Patient-Specific Shoulder Implant Planning System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for selecting and positioning shoulder implants in shoulder replacement surgery face challenges due to insufficient bone for fixation and complex factors influencing implant size, position, and orientation, leading to potential misalignment and poor surgical outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented interactive patient-specific surgical planning system that performs virtual pre-operative planning, accounting for range of motion and clinical assessments to optimize the selection and placement of glenoid and humeral implants, using patient-specific bone and soft tissue analysis to create customized surgical guides and implants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional implant selection and positioning methods are used, then the surgical procedure can be performed with standard tools and techniques, but the implant placement accuracy and alignment are compromised due to insufficient bone for fixation and complex anatomical factors
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs comprehensive virtual surgical planning and implant positioning before the actual surgery. Patient-specific 3D models are created from pre-operative imaging data, allowing surgeons to simulate and optimize implant placement, select appropriate implant sizes, and plan approach trajectories. This preliminary virtual rehearsal enables precise execution during surgery while accounting for complex anatomical variations and bone quality issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The system generates patient-specific surgical guides and positioning fixtures tailored to each patient's unique anatomy. These custom tools incorporate local anatomical features and bone geometry to ensure precise implant placement at specific sites. The surgical planning accounts for local variations in bone quality, joint alignment, and soft tissue constraints to optimize fixation and positioning for each patient's specific condition.
2Reliability
If comprehensive virtual modeling and optimization are performed, then implant selection and placement can be optimized for patient-specific anatomy and desired range of motion, but the time and computational resources required increase
Solution Approach 1:
Comprehensive virtual surgical planning is performed in the pre-operative period, allowing sufficient time for detailed analysis without rushing the process. The system automates many aspects of the planning workflow, including automated implant sizing, positioning optimization, and conflict detection, which reduces manual effort and planning time while maintaining thoroughness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides iterative feedback during virtual planning, allowing surgeons to adjust implant selection and positioning based on simulated outcomes. Range of motion analysis and conflict detection provide immediate feedback on potential issues, enabling optimization of the surgical plan before committing to the actual procedure. This feedback loop ensures high reliability while streamlining the planning process.
3Manufacturing precision
If patient-specific custom implants and surgical guides are created, then the fit and alignment can be precisely optimized, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Patient-specific custom implants and surgical guides are manufactured with precision tailored to each patient's anatomy. The system generates detailed manufacturing files from the virtual surgical plan, specifying exact dimensions, geometries, and material properties needed for optimal fit and alignment. This localized customization ensures precise placement while using standardized manufacturing processes where possible.
Solution Approach 2:
All customization and manufacturing planning is completed in the pre-operative virtual modeling phase. The system determines all necessary custom dimensions, implant modifications, and surgical guide geometries before manufacturing begins. This preliminary planning allows manufacturers to prepare custom components with sufficient lead time using controlled processes, reducing last-minute complexity and ensuring high precision.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple factors including bone quality, soft tissue characteristics, and desired range of motion are accounted for, then the implant selection and placement can be optimized, but the complexity of the surgical planning process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical planning system integrates multiple analysis functions into a unified platform. It simultaneously evaluates bone quality from imaging data, analyzes soft tissue constraints, simulates range of motion requirements, assesses implant options, and generates surgical guides. This multi-functional system handles diverse anatomical and functional factors through a single integrated workflow, reducing the need for multiple separate tools and processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The comprehensive planning process is divided into manageable modular steps: imaging and model creation, bone quality assessment, soft tissue analysis, implant selection, positioning optimization, and surgical guide design. Each module handles specific factors independently but integrates with the overall plan. This segmentation makes the complex process more manageable and systematic while maintaining comprehensive consideration of all relevant factors.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems and devices for pre-operatively planned total or partial joint surgery including, for example, anatomic and reverse shoulder surgery guides and implants. There are also methods for pre-operative planning methods for designing glenoid implants and prostheses, particularly with patient-specific augmentation, based on considerations of multiple factors affecting the outcome of a selected reverse or anatomic shoulder surgery. There are also described methods of performing total or partial joint surgery, including anatomic or reverse shoulder surgery, using surgery guides and implants in patients undergoing joint surgery.