Patient-Specific Spinal Implant Planning via Ligament Constraint Modeling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current spinal surgery techniques lack effective tools for accurately modeling patient-specific spinal modifications, often resulting in adverse consequences such as ligament damage or nerve damage due to failure to account for physical limitations like ligament elasticity and length during treatment planning.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that analyzes pre-operative medical images to identify and assess the posterior longitudinal ligament's length and elasticity, determining a maximum correction level for vertebrae modifications, and dynamically updates images to ensure modifications stay within safe physical limits, generating patient-specific spinal implant characteristics for production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If spinal surgery planning tools are simplified for ease of use, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision and reliability of surgical planning deteriorate due to inability to account for ligament elasticity and physical constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of use of planning toolsVSAvoidprecision of spinal modification modeling

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The computer system automatically performs complex measurements and calculations of ligament elasticity, length, and spinal constraints without requiring manual intervention. The system self-services by autonomously analyzing medical images, determining physical limitations, and generating surgical plans, thereby maintaining high precision while preserving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement methods with computer-based image analysis and automated calculation systems. This substitution enables precise modeling of ligament elasticity and spinal physics through software algorithms rather than manual tools, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If maximum correction levels are not determined based on ligament properties, then productivity of surgical planning is improved by allowing more aggressive modifications, but reliability of surgical outcomes deteriorates due to risk of ligament damage and nerve injury

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of surgical planningVSAvoidsafety of surgical modifications

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary determination of maximum correction levels based on ligament elasticity and length before surgical modifications are planned. By pre-calculating safe modification boundaries, the system enables rapid surgical planning within proven safety margins, simultaneously improving productivity while ensuring reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The computer system provides feedback by comparing proposed spinal modifications against determined maximum correction levels. This feedback mechanism automatically adjusts planning recommendations to remain within safe limits, ensuring reliability while maintaining efficient workflow through automated constraint checking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If detailed analysis of ligament elasticity and length is performed, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional measurements and calculations required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of physical constraint assessmentVSAvoidcomplexity of analysis system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The computer system performs multiple functions including image analysis, ligament measurement, elasticity calculation, and surgical planning within a single integrated platform. This multi-functionality consolidates complex operations into one system, reducing overall complexity while maintaining high measurement precision through comprehensive analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12178516B2Systems, methods, and devices for developing patient-specific medical treatments, operations, and procedures

Publication Date: 2024.12.31 MEDICREA INT SA

AI summary

Certain systems, methods, and devices described herein are configured to dynamically model a patient area for surgery and/or other treatment, dynamically identify one or more features and/or characteristics thereon such as the length and/or elasticity of the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL), dynamically allow modification of the model, dynamically limit and/or assist in modification of the model, and/or dynamically generate guidelines for generation of patient-specific implants and/or treatment kits for a specific patient.