Unicortical Path Detection in Surgical Depth Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical depth measurement systems fail to accurately differentiate between unicortical and bicortical paths, leading to potential unintended instrument operation and tissue damage due to misalignment or variations in bone anatomy.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a controller with a unicortical detection module to monitor the depth of penetration and compare it to a predetermined average cortex thickness value, overriding bicortical operation and alerting or arresting the instrument if an inadvertent unicortical path is detected, with adjustable values for different bone types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the measurement system monitors the leading edge passing from first medium to second medium to determine bone penetration, then the depth measurement capability is improved, but the system cannot accurately differentiate between unicortical and bicortical paths leading to potential unintended operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bone penetration path into distinct phases: first medium (cortex), transition zone, and second medium (medullary cavity). By detecting density changes at these segmented stages, the system can differentiate between unicortical (one transition) and bicortical (two transitions) paths, resolving the inability to distinguish path types while maintaining depth measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary detection mechanism that senses the transition zones between media of different densities. This intermediary detection layer allows the system to identify the number of transitions (one for unicortical, two for bicortical) without compromising the primary depth measurement function, thereby improving path differentiation accuracy.
2Ease of operation
If the instrument operates in bicortical mode without unicortical path detection, then the operational simplicity is maintained, but unintended tissue damage may occur due to misalignment or anatomical variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the measurement system continuously monitors the instrument's path and provides real-time information about detected transitions. This feedback allows the system to automatically detect inadvertent unicortical paths and generate alerts or arrest operation, adding safety without significantly complicating the user interface or basic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary detection of the penetration path type before final operation completion. By detecting transitions during the advancement process and comparing against expected bicortical patterns, the system can preemptively alert or arrest the instrument before unintended tissue damage occurs, preventing harm before it happens.
3Reliability
If the system alerts or arrests the instrument upon first occurrence of medium transition, then unicortical path safety is improved, but bicortical operation is interrupted due to false detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic operational modes that can switch between unicortical and bicortical detection patterns. The system adapts its expected transition count based on the selected mode, allowing it to correctly interpret one transition as sufficient for unicortical operations while requiring two transitions for bicortical operations, thus preventing false arrests in either mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from a fixed single-transition alert to a variable transition-count threshold. By adjusting the expected number of transitions based on the operational mode (unicortical vs. bicortical), the system maintains high reliability in detecting the correct path type while avoiding false interruptions to legitimate bicortical operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Unicortical path detection for a measurement system for monitoring a depth of penetration of a working portion of an instrument in a bone of a patient. The unicortical detection may compare an average cortex thickness in a bicortical path to an actual measured depth of penetration. If the actual depth of penetration exceeds the average thickness, a unicortical path may be detected. Upon detection of a unicortical path, an alert may be provided and/or the instrument may be arrested upon subsequent breaching of the cortex.