METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DIAGNOSING, TREATING, OR TRACKING SPINAL DISORDERS

• US 20100191088A1
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lange, Eric C., Morrison, Matthew M., Carls, Thomas, ANDERSON, Kent M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,685,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/373
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7074 Tools specially adapted for spinal fixation operations other than for bone removal or filler handling A61B17/7062, A61B17/808, A61B17/8858 take precedence; for spinal image producing devices A61B90/36, A61B34/20; markers A61B90/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/564 Methods for bone or joint treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/105 Modelling of the patient, e.g. for ligaments or bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/108 Computer aided selection or customisation of medical implants or cutting guides
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 Indication means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0812 indicating loosening or shifting of parts of an instrument, signaling maladjustment of parts
• 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 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4504 Bones A61B5/4547 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4514 Cartilage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and systems for performing a surgical procedure using implantable sensors are disclosed. The method includes providing one or more implantable sensors, each sensor configured for implantation adjacent to an anatomical feature of a patient; imaging the patient to determine the relative positions of the one or more implantable sensors relative to the anatomical features of the patient; inserting an implant adjacent to at least one of the anatomical features; and tracking the position of the implant relative to the at least one anatomical feature during the inserting of the implant using the implantable sensors.

Claims

1. A method of performing a surgical procedure using implantable sensors, the method comprising:

providing one or more implantable sensors, each sensor configured for implantation adjacent to an anatomical feature of a patient;

inserting one or more of the implantable sensors into the patient adjacent to the anatomical feature using a minimally invasive procedure;

imaging the patient to determine the relative positions of the one or more implantable sensors relative to the anatomical features of the patient;

inserting an implant into the patient adjacent to the anatomical feature using a minimally invasive procedure; and

tracking the position of the implant relative to the at least one anatomical feature during insertion of the implant using the implantable sensors.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the implantable sensors comprises a housing having a bone engaging portion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the implantable sensors inserted into the patient comprises an asymmetrical profile such that an orientation of the sensor with respect to the adjacent anatomical feature is detectable from the imaging.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the implant includes a sensor therein and wherein tracking the position of the implant comprises tracking the relative position of the sensor within the implant to at least one of the implantable sensors.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the implant comprises grasping the implant with a surgical tool, the surgical tool including a sensor therein and wherein tracking the position of the implant comprises tracking the relative position of the sensor within the surgical tool to at least one of the implantable sensors.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein inserting one or more of the implantable sensors comprises positioning two or more sensors symmetrical about the anatomical feature.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors include a housing having a bone engaging portion and an asymmetrical head portion;

and further comprising;

engaging the bone engaging portion of the housing with a vertebra;

imaging the patient to determine the relative position of the sensor relative to the vertebra using the asymmetrical head portion of the housing as a guide;

inserting an implant adjacent to the vertebra; and

tracking the position of the implant relative to the vertebra by correlating the relative position of the implant to the sensor to the vertebra.

8. A method of selecting implant parameters, the method comprising:

introducing one or more sensors adjacent to an anatomical feature;

monitoring a motion sequence of the anatomical feature with the one or more sensors;

analyzing the monitored motion sequence of the anatomical feature to detect a problem in the motion sequence of the anatomical feature; and

determining a parameter for an implant for at least partially correcting the problem in the motion sequence of the anatomical feature.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

monitoring the motion sequence of the anatomical feature with the one or more sensors after implantation of the implant.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

analyzing the monitored motion sequence of the anatomical feature after implantation of the implant to detect a remaining problem in the motion sequence of the anatomical feature;

determining a modification of at least one parameter of the implant to at least partially correct the remaining problem in the motion sequence of the anatomical feature.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein monitoring the motion sequence comprises tracking a position of the one or more sensors.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein monitoring the motion sequence comprises tracking a position of the one or more sensors with respect to another of the one or more sensors.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein analyzing the monitored motion sequence comprises creating an animated model of the motion sequence.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein detecting the problem in the motion sequence comprises comparing the animated model of the motion sequence to a standardized model.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

identifying one or more spinal implants for at least partially correcting the detected problem in the motion sequence of a spinal joint, and

ranking the one or more spinal implants based on effectiveness for correcting the detected problem.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the one or more spinal implant is adjustable such that at least one parameter of the spinal implant is modifiable.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

selecting an initial value for the at least one parameter;

performing a simulation of the spinal implant with the initial value for the at least one parameter;

modifying the initial value of the at least one parameter of the adjustable spinal implant based on the simulation to identify a best value for each of the at least one parameters for correcting the problem in the motion sequence of the anatomical feature.

18. A method of detecting implant migration, comprising:

inserting a first sensor into a bone structure;

securing the first sensor in a fixed position with respect to the bone structure;

engaging an implant with at least a portion of the bone structure, the implant having a second sensor positioned therein;

securing the implant with the portion of the bone structure such that the second sensor is substantially fixed with respect to the bone structure and the first sensor; and

monitoring the position of the second sensor with respect to the first sensor to identify implant migration.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein monitoring the position of the second sensor with respect to the first sensor comprises monitoring the relative angle of the second sensor to the first sensor.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein monitoring the position of the second sensor with respect to the first sensor comprises monitoring and comparing motion patterns of the first and second sensors.