Interactive orthopaedic biomechanics system

• US 20060195198A1
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: James, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,055,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/80 Cortical plates , i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8014 the extension or compression force being caused by interaction of the plate hole and the screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/863 with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for

Abstract

Methods of selecting a configuration of fixation and compression screws for a bone plate to be installed on a bone of a patient. A computer or website allows a user to load images of a fractured bone and specify a particular configuration of fixation and compression screws with a plate on the loaded bone. The computer replicates stresses imposed on the bone by regular activities using finite element analysis and provide information about the suitability of the selected configuration.

Claims

1. A method of selecting a configuration of fixation and compression screws for a bone plate to be installed on a bone of a patient, comprising:

inputting into a computer, having a processor, memory and input/output functionality, information about one or more of (1) the bone;

(2) the patient;

(3) physical forces to which the bone will be subjected;

(4) a candidate bone plate;

(5) fixation and compression screws adapted to be potentially used with the plate;

simulating in the computer (1) the bone plate secured to the bone using a first configuration of fixation and compression screws, and (2) performance of the structure comprising the bone plate, bone and the first configuration of the fixation and compression screws;

simulating in the computer (1) the bone plate secured to the bone using a second configuration of fixation and compression screws, and (2) performance of the structure comprising the bone plate, bone and the second configuration of the fixation and compression screws; and

selecting a selected configuration of fixation and compression screws based on said simulations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein finite element analysis is used for:

simulating performance of the structure comprising the bone plate, bone, and first configuration of the fixation and compression screws; and

simulating performance of the structure comprising the bone plate, bone, and second configuration of the fixation and compression screws.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the selected configuration to a user over the world wide web.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each screw configuration has, for each aperture in the locking plate, either a non-locking screw, a locking screw, or no screw.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing an interface for a remote user to input constraints for the simulation over the Internet; and

providing the selected configuration to the remote user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical forces to which the bone will be subjected comprise static and dynamic forces.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical forces to which the bone will be subjected comprise static forces only.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting the selected configuration based at least in part on which configuration produces an optimum force mode.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting the selected configuration based at least in part on which configuration produces the best stress distribution for healing the bone.

10. A method for using a computer to evaluate at least one option for associating at least one surgical device with at least one bone, the computer comprising processing functionality, memory functionality, input functionality and output functionality, the method comprising:

(a) inputting at least one first information element into the computer concerning the bone;

(b) inputting at least one second information element into the computer concerning the device;

(c) inputting at least one third information element into the computer concerning a scenario for associating the surgical device with the bone;

(d) using the computer, analyzing the first, second and third information elements;

(e) using the computer, outputting at least one fourth information element predicting at least one performance characteristic of the scenario; and

(f) using the fourth information element to evaluate the scenario.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first information element further concerns a fracture in the bone.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the second information element further concerns the type of the device.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the second information element further concerns the position of the device.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the second information element further concerns information about the selection of at least one screw for use in a hole in the device.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein inputting the second information element comprising displaying a plurality of holes on a graphical image of the device affixed to the bone and selecting a hole on the image of the device for a screw.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the second information element further concerns information about the characteristics of a screw for use in a hole in the device.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein the third information element further concerns a stress distribution on the bone.

22. The method of claim 11, wherein the third information element further concerns a stability analysis on the bone.

23. The method of claim 11 further comprising optimizing screw configuration by running iterations to minimize one or more of stress.

24. The method of claim 11 further comprising optimizing screw configuration by running iterations to minimize one or more of motion.

12. The method of claim 12, wherein the first information element further concerns information about the fracture that is drawn on a computer image of a bone.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first information element further concerns the side of the bone the fracture is on.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first information element further concerns the type of fracture.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the first information element further concerns the bone condition.

25. A method of selecting a configuration of fixation and compression screws for a bone plate to be installed on a bone of a patient, comprising:

inputting into a computer, having a processor, memory and input/output functionality, information about one or more of (1) the bone;

(2) the patient;

(3) physical forces to which the bone will be subjected;

(4) a candidate bone plate; and

(5) fixation and compression screws adapted to be potentially used with the plate.