SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ORTHOPEDIC MEASUREMENT AND ALIGNMENT

• US 20100249791A1
• Filed: 03/26/2010
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Martin Roche
• Original Assignee: Martin Roche
• Inventors: Roche, Martin
• Application Number:
  US12/748,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20100249791A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0268 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1076 for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters A61B3/1005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/412 Detecting or monitoring sepsis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4509 Bone density determination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4657 Measuring instruments used for implanting artificial joints for surgical instruments A61B90/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4658 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4666 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4668 for measuring angles
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/60 relating to pathologies

Abstract

At least one embodiment is directed to a system for distracting bones of a muscular-skeletal system. The dynamic distractor (100) comprises at least one sensor (108, 110), a handle (112, 804), a lift mechanism (302), and one or more alignment aids (502, 802). The position and measurement sensors (108, 110) are in communication with the processing unit (406) to display, process, and store measured data. The process of distraction separates two components such as bones of the muscular-skeletal system. Dynamic distractor (100) can aid in the alignment of the skeletal system and to verify that alignment is correct. A surface or feature on a handle of dynamic distractor (100) has a relational position to one of the surfaces being distracted. The surface has an optimal alignment to a mechanical axis. An alignment aid (502, 802) is coupled to the surface or feature to measure alignment to the mechanical axis.

Claims

1. An orthopedic system comprising:

a device coupled to a muscular-skeletal system;

a surface or feature on the device having a relational position to at least one of surface of the muscular-skeletal system where the surface or feature is used to determine alignment with a mechanical axis of the muscular-skeletal system.

2. The system of claim 1 where the device includes:

a spacer having a superior surface and an inferior surface to distract two surfaces of the muscular-skeletal system;

a handle coupled to the spacer where the handle includes the surface or feature; and

an alignment aid coupled to surface or feature of the handle.

3. The system of claim 2 where the alignment aid coupled to the surface or feature of the handle is used to determine misalignment between the at least one surface of the muscular-skeletal system and a mechanical axis of the muscular-skeletal system.

4. The system of claim 3 further including a sensor coupled to the spacer for determining a relative position of at least two bones of the muscular-skeletal system.

5. The system of claim 1 where the alignment aid comprises a rod, where the feature is an opening or cavity, where the rod is directed perpendicular to a plane of the at least one surface of the muscular-skeletal system.

6. The system of claim 5 where the rod corresponds to an alignment of the at least one surface to the mechanical axis.

7. The system of claim 5 where the rod includes at least one sensor to measure a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system.

8. The system of claim 2 where the alignment tool comprises:

at least one laser coupled to the surface or feature of the handle; and

at least one target coupled to the muscular-skeletal system where the at least one target is positioned to be in alignment with the mechanical axis.

9. The system of claim 8 where the laser is directed perpendicular to a plane of the at least one surface of the muscular-skeletal system.

10. The system of claim 2 further including at least one sensor overlying a superior or inferior surface of the spacer to measure at least one parameter of the muscular-skeletal system.

11. The system of claim 10 where a spacing between the superior surface and the inferior surface is adjustable in height and where the handle can be moved away from a surgical area.

12. A method of measuring the muscular-skeletal system comprising the steps of:

distracting two surfaces of the muscular-skeletal system with a spacer; and

measuring misalignment of a surface of the two surfaces to a mechanical axis with an alignment aid coupled to a handle of the spacer block where the alignment aid is coupled to a surface or feature on the handle that has a relational position to the surface.

13. The method of claim 12 further including the steps of:

placing the two surfaces of the muscular-skeletal system in a first position;

correcting misalignment of the surface if outside a predetermined range;

measuring a gap between the two surfaces;

measuring a force applied by the two surfaces on the spacer; and

transmitting measurement data to a processing unit.

14. The method of claim 12 further including the steps of:

placing the two surfaces of the muscular-skeletal system in a second position;

checking alignment of the surface to the mechanical axis in the second position;

measuring a gap between the two surface in the second position;

measuring a force applied by the two surfaces on the distractor in the second position; and

transmitting measurement data to the processing unit.

15. The method of claim 12 where the step of measuring misalignment further includes the steps of:

coupling at least one laser to the handle; and

coupling at least one target to the muscular-skeletal system where a location of the beam hitting the target corresponds to the misalignment of the surface to the mechanical axis.

16. An orthopedic system comprising:

a dynamic distractor having a superior surface and an inferior surface to variably distract at least two surfaces of the muscular-skeletal system where either the superior or inferior surface includes a sensor for measuring at least one parameter of the muscular-skeletal system; and

a handle coupled to the distractor where the handle has at least one feature having a relational position to a surface of the at least two surfaces of the muscular-skeletal system to aid in determining misalignment to a mechanical axis of the muscular-skeletal system.

17. The system of claim 16 where the relational position of the feature is perpendicular to a plane of the at least one surface of the muscular-skeletal system.

18. The system of claim 17 where a center of the feature is aligned to the mechanical axis.

19. The system of claim 16 where the feature is an opening or a cavity in the handle, where a rod is coupled to the feature to indicate a direction perpendicular to the at least one surface of the muscular-skeletal system, and where the direction of the rod is compared to the mechanical axis to determine misalignment.

20. The system of claim 16 further including:

at least one laser coupled to the feature of the handle; and

at least one target coupled to the muscular-skeletal system where the at least one target is positioned to be in alignment with the mechanical axis.