Surgical orientation system and method

• US 20050251026A1
• Filed: 07/15/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orthalign, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vitruvian Orthopaedics LLC (Orthalign, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stone, A. Curt
• Granted Patent: US 7,559,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/175 for preparing the femur for hip prosthesis insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1778 for the shoulder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2048 using an accelerometer or inertia sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1071 measuring angles, e.g. using goniometers A61B5/1123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4504 Bones A61B5/4547 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/34 Acetabular cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4609 of acetabular cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4657 Measuring instruments used for implanting artificial joints for surgical instruments A61B90/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30538 for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4632 using computer-controlled surgery, e.g. robotic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4668 for measuring angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4687 Mechanical guides for implantation instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0006 for adjusting angular orientation

Abstract

A system and method for detecting and measuring changes in angular position with respect to a reference plane is useful in surgical procedures for orienting various instruments, prosthesis, and implants with respect to anatomical landmarks. One embodiment of the device uses dual orientation devices of a type capable of measuring angular position changes from a reference position. One such device provides information as to changes in position of an anatomical landmark relative to a reference position. The second device provides information as to changes in position of a surgical instrument and/or prosthesis relative to the reference position.

Claims

1. A system for aligning a medical prosthesis with an anatomical feature on a patient'"'"'s body, wherein a first position of the anatomical feature defines a reference position, the system comprising:

a surgical instrument adapted to support the medical prosthesis;

a first measuring device for measuring anatomical positional changes relative to the reference position, the first measuring device being attached to a selected location on the patient near the anatomical feature;

a communication channel; and

a second measuring device for measuring surgical instrument positional changes relative to the reference position, the second measuring device being attached to the surgical instrument and operatively coupled to the first measuring device via the communication channel, and configured to receive the anatomical positional changes relative to the reference position via the communication channel,

wherein the second measuring device is adapted to generate and display positional changes of the surgical instrument relative to the anatomical feature based on the anatomical positional changes relative to the reference position and the surgical instrument positional changes relative to the anatomical position.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication channel is a wireless infrared or radio-frequency telemetry link.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first measuring device includes a digital display to provide an indication of the anatomical feature positional changes relative to the reference position.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second measuring devices are three-dimensional electronic orientation devices and wherein each of the first and second measuring devices includes at least one rate sensor that provides a rate signal indicative of a change in angular position of the measuring device about an axis.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the first and second measuring devices each includes a first rate sensor, a second rate sensor, and a third rate sensor, each disposed about an orthogonal axis.

6. A system for assisting a surgeon in obtaining a correct orientation of an acetabular prosthetic socket in an acetabulum of a patient, a first position of the acetabulum defining a reference position, the system comprising:

a surgical instrument including a support shaft for supporting the acetabular prosthetic socket;

a first measuring device for measuring acetabulum positional changes relative to the reference position, the first measuring device being attached to a selected location on the patient'"'"'s pelvic area;

a communication channel; and

a second measuring device for measuring surgical instrument positional changes relative to the reference position, the second measuring device being attached to the surgical instrument and operatively coupled to the first measuring device via the communication channel, and configured to receive the acetabulum positional changes relative to the reference position via the communication channel,

wherein the second measuring device is adapted to generate and display surgical instrument positional changes relative to the acetabulum based on the acetabulum positional changes relative to the reference position and the surgical instrument positional changes relative to the reference position.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the communication channel is a wireless infrared or radio-frequency telemetry link.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the first measuring device includes a digital display to provide an indication of the acetabulum positional changes relative to the reference position.

9. A method of positioning a medical prosthesis with respect to an anatomical feature of a patient, the method comprising:

providing a surgical instrument adapted to support the medical prosthesis or an alignment guide adapted to contact the anatomical feature, and identifying a first position of the surgical instrument relative to the anatomical feature;

coupling a first measuring device to the surgical instrument in the first position and zeroing the first measuring device, the first measuring device being adapted to measure first positional changes;

attaching the first measuring device to the patient near the anatomical feature;

coupling a second measuring device to the surgical instrument in the first position and zeroing the second measuring device, the second measuring device being adapted to measure second positional changes; and

determining a relative position of the second measuring device to the anatomical feature, based on the first positional changes and the second positional changes.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the second measuring device includes a digital display to provide an indication of the second positional changes.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the first measuring device is operatively coupled to the second measuring device by a communication channel.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the communication channel is a wireless infrared or radio frequency telemetry link.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the second measuring device receives the first positional changes from the first measuring device via the communication channel.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the second measuring device includes a digital display to provide an indication of the position of the second measuring device relative to the anatomical feature.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the anatomical feature is an acetabulum and the medical prosthesis is an acetabular prosthetic socket.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of identifying a first position of the surgical instrument relative to the anatomical feature includes coupling the alignment guide to the surgical instrument and contacting a distal end of the alignment guide to a rim of the acetabulum.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising positioning the surgical instrument at a predetermined angular orientation relative to the acetabulum.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the predetermined angular orientation is a predetermined anteversion angle.

19. The method of claim 9 further comprising identifying a reference position of the anatomical feature using the surgical instrument, and wherein the first positional changes are positional changes of the anatomical feature from the reference position.

20. The method of claim 9 wherein the first and second measuring devices are three-dimensional electronic orientation devices and wherein each of the first and second measuring devices includes at least one rate sensor that provides a rate signal indicative of a change in angular position of the measuring device about an axis.