Patient-Matched Surgical Component with Integrated Reference Array
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical navigation systems require time-consuming and error-prone processes for fitting prosthetic components to a patient's anatomy, necessitating adjustable components and guides during orthopaedic procedures.
Innovation Solution
Custom-manufactured surgical components are created preoperatively using three-dimensional models of a patient's anatomy, with a reference array positioned to establish a predefined spatial relationship, allowing for automatic registration and minimizing intra-operative registration needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If custom-manufactured surgical components are used, then prosthetic fit and function are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing preoperative scanning and creating three-dimensional models of the patient's anatomy before surgery. This allows the custom surgical component to be designed and manufactured in advance with precise anatomical matching, eliminating the need for intraoperative adjustments and registration procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating a digital three-dimensional replica of the patient's anatomy from preoperative scans. This virtual model is then used to design and manufacture the custom surgical component, ensuring precise anatomical correspondence without requiring physical measurements or adjustments during surgery.
2Productivity
If preoperative scanning and custom manufacturing are used, then surgery time is reduced, but preoperative preparation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent shifts the preparation work to the preoperative phase by performing scanning, modeling, and component manufacturing before surgery. This preliminary action consolidates time-consuming activities outside the operating room, allowing the actual surgical procedure to proceed more quickly with the custom-fitted component already ready for implantation.
3Ease of operation
If reference array is prepositioned on custom component, then intra-operative registration is eliminated, but component design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the reference array with the custom surgical component by integrating it into the component's design during the three-dimensional modeling phase. This combination eliminates the need for separate registration procedures, as the reference array is already precisely positioned on the anatomically-matched component before implantation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of automatically registering a surgical navigation system to a patient's anatomy is provided. The method comprises programming a surgical navigation system with a first spatial relationship between a surgical component and a reference array connected to the surgical component, programming the surgical navigation system with a second spatial relationship between an anatomical feature of a patient and the surgical component, installing the surgical component on the patient such that the surgical component engages the anatomical feature in the second spatial relationship, and locating the reference array with the surgical navigation system. The navigation system automatically recognizes the position of the reference array relative to the patient's anatomy.