Patient-Specific Spinal Implant Geometry for Multi-Planar Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current orthopedic implant solutions, including standard and custom designs, fail to adequately address individual patient anatomical variations, leading to insufficient contact and load transfer, which can result in implant subsidence, micro-motions, and expulsion, while existing pre-operative planning software is either limited to stock models or expensive and time-consuming for custom solutions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for designing patient-specific implants using image data to measure geometric characteristics, apply correction guidelines, and generate three-dimensional implant geometry data, enabling manufacturing through additive or subtractive techniques, ensuring optimal fit and correction in the coronal, sagittal, and axial planes, with regulatory compliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If standard size implants are used, then manufacturing cost and availability are improved, but anatomical fit and contact area are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by using patient-specific imaging data (CT or MRI) to obtain precise anatomical measurements of the vertebral bodies, then using these measurements to generate custom implant geometry that matches the patient's unique anatomy, thereby improving anatomical fit while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through automated design processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by performing pre-operative planning that includes obtaining image data, measuring geometric characteristics, applying correction guidelines, and generating three-dimensional implant geometry data before the actual surgery, allowing the implant to be custom-designed in advance to ensure optimal anatomical fit
2Manufacturing precision
If custom implants are designed to match patient anatomy, then anatomical fit and contact area are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the approach from complex manual custom design to automated parameter-driven design, where patient-specific anatomical parameters obtained from imaging data directly define the implant geometry, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining high anatomical precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement and design processes with automated computer-based imaging and computational design systems, substituting human-operated mechanical measurement tools with digital imaging and algorithm-based geometry generation, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity
3Manufacturing precision
If custom implants are manufactured, then patient-specific anatomical correction is improved, but turnaround time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the custom implant design process into a parameter-driven automated system where patient-specific parameters from imaging data directly control the implant geometry generation, enabling rapid design and manufacturing with conventional turnaround time despite the custom nature of each implant
Solution Approach 2:
By performing all design calculations, geometry generation, and manufacturing preparation in advance through automated pre-operative planning software, the system enables patient-specific implants to be manufactured with conventional turnaround time, eliminating delays associated with post-manufacturing adjustments
4Adaptability or versatility
If implants do not conform to mathematical rules for alignment, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but surgical outcome and alignment accuracy worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by automatically comparing measured geometric characteristics of the patient's anatomy against mathematical rules for proper alignment, and using this feedback to guide the implant design process, ensuring that the final implant geometry conforms to alignment requirements while maintaining manufacturing flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary verification of alignment compliance during the design phase by comparing geometric measurements against mathematical rules before manufacturing, ensuring alignment accuracy is built into the implant design rather than requiring post-manufacturing verification or adjustment
Data Source
AI summary
A method for designing a patient-specific implant includes obtaining image data of a region of interest of the spine of a patient, measuring one or more geometric characteristic of the region of interest from the image data, comparing a measurement obtained for at least one of the one or more geometric characteristics to a mathematical rule associated with the particular geometric characteristic, and generating three-dimensional implant geometry data if the measurement of the at least one of the one or more geometric characteristics conforms with the associated mathematical rule, the implant geometry data configured to guide an additive manufacturing operation.