer-controlled mechanisms to achieve precise instrument placement based on pre-operative planning, substituting human hand-eye coordination with automated optical-mechanical systems that provide superior precision
2Manufacturing precision
If crude manual methods are used for bone reaming and implant insertion, then the surgical procedure is simpler to perform, but bone removal precision deteriorates leading to excessive bone loss or improper implant fit
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical plan is created in advance using pre-operative imaging data, allowing the precise reaming depth, diameter, and trajectory to be determined before surgery. The robotic arm then executes this pre-planned reaming procedure with high precision, avoiding excessive bone removal and ensuring proper implant fit without requiring complex intraoperative adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system incorporates real-time tracking and feedback mechanisms that monitor the reaming process against the pre-operative plan. The system can detect deviations and adjust the reaming trajectory and depth to maintain precision, ensuring that bone removal stays within the planned parameters while accommodating actual anatomical variations
3Reliability
If manual surgical techniques are used without real-time adjustment capability, then the surgical workflow is more straightforward, but accuracy deteriorates when patient movement or anatomical variations occur
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system transitions from static pre-operative planning to dynamic intraoperative execution with real-time adjustment capabilities. The system continuously tracks anatomical landmarks and can adjust the surgical trajectory and instrument positioning in real-time to account for patient movement or unexpected anatomical variations, maintaining high accuracy throughout the procedure
Solution Approach 2:
Real-time optical tracking systems monitor the position of surgical instruments and anatomical landmarks throughout the procedure. This feedback information is fed back to the robotic control system, which automatically adjusts the instrument trajectory and positioning to maintain accuracy despite patient movement or anatomical variations from the pre-operative scan
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and surgical system for performing a surgical procedure. The surgical system includes a robotic system with a robotic arm having a surgical instrument attached thereto. A computer system of the robotic system receives at least one image and forms a model of a surgical area. A computer operated tracking system of the robotic system obtains position data related to a patient's bone from tracking elements. Based on the model of the surgical area and the tracked bone position, the robotic arm then performs the surgical procedure with the surgical instrument, and the robotic system adjusts the procedure as a result of the tracked bone position.