Rollable Digitizer with Multi-Probe Wheel for Bone Registration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current registration procedures in computer-assisted orthopedic surgery are time-consuming and tedious, requiring manual collection of multiple points on a bone for accurate registration to a surgical system, which hinders efficiency and increases operating times and costs.
Innovation Solution
A rollable digitizer device with multiple probes emanating from a wheel, equipped with contact sensors and a handle, allows for sequential and detectable contact with the bone, facilitating the collection of multiple registration points in a time-effective manner, utilizing a tracking member to determine the position and orientation of the probes in real-time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual point collection using a tracked digitizer probe is used, then accurate bone registration is achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and tedious
Solution Approach 1:
The digitizer probe is segmented into multiple probes (e.g., three probes) arranged circumferentially on a wheel, allowing simultaneous or sequential contact with multiple bone surfaces. This segmentation enables collection of multiple registration points in a single rolling motion rather than requiring separate manual point-by-point collection, thereby reducing registration time while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel structure enables periodic contact of multiple probes with the bone surface as it rolls, creating a systematic sequence of contact points. This periodic action ensures comprehensive coverage of the bone surface with evenly distributed registration points, improving both efficiency and accuracy of the registration process
2Measurement precision
If multiple points (50 or more) are collected for image-free registration, then an accurate three-dimensional bone model is created, but the process becomes excessively time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from collecting points in a single linear sequence to collecting points across multiple dimensions simultaneously. The wheel-mounted probes contact the bone surface at multiple locations around the circumference, and as the wheel rolls, it captures points across the entire bone surface in three-dimensional space, dramatically increasing the number of points collected per unit time while maintaining model accuracy
3Reliability
If a tracked digitizer probe is used for point collection, then registration points can be mapped to corresponding points on a 3-D bone model, but the manual process increases operating times and costs
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple probes are merged into a single wheel assembly that functions as one integrated digitizing tool. This merging allows simultaneous contact with multiple bone surfaces and collection of multiple registration points in a single operational motion, maintaining the reliability of point mapping while dramatically reducing the time and number of separate operations required
Data Source
AI summary
A rollable digitizer device for collecting a plurality of points on a bone that includes a wheel having multiple probes emanating circumferentially therefrom. One or more contact sensors adapted to detect if at least one of probes is in contact with the bone. The contact sensors located in the wheel, on the wheel, proximal to said one or more contact sensors, or a combination thereof. A handle connected to the wheel and adapted to permit a user to roll the probes along the bone, so each of the probes make sequential and detectable contact with the bone to facilitate the collection of multiple points on the bone. A method for collecting a multiple registration points on a bone with the rollable digitizer device includes wielding the rollable digitizer by the handle. The probes are rolled along the surface of the bone to collect the plurality of registration points.