Ultrasonic Bone Homogeneity Detection for Pedicle Screw Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current devices for placing pedicle screws in surgery face challenges such as difficulty in visualizing homogenous bone regions in real-time, reliance on static pre-operative images, and potential bone weakening during acoustical impedance monitoring, which can lead to inaccurate placement and increased surgical time.

Innovation Solution

A hand-held device with ultrasonic transducer elements that interrogates bone locations to identify homogenous regions, providing real-time feedback through a signaling system, allowing for precise and accurate placement of pedicle screws without removing the device from the bone region.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If pre-operative fluoroscopic images are used to identify pedicle screw placement areas, then the surgeon can identify homogenous bone regions, but the images become obsolete during surgery due to patient movement and bone growth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification accuracy of bone regionsVSAvoidsurgical procedure time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The device performs preliminary identification of homogenous bone regions using ultrasonic transducers before drilling, allowing the surgeon to pre-mark accurate placement sites without repeated imaging during surgery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device provides real-time ultrasonic feedback during the surgical procedure, allowing continuous verification of bone region homogeneity and accurate screw placement without relying on outdated pre-operative images

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If a hollow test drill bit with transducer is used to monitor acoustical impedance, then bone characteristics can be monitored, but the bone may be unduly weakened and integrity lessened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone characteristic monitoringVSAvoidbone integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The device uses an ultrasonic transducer as an intermediary to monitor bone characteristics through acoustical impedance changes during drilling, allowing non-invasive assessment of bone quality without compromising structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The device replaces mechanical monitoring methods with ultrasonic acoustic impedance monitoring, enabling bone characteristic assessment without physical intervention that could weaken the bone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the transducer is removed after determining initial starting location, then the apparatus can be reoriented, but the surgeon must remove and reposition the device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice repositioning capabilityVSAvoiddevice repositioning ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device integrates multiple functions including initial location determination, continuous homogeneity verification, and final placement guidance into a single unified system, eliminating the need to remove and reposition separate devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables real-time identification of suitable bone regions for pedicle screw placement, reducing surgical time and minimizing bone damage, while providing precise and accurate placement without the need for constant reference to pre-operative images.

Implementation Method 1

at least one ultrasonic transducer element to identify a homogenous bone region

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Implementation Method 2

monitors differences in acoustical impedance as the transducer is passed through a region in the bone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic impedance: Acoustic Radiation Pressure

Data Source

PatentUS8715292B2Hand held integrated pedicle screw placement device

Publication Date: 2014.05.06 GLAZER PAUL ANDREW

AI summary

A device for applying a medical element has a housing defining a longitudinal axis with a channel disposed therethrough. The housing has a proximal and a distal opening. The device also has at least one sensing device positioned adjacent to the distal opening. The device also has a signaling device disposed adjacent the housing. The at least one sensing device interrogates a bone location for one or more variables of the bone location as the device is moved over the bone location. The at least one sensing devices outputs a signal to the device and the signaling device signals an identification of a homogenous bone region. The medical element is applied to the homogenous bone location coaxially from the proximal opening through the channel and through the distal opening without removal of the device from the homogenous bone region.