Method and Apparatus for Aligning and Securing an Implant Relative to a Patient

• US 20100249657A1
• Filed: 03/24/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nycz, Christopher J., Nycz, Jeffrey H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,167,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2048 using an accelerometer or inertia sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/067 for measuring angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/06 Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/34 Acetabular cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4609 of acetabular cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4662 for measuring penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4666 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4668 for measuring angles

Abstract

A surgical apparatus includes an orientation sensor that detects an actual orientation of a surgical tool. The apparatus also includes an orientation feedback device that selectively provides an orientation feedback signal. Moreover, the apparatus includes a controller that causes the orientation feedback device to provide the orientation feedback signal when the actual orientation of the surgical tool detected by the orientation sensor is substantially equal to a predetermined target orientation of the surgical tool.

Claims

1. A surgical apparatus comprising:

an orientation sensor that detects an actual orientation of a surgical tool;

an orientation feedback device that selectively provides an orientation feedback signal; and

a controller that causes the orientation feedback device to provide the orientation feedback signal when the actual orientation of the surgical tool detected by the orientation sensor is substantially equal to a predetermined target orientation of the surgical tool.

2. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the orientation sensor includes an accelerometer.

3. The surgical apparatus of claim 2, wherein the orientation sensor includes an accelerometer that detects accelerations about three axes that are orthogonal to each other.

4. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the orientation feedback device includes at least one of a visual feedback device that emits a visual feedback signal, an audible feedback device that emits an audible feedback signal, and a tactile feedback device that emits a tactile feedback signal.

5. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing, which encapsulates the orientation sensor, wherein the housing is removably coupled to the surgical tool.

6. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing, which encapsulates the orientation sensor, wherein the housing is integrally coupled to the surgical tool, such that the housing and the surgical tool are monolithic.

7. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an impact sensor that detects an actual effect of impacting the surgical tool, an impact feedback device that selectively provides an impact feedback signal, and wherein the controller causes the impact feedback device to provide the impact feedback signal when the actual effect of impacting the surgical tool detected by the impact sensor substantially matches or exceeds a predetermined target effect of impacting the surgical tool.

8. The surgical apparatus of claim 7, wherein the impact sensor detects at least one of an actual impact force of impacting the surgical tool, an actual displacement of the surgical tool when impacting the surgical tool, and an actual acoustic effect of impacting the surgical tool.

9. The surgical apparatus of claim 7, wherein the impact sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer and a piezoelectric sensor.

10. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an input device for changing the predetermined target orientation.

11. The surgical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the input device is in wireless communication with the controller for changing the predetermined target orientation.

12. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the orientation sensor detects the actual orientation of a load axis of the surgical tool to thereby detect an actual inclination angle of the load axis relative to a median plane of the patient, and wherein the controller causes the orientation feedback device to provide the orientation feedback signal when the actual inclination angle of the load axis relative to the median plane is substantially equal to a predetermined target inclination angle of the load axis relative to the median plane.

13. The surgical apparatus of claim 12, wherein the predetermined target inclination angle is between about 35 degrees to 55 degrees.

14. The surgical apparatus of claim 13, wherein the predetermined target inclination angle is approximately 45 degrees.

15. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the orientation sensor detects the actual orientation of a load axis of the surgical tool to thereby detect an actual anteversion angle of the load axis relative to a coronal plane of the patient, and wherein the controller causes the orientation feedback device to provide the orientation feedback signal when the actual anteversion angle of the load axis relative to the coronal plane is substantially equal to a predetermined target anteversion angle of the load axis relative to the coronal plane.

16. The surgical apparatus of claim 15, wherein the predetermined target anteversion angle is between about 10 degrees and 20 degrees.

17. The surgical apparatus of claim 16, wherein the predetermined target anteversion angle is approximately 15 degrees.

18. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the orientation sensor detects an actual orientation of an impactor tool that transfers a load to a prosthetic implant for implanting the prosthetic implant in a patient.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising determining a target impact effect of impacting the impactor tool, automatically detecting an actual impact effect of impacting the impactor tool, automatically providing an impact feedback signal when the actual impact effect substantially matches the target impact effect, and discontinuing impacting the impactor tool when the actual impact effect substantially matches or exceeds the target impact effect.

22. The implanting assembly of claim 20, wherein the controller simultaneously causes the orientation feedback device to provide the orientation feedback signal and the impact feedback device to provide the impact feedback signal.

19. A method of implanting a prosthetic implant in a patient with an impactor tool comprising:

determining a target orientation of the impactor tool necessary for moving the prosthetic implant to a target location;

automatically detecting an actual orientation of the impactor tool;

automatically providing an orientation feedback signal when the actual orientation of the impactor tool is substantially equal to the target orientation of the impactor tool; and

impacting the impactor tool while the actual orientation of the impactor tool is substantially equal to the target orientation of the impactor tool to move the prosthetic implant substantially toward the target location.

21. An implanting assembly for implanting an acetabular cup of a prosthetic hip assembly in a patient, the impactor assembly comprising:

an impactor tool having an elongated shaft defining a load axis, a head at a first end, and a coupling mechanism at a second end for removably coupling to the acetabular cup, the impactor tool for transferring a load from impacting the impactor tool along the load axis to the acetabular cup; and

an implanting apparatus that is operatively coupled to the impactor tool, the implanting apparatus comprising;

an orientation sensor that detects an actual inclination angle of the load axis relative to a median plane of the patient and that detects an actual anteversion angle of the load axis relative to a coronal plane of the patient;

an orientation feedback device that selectively provides an orientation feedback signal;

an impact sensor that detects an actual effect of impacting the impactor tool, the actual effect of impacting the impactor tool including at least one of an actual impact force of impacting the impactor tool, an actual displacement of the impactor tool when impacting the impactor tool, and an actual acoustic effect of impacting the impactor tool;

an impact feedback device that selectively provides an impact feedback signal; and

a controller that causes the orientation feedback device to provide the orientation feedback signal when the actual inclination angle is substantially equal to a predetermined target inclination angle and the actual anteversion angle is substantially equal to a predetermined target anteversion angle, the controller also causing the impact feedback device to provide the impact feedback signal when the actual effect of impacting the impactor tool detected by the impact sensor substantially matches or exceeds a predetermined target effect of impacting the impactor tool.