Single Aimer Indicator for Knee Surgery Tunnel Drilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for drilling tunnels in knee surgery, such as ACL reconstruction, face challenges in accurately aligning the tunnel orientation and approximating the correct knee angle for exit-point placement, which can affect the success of the procedure.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a single aimer indicator on a user interface to provide visual feedback for coaxial alignment of a tool during tunnel drilling. The aimer indicator modifies its appearance based on alignment parameters, helping surgeons achieve precise tunnel placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional drilling methods are used without visual feedback indicators, then the surgical procedure can be performed with simpler equipment, but the alignment precision of the tunnel orientation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time visual feedback through an aimer indicator that displays alignment status to the surgeon during tunnel drilling. The indicator shows whether the drill is properly aligned with the planned trajectory, allowing immediate correction of misalignment. This feedback mechanism directly improves tunnel alignment precision without requiring complex additional hardware, as it utilizes the existing surgical navigation system's processing and display capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual representation (copy) of the desired tunnel trajectory and overlays it with the actual drill position in the user interface. This visual copy allows the surgeon to compare the planned path with the actual drilling path in real-time, improving alignment precision. The virtual model is generated from preoperative imaging and surgical planning data, providing an accurate reference without adding physical complexity to the surgical environment.
2Loss of information
If multiple separate indicators are used to show alignment on different axes, then comprehensive alignment information is provided, but the user interface complexity and difficulty of interpretation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple alignment indicators for different axes into a single integrated aimer indicator in the user interface. This unified indicator displays alignment status across all relevant axes simultaneously, maintaining complete alignment information while improving ease of interpretation. The merged indicator uses visual cues such as color coding and graphical elements to convey multi-dimensional alignment data in a single, easily interpretable display element.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different visual properties to different parts of the aimer indicator to encode specific alignment information. For example, different colors or graphical elements within the indicator represent alignment status on different axes or different aspects of alignment. This local differentiation allows comprehensive information to be conveyed through a single unified indicator, maintaining information completeness while enhancing usability through intuitive visual differentiation.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment of the present disclosure a method may include presenting, on a user interface, a single aimer indicator to identify when a first parameter of a tool is satisfied, wherein the first parameter pertains to a first axis associated with the tool. The method may include modifying a first aspect of the single aimer indicator to identify when a second parameter of the tool changes, wherein the second parameter pertains to a second axis associated with the tool. The method may include determining when a threshold associated with the second parameter is satisfied. Responsive to determining the threshold associated with the second parameter is satisfied, the method may include modifying a second aspect of the single aimer indicator to represent the tool is in coaxial alignment.