Patient-Specific Surgical Guide Topology for Stable Bone Seating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing patient-specific surgical guides face challenges in ensuring reliable seating against varying patient anatomies due to differences in anatomical features and surface topology, leading to unsatisfactory surgical outcomes.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method analyzes surface shape variability of bony anatomy to generate a digital guide design with optimized footprint and features for stable seating, using topology-based stability assessment to ensure proper guide placement and performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a one-size-fits-many approach is used with common guide features, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of seating against varying anatomy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguide design complexityVSAvoidseating reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by customizing guide features to match specific patient anatomy. The system analyzes individual patient surface topology and generates guide designs with features tailored to that patient's unique anatomical characteristics, ensuring reliable seating while maintaining manageable complexity through automated design processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by adjusting guide feature parameters based on patient-specific anatomical measurements. The system modifies guide geometry, footprint, and feature dimensions according to quantified surface shape variability, transforming a standardized design into a customized solution that ensures reliable seating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If patient-specific guide features are designed to match individual anatomy, then seating reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseating reliabilityVSAvoidguide fabrication ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing complete guide design and optimization before fabrication. The system analyzes patient anatomy, generates optimized guide designs, and validates seating reliability in silico before manufacturing, simplifying the actual fabrication process while ensuring reliable patient-specific seating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual guide design and fitting processes with automated computational systems. The system uses algorithms to analyze surface topology, optimize guide geometry, and predict seating performance, substituting complex mechanical trial-and-error fitting with automated digital design and validation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If traditional anatomical landmarks are used for guide placement, then ease of operation is maintained, but measurement precision deteriorates due to surface variability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguide placement easeVSAvoidlandmark identification precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses copying by creating a digital replica of the patient's surface anatomy from imaging data. The system generates a virtual model that precisely captures surface topology, allowing accurate identification of anatomical features and optimization of guide placement without relying on imperfect physical landmarks during surgery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a digital surface model as an intermediary between traditional anatomical landmarks and guide placement. This virtual representation serves as a precise reference that translates complex surface variability into actionable design parameters, improving landmark identification precision while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20260030748A1Analysis of anatomical surface topology and surgical guide development based thereon

Publication Date: 2026.01.29 PARAGON 28 INC

AI summary

Surgical guide development based on anatomical surface topology analysis includes determining surface shape variability of a surface of bony anatomy in a region of interest, generating, based on the surface shape variability, a digital guide design of a proposed surgical guide for use against the bony anatomy during a surgical procedure, the generating determining placement and surface coverage for the proposed surgical guide and configuring the proposed surgical guide to have a corresponding footprint and guide features configured to interface with selected features of the surface of the bony anatomy, rating the proposed surgical guide for use against the bony anatomy during the surgical procedure by performing, using the digital guide design, an automated topology-based stability assessment to produce a performance rating for the proposed surgical guide, determining whether the performance rating for the proposed surgical guide satisfies a predefined performance rating threshold, and performing processing based on that determination.