Patient-Specific Spinal Jig for Rod Contouring Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for bending and contouring longitudinal fixation elements, such as rods, in spinal surgery are prone to inaccuracies and can lead to premature instrumentation failure due to manual manipulation and lack of precise pre-contoured designs.
Innovation Solution
A patient-specific jig is designed to confirm the correct contour of a fixation element by using a contoured rigid member and inner contour guides that match patient-specific geometric parameters, allowing for precise verification and adjustment of the fixation element during surgery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual manipulation and bending tools are used to contour fixation elements during surgery, then the surgical procedure can be performed with standard equipment, but inaccuracies in contouring occur and instrumentation failure risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by creating a patient-specific jig before surgery that contains pre-calculated contouring guidance based on the patient's unique anatomy and surgical plan. The jig is manufactured in advance with precise contour guides that match the required fixation element geometry, eliminating the need for imprecise intraoperative manual bending and ensuring accurate contouring from the start.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary tool - the patient-specific jig - that mediates between the surgeon's intentions and the physical contouring process. The jig acts as a physical template that translates complex geometric calculations into simple visual and tactile guidance during surgery, allowing the surgeon to achieve precise contouring without requiring advanced manual bending skills.
2Manufacturing precision
If custom pre-contoured rods are manufactured for each patient, then contouring accuracy is maximized, but cost and manufacturing time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by creating a physical replica (the jig) of the desired fixation element contour based on patient-specific measurements and surgical planning software. Instead of manufacturing a custom rod, the system creates a reusable template that copies the required geometry, allowing multiple standard rods to be contoured accurately using the same jig throughout surgery and across different patients with similar anatomies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the contouring process into two distinct phases: preoperative planning/computation phase where the exact geometry is calculated using imaging data and surgical parameters, and intraoperative execution phase where the pre-manufactured jig provides physical guidance. This segmentation allows complex geometric work to be done in advance with computing tools, leaving only simple template-following for the surgical team.
3Ease of operation
If standard fixation elements are used without patient-specific guidance, then device availability and simplicity are maintained, but alignment accuracy with patient-specific anatomical parameters deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables self-service by designing the jig with self-aligning features that automatically position itself relative to the patient's anatomy and the fixation element. The jig incorporates reference surfaces, registration marks, and mechanical constraints that guide proper positioning without requiring complex alignment procedures or specialized surgeon skills, making the accurate contouring process accessible to standard surgical teams.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient-specific jig for confirming a correct contour of a fixation element in an operative setting, the patient-specific jig including a jig body having a top end and a bottom end provided at opposite ends of a longitudinal axis of the jig body, and an inner contour guide disposed in a front surface of the jig body, the inner contour guide having a shaped cross-section and being shaped in a contoured curve along the longitudinal axis of the jig body, wherein the contoured curve conforms to a set of patient-specific geometric parameters.