Surgical Instrument Navigation for Spinal Rod Bending
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical systems for treating spinal disorders lack efficient methods for optimizing rod bending and ensuring proper placement of bone fasteners, leading to potential restrictions in the range of movement and flexibility of spinal implants.
Innovation Solution
The surgical system incorporates a surgical instrument with an image guide and a navigation system that identifies screw head impingement and provides data for optimizing rod bending. This system measures the actual receiver angular displacement and flexibility, allowing for precise optimization of the fixation rod path between screws.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional surgical methods are used for rod bending and bone fastener placement, then the surgical procedure can be completed, but the accuracy and flexibility of rod bending is insufficient, leading to unnecessary contouring and weakening of fixation rods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical trial-and-error rod bending methods with a navigation system that uses sensors, image guides, and computational algorithms to precisely calculate and execute rod bending parameters, thereby achieving higher accuracy without compromising rod strength through excessive contouring
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital replica or model of the patient's spinal anatomy and implant configuration, allowing virtual simulation and optimization of rod bending before actual surgery, which enables precise bending parameters to be determined without physical trial-and-error that would weaken the rods
2Measurement precision
If traditional surgical navigation systems are used, then basic navigation functions are provided, but the system lacks the capability to identify screw head impingement and measure receiver angular displacement, limiting optimization of bone fastener placement
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system is designed to perform multiple functions including basic navigation, screw head impingement detection, receiver angular displacement measurement, and rod bending optimization within a single integrated platform, thereby achieving enhanced measurement capabilities without proportionally increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an image guide as an intermediary component that connects the physical surgical instruments with the navigation system, enabling precise measurement of receiver angular displacement and impingement detection through optical or electromagnetic tracking without requiring direct complex sensing in the implants themselves
3Ease of operation
If bone fasteners are placed without precise navigation, then the procedure is faster, but the range of movement and flexibility of spinal implants is restricted due to improper placement
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary planning and simulation of bone fastener placement before the actual surgery, determining optimal positions that will preserve spinal flexibility and range of movement, allowing the surgical procedure to proceed efficiently without trial-and-error adjustments that would restrict implant adaptability
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical instrument comprises a member connected with a spinal implant defining an axis. A first image guide is connected with the member and oriented relative to a sensor to communicate a signal representative of a position of the member. A second image guide is connected with the member and oriented to represent an angle measuring a second orientation of the axis relative to a first orientation. Systems, implants and methods are disclosed.