Surgical Instrument Orientation Sensors for Orthopaedic Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical positioning and orientation methods are either inaccurate, cumbersome, or costly, particularly in orthopaedic procedures, where precise alignment of surgical equipment or implants relative to patient anatomy is crucial, often requiring ancillary instrumentation or complex tracking systems that can impede surgical efficiency and access.
Innovation Solution
A surgical system comprising a reference orientation sensor attachable to a patient's limb and a surgical equipment orientation sensor attachable to the equipment, with a data processing apparatus that determines and stores initial and current orientations, generating a signal to indicate matching orientations, allowing for accurate and unobtrusive alignment using visual or acoustic feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ancillary instrumentation is used to position and orient surgical equipment, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to interference with surgical procedure and impeded access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the orientation sensing function from complex ancillary instrumentation and implements it through simple orientation sensors attached directly to surgical equipment. The surgical equipment itself becomes the sensing platform, eliminating the need for separate positioning devices that interfere with surgical access.
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation sensors serve multiple functions: they provide real-time orientation data, enable comparison with pre-determined orientations, and guide surgical equipment positioning all through a single integrated system that does not interfere with surgical procedures.
2Measurement precision
If complex tracking systems are used to track position and orientation of surgical equipment, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical tracking systems with electronic orientation sensors that directly measure the orientation of surgical equipment. This substitution eliminates the need for elaborate mechanical tracking infrastructure while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy of the surgical equipment's orientation through sensors, allowing virtual tracking and comparison without physical tracking markers or complex mechanical reference frames.
3Measurement precision
If sophisticated tracking systems are used, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to extra surgical steps required
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary orientation measurements and comparisons before final positioning decisions are made. The orientation sensors continuously monitor and compare positions in real-time, allowing surgeons to make informed decisions without time-consuming post-positioning adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements real-time feedback by continuously comparing current orientation sensor readings with pre-determined reference orientations. This immediate feedback loop allows surgeons to adjust positioning on-the-fly without waiting for complex system processing or additional surgical steps.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and methods for guiding the orientation of an item of surgical equipment relative to a limb of a patient are described. A reference orientation sensor and a surgical equipment orientation sensor may be included. A data processing apparatus determines and stores an initial relative orientation between the reference orientation sensor and the surgical equipment orientation sensor from an initial reference orientation and an initial surgical equipment orientation, determines a current relative orientation between the reference orientation sensor and the surgical equipment sensor from a current reference orientation and a current surgical equipment orientation, and generates an output signal when the current relative orientation matches the reference relative orientation indicating that the surgical equipment orientation sensor currently has the same orientation relative to the reference orientation sensor as when the initial relative orientation was determined.