Ultrasonic Joint Alignment Measurement System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current orthopedic joint replacement procedures lack precision in adapting to individual patient variations, leading to inconsistent outcomes and requiring skilled surgeons to manually adjust artificial joints, which can result in suboptimal implantation and increased revision rates.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic measurement system employing a propagation tuned oscillator (PTO) or Phase Locked Loop (PLL) with zero-crossing and edge-detect receivers to measure physical parameters by evaluating changes in ultrasonic wave propagation through the muscular-skeletal system, providing real-time data for accurate implantation and long-term monitoring of joint health.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If standardized orthopedic joint replacement procedures are used to meet general population needs, then device versatility and ease of manufacture are improved, but manufacturing precision and measurement precision deteriorate due to inability to account for individual patient variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement methods with an ultrasonic measurement system that uses acoustic waves to precisely measure joint alignment, forces, and pressures. The ultrasonic transducers provide automated, high-precision measurements that eliminate the imprecision of manual surgical adaptation while maintaining the ability to accommodate individual patient variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements real-time feedback through ultrasonic measurement during surgery, allowing the surgical team to immediately assess joint alignment and forces. This feedback loop enables precise adjustment of the implant positioning to match the specific anatomical variations of each patient, thereby improving both adaptability and measurement precision simultaneously.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment by skilled surgeons is performed to adapt artificial joints to individual patient variations, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and loss of time increase due to reliance on surgeon skill
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasonic measurement system enables the joint replacement procedure to be self-adjusting by providing real-time data on alignment and forces. The objective measurements allow the implant to be optimized for the patient's specific anatomy through data-driven decisions rather than relying entirely on surgeon experience and manual trial-and-error adjustment, thereby reducing surgical time while maintaining high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary ultrasonic measurements of the patient's anatomy and joint characteristics before final implant positioning. This advance measurement and planning allows the surgical team to pre-determine the optimal implant configuration and alignment, eliminating time-consuming manual adjustments during the actual implantation procedure.
3Ease of operation
If standardized procedures are used without real-time measurement data, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to suboptimal implantation and increased revision rates
Solution Approach 1:
The ultrasonic measurement system provides real-time feedback during surgery on joint alignment, forces, and pressures. This objective data enables the surgical team to optimize implant positioning and soft tissue balancing, significantly improving the reliability and long-term success of the implantation while maintaining procedural simplicity through automated measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces subjective manual assessment with objective ultrasonic measurement to determine implantation quality. This substitution provides quantifiable data on joint forces and alignment that can be used to predict long-term implant success, thereby improving reliability without complicating the surgical procedure.
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 precise measurement of forces, pressures, and wear patterns, ensuring optimal joint alignment and balance, reducing costly revisions and improving the longevity of orthopedic implants by providing quantitative data for improved design and surgical techniques.
Implementation Method 1
An ultrasonic measurement system employs a propagation tuned oscillator (PTO) or Phase Locked Loop (PLL) with zero-crossing and edge-detect receivers to measure physical parameters by evaluating changes in ultrasonic wave propagation through the muscular-skeletal system
Implementation Method 2
An ultrasonic measurement system employs a propagation tuned oscillator (PTO) or Phase Locked Loop (PLL) with zero-crossing and edge-detect receivers to measure physical parameters by evaluating changes in ultrasonic wave propagation
Data Source
AI summary
A measurement system for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system is disclosed. The measurement system comprises a capacitor, a signal generator, a digital counter, counter register, a digital clock, a digital timer, and a data register. The sensor of the measurement system is the capacitor. The measurement system generates a repeating signal having a measurement cycle that corresponds to the capacitance of the capacitor. The capacitor comprises more than one capacitor mechanically in series. Electrically, the capacitor comprises more than one capacitor in parallel. In one embodiment, the capacitor includes a dielectric layer comprising polyimide. A force, pressure, or load is applied to the capacitor that elastically compresses the device.