Spinal Rod Shape Calculation From Vertebral Attachment Points
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for bending spinal rods in orthopedic surgery lack precision and efficiency, particularly in achieving the six degrees of freedom required for accurate alignment with anatomical structures, leading to increased surgical time and risk of mechanical failure.
Innovation Solution
A system that determines the relative spatial location of attachment points on the spine, converts this information into a digital format, and uses a computer to calculate and output the necessary shape parameters for bending the spinal rod, allowing for precise shaping and attachment to the bony structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual bending methods (French Bender) are used to shape spinal rods, then the rods can be bent to fit anatomical structures, but the surgical time increases and the precision of alignment decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary digital planning and calculation of rod bending parameters before surgery. The computer calculates the precise bending geometry based on pre-acquired spinal anatomy data, allowing the surgical team to prepare bending templates and instructions in advance, thereby reducing actual surgical time while maintaining high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the purely manual mechanical bending process with a computer-aided system that uses digital models and calculated parameters to guide the bending process. This substitution of manual estimation with computational precision improves alignment accuracy while reducing the time spent on trial-and-error bending adjustments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple bends are made manually to achieve six degrees of freedom alignment, then the rod can conform to complex anatomical structures, but the risk of metal fatigue and mechanical failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates the optimal bending geometry in advance using digital spinal models, determining the precise locations, angles, and sequences of bends needed to achieve six degrees of freedom alignment. This preliminary planning minimizes the number of bends required and optimizes their distribution, reducing cumulative metal fatigue while maintaining anatomical conformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the actual spinal anatomy measured during surgery is compared with the pre-planned bending parameters, allowing for real-time adjustments that optimize the bending process and minimize unnecessary bends that could cause metal fatigue.
3Adaptability or versatility
If arbitrary bending decisions are made during surgery, then the surgeon can adapt to unexpected anatomical variations, but the consistency and repeatability of results decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces arbitrary manual bending decisions with a computer-aided decision support system that provides calculated bending parameters based on the actual measured anatomy. This substitution maintains adaptability to anatomical variations while ensuring consistent and repeatable bending execution through objective computational guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the surgical team to self-correct and adapt to anatomical variations using real-time measurement data and automated calculations, reducing dependence on individual surgeon experience and judgment while maintaining high precision and consistency in bending outcomes.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for determining the shape of a surgical linking device that is to be attached to a bony body structure such as the spinal column based on digitized locations of a plurality of attachment elements engaged to the bony structure. The method is implemented by a computer system through a GUI to generate an initial bend curve to mate with the plurality of attachment elements. The initial bend curve may be simplified based on user input to the GUI to reduce the number of bends necessary to produce a well-fitting linking device and may be altered to help obtain the goals of surgery.