Vibratory Acetabular Cup Positioning System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current total hip replacement procedures face challenges in accurately and precisely positioning the acetabular component due to the use of crude tools that provide imprecise and unpredictable positioning outcomes, leading to increased risks of complications, especially for less experienced surgeons, as existing navigation tools do not adequately control the forces applied during the final impaction and adjustment stages.
Innovation Solution
A system of pneumatic and electric motor-driven devices, referred to as 'gun-like' tools, that utilize vibratory energy to accurately position and orient the acetabular cup within the acetabulum, allowing for precise control of insertion and orientation without the need for manual impact, thereby reducing the risk of fracturing the bone and improving the accuracy of the prosthetic placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If automated navigation tools are used to determine correct orientation and placement, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the surgeon still must use manual impacting tools that introduce unpredictable forces and locations, worsening the actual positioning precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical impacting system (surgeon using hammer and mallet) with an automated robotic system that uses controlled actuators to apply precise forces. The robotic system integrates the navigation guidance directly with the implantation mechanism, eliminating the disconnect between measured positioning and actual placement. The actuator applies force through a rod to impact the acetabular cup into the prepared cavity with controlled magnitude and direction, ensuring the final position matches the pre-planned orientation and placement coordinates.
2Loss of information
If computer-assisted navigation is employed to guide acetabular component placement, then orientation determination is improved, but the manual impacting process introduces uncontrolled variables that degrade final positioning accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the computer-assisted navigation system with the implantation mechanism into an integrated robotic system. The navigation software that calculates the desired orientation and placement is directly coupled with the robotic actuator that executes the implantation. This integration ensures that the orientation information derived from navigation is reliably translated into the actual physical placement, eliminating the reliability gap caused by separate manual impacting steps. The system maintains continuous feedback and control throughout the implantation process.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional impacting tools are used to install the acetabular component, then installation is achieved, but the crude tools provide only coarse positioning with unpredictable outcomes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic robotic system with programmable actuators that can adapt the implantation process in real-time. The actuator can adjust the magnitude, direction, and sequence of forces applied during acetabular cup implantation based on feedback from navigation sensors and pre-operative planning data. This dynamic control enables precise positioning while maintaining ease of installation, as the system can optimize the implantation path and force application to match the specific anatomical conditions and desired positioning parameters.
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
The system enables precise and efficient installation of the acetabular component with reduced force, minimizing the risk of bone fracture and ensuring accurate alignment, thereby enhancing the reliability and safety of the total hip replacement procedure.
Implementation Method 1
A system of pneumatic and electric motor-driven devices, referred to as 'gun-like' tools, that utilize vibratory energy to accurately position and orient the acetabular cup within the acetabulum
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method for allowing a less experienced surgeon who performs a fewer number of a replacement procedure as compared to a more experienced surgeon who performs a greater number of procedures provide a likelihood of a favorable outcome to the less experienced surgeon's patients comparable to the likelihood of a favorable outcome to the more experienced surgeon's patients. The systems and methods include improving positioning of a prosthesis, particularly prostheses having a preferred orientation with respect to a frame of reference of a patient.