Sensor-Based Cutting Guide Placement System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for placing cutting guides in orthopedic surgery are cumbersome, prone to errors, and costly, often requiring complex robotic systems that are not widely adopted due to their complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A sensor-based system that uses orientation and magnetic sensors to estimate and display the correct placement of cutting guides on a patient's bone, eliminating the need for expensive tracking equipment and complex calibration procedures, and includes robotic actuators for automated positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex robotic systems with tracking equipment are used for cutting guide placement, then measurement precision and reliability improve, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential measurement function from complex robotic systems by using only simple sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers) attached directly to the cutting guide, eliminating the need for bulky tracking equipment and complex calibration systems while maintaining placement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical tracking systems with electronic sensor-based measurement, using inertial measurement units and magnetic sensors to directly capture orientation and position data, thereby reducing mechanical complexity while improving measurement capabilities
2Measurement precision
If complex robotic systems with calibration procedures are used, then measurement precision improves, but loss of time increases due to time-consuming calibration and registration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calibration by attaching sensors to the cutting guide before the surgical procedure begins, establishing the reference frame in advance so that no time-consuming calibration is needed during the actual surgery, thereby eliminating registration procedures entirely
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system on the cutting guide is self-contained and autonomously provides orientation and position data without requiring external calibration equipment or registration procedures, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating time-consuming setup steps
3Device complexity
If manual methods with mechanical instrumentation are used for cutting guide placement, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate due to subjective assessment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces subjective mechanical alignment methods with objective electronic sensor measurements, using accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers to quantitatively determine cutting guide orientation and position, thereby eliminating surgeon subjectivity while keeping the device simple
Solution Approach 2:
The patent provides real-time feedback through a display device that shows the measured orientation and position of the cutting guide, allowing the surgeon to verify placement accuracy immediately and make adjustments if needed, thereby improving reliability through objective feedback rather than subjective assessment
4Measurement precision
If computer/robotically-assisted systems are used, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and cost increase, and ease of operation decreases due to specialized software requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential measurement and display functions from complex computer-assisted systems, using simple sensors and a basic display device to show cutting guide orientation and position, thereby maintaining precision while dramatically improving ease of operation by eliminating complex software interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system automatically measures and calculates cutting guide parameters without requiring surgeon input or interpretation, with the display device automatically showing the results, making the system extremely user-friendly by eliminating the need for specialized software operation skills
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This system provides accurate, cost-effective, and user-friendly placement of cutting guides, reducing procedural time and complexity while avoiding the need for expensive robotic systems, thus enhancing the precision and efficiency of orthopedic procedures.
Implementation Method 1
tracking the position of a magnetic field generator attached to the cutting guide by receiving information from a magnetic sensors (also known as magnetometers) that measure the relative motion of the cutting guide
Implementation Method 2
rigid fixation of orientation sensors on the patient's bone and receiving from these sensors information indicative of the orientation of the bone's mechanical axis
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method is provided for estimating orientation and position of surgical instrumentation or tools relative to a patient's bone structure. The system and/or method may include registering an axis and/or plane associated with a patient's bone. The system and/or method may further include receiving, from magnetic and orientation sensors, information indicative of orientation and position of the surgical instrument or tool relative to the registered axis and/or plane.