TENSOR FOR USE IN SURGICAL NAVIGATION

• US 20070244488A1
• Filed: 03/02/2007
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Metzger, Robert, Lakin, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 8,323,290 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/155 Cutting femur
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1764 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0268 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/105 Modelling of the patient, e.g. for ligaments or bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2055 Optical tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/252 indicating steps of a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• 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 34/25 User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/06 Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A tensor for use with a surgical navigation system is provided. The tensor comprises a first bone engaging member engageable with a first bone and a second bone engaging member engageable with a second bone. A force-applying mechanism is configured to forcibly move the first and second bone engaging members relative to one another and a sensor detects the value of the force applied by the force-applying mechanism. A transmitter communicates a parameter associated with the tensor to the surgical navigation system.

Claims

1. A tensor for use with a surgical navigation system, the tensor comprising:

a first bone engaging member engageable with a first bone;

a second bone engaging member engageable with a second bone;

a force-applying mechanism configured to forcibly move the first and second bone engaging members relative to one another;

a sensor configured to detect the value of the force applied by the force-applying mechanism; and

a transmitter for communicating a parameter associated with the tensor to the surgical navigation system.

2. The tensor of claim 1, wherein the parameter comprises force.

3. The tensor of claim 1, wherein the parameter comprises distance.

4. The tensor of claim 3, wherein the distance is taken between the first bone engaging member and the second bone engaging member.

5. The tensor of claim 4, further comprising a display adapted to display the distance between the first bone engaging member and the second bone engaging member.

6. The tensor of claim 1, wherein the first bone engaging member comprises a tibia-engaging member engageable with a tibial plateau and the second bone engaging member comprises a condyle-engaging member engageable with a femoral condyle.

7. The tensor of claim 1, wherein the first bone engaging member comprises a first vertebra-engaging member engageable with a first vertebral body and the second bone engaging member comprises a second vertebra-engaging member engageable with a second vertebral body.

8. The tensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a transducer.

9. The tensor of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises a wireless transmitter.

10. The tensor of claim 1, further comprising a tracking array attachable thereto, the tracking array being detectable and trackable by the surgical navigation system.

11. The tensor of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is autoclavable and is releasably attachable to the tensor.

12. The tensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a sensing arm that includes a pressure sensitive material.

13. The tensor of claim 12, further comprising a pivot arm coupled to the force-applying mechanism, the pivot arm engaging the sensing arm during use of the tensor with a force that is proportional to the force applied by the force-applying mechanism.

14. A tensor for use with a surgical navigation system, the tensor comprising:

a first bone engaging member engageable with a first bone;

a second bone engaging member engageable with a second bone;

a force-applying mechanism configured to forcibly move the first and second bone engaging members relative to one another; and

a transmitter for communicating the distance between the first bone engaging member and the second bone engaging member to the surgical navigation system.

15. The tensor of claim 14, further comprising a sensor configured to detect the value of the force applied by the force-applying mechanism.

16. The tensor of claim 15, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the detected force value to the surgical navigation system.

17. The tensor of claim 15, wherein the sensor comprises a transducer.

18. The tensor of claim 14, wherein the first bone engaging member comprises a tibia-engaging member engageable with a tibial plateau and the second bone engaging member comprises a condyle-engaging member engageable with a femoral condyle.

19. The tensor of claim 14, wherein the first bone engaging member comprises a first vertebra-engaging member engageable with a first vertebral body and the second bone engaging member comprises a second vertebra-engaging member engageable with a second vertebral body.

20. The tensor of claim 14, wherein the transmitter comprises a wireless transmitter.

21. The tensor of claim 14, wherein the transmitter is autoclavable and is releasably attachable to the tensor.

22. The tensor of claim 15, wherein the sensor comprises a sensing arm that includes a pressure sensitive material.

23. The tensor of claim 22, further comprising a pivot arm coupled to the force-applying mechanism, the pivot arm engaging the sensing arm during use of the tensor with a force that is proportional to the force applied by the force-applying mechanism.

24. A method of performing a surgery on a patient, comprising:

operating a surgical navigation system;

using a tensor having a first bone engaging member and a second bone engaging member to forcibly distract a first bone from a second bone;

detecting a parameter with the tensor; and

transmitting the detected parameter to the surgical navigation system.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the parameter comprises a distraction force between the first bone and the second bone.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the detecting of the distraction force comprises sensing the distraction force with a transducer.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the transmitting of the detected distraction force comprises wirelessly communicating the distraction force to the surgical navigation system.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising receiving the transmitted distraction force with a receiver.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the parameter comprises a distance between the first bone and the second bone.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising displaying the distance on a monitor of the surgical navigation system.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein using the tensor to distract the first bone from the second bone comprises distracting a resected tibial plateau from a femoral condyle.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein using the tensor to distract the first bone from the second bone comprises distracting a first vertebral body from a second vertebral body.

33. The method of claim 24, further comprising providing a tracking array with the tensor, the tracking array being detectable and trackable by the surgical navigation system.

34. The method of claim 24, wherein using the tensor to distract the first bone from the second bone comprises applying between about 20 and about 30 pounds of force between the first and second bone.

35. The method of claim 24, wherein the detected parameter is transmitted to the surgical navigation system by an autoclavable transmitter that is releasably attachable to the tensor.