Virtual surgical system and methods
First Claim
1. A method for providing virtual alignment of fractured bones comprising:
- capturing image data of fragments of a bone that were separated due to bone fracture;
pre-processing the image data by;
comparing a value of each pixel in the image data to a threshold value;
setting the value of each pixel in the image data that is above the threshold value to a first single pixel value;
identifying objects in the image data based on pixel connectivity; and
filtering identified objects having an area less than a predetermined value from the image data;
generating three-dimensional models of the bone fragments from the image data;
determining contours of fractured ends of the bone fragments;
matching the fractured ends of the bone fragments;
determining a transformation that places the fractured ends in three-dimensional alignment to form a reconstructed bone; and
generating an image of the reconstructed bone that results from the transformation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A virtual surgical system receives an image, such as a computer tomography (CT) scan, of an area of the patient in need of surgical reconstruction prior to an incision being made in a surgery. Bone fragments that are to be reduced are automatically selected using the virtual surgical system. The system performs surface matching techniques using surface data representing the contour of the end surfaces of the fragments to determine how the corresponding fragments should be oriented to perform the reduction. At least one of the fragments may then be transformed (e.g. via translation and/or rotation) to join the surfaces based on the matched surfaces. An image may be generated of the reconstructed area providing a virtual representation of a reconstructed object. Thus, before actual dissection of the area, and the subsequent physical surgical reduction of the bones, an image of the reconstructed object may be displayed such that a prosthesis may be determined and/or manufactured.
141 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for providing virtual alignment of fractured bones comprising:
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capturing image data of fragments of a bone that were separated due to bone fracture; pre-processing the image data by; comparing a value of each pixel in the image data to a threshold value; setting the value of each pixel in the image data that is above the threshold value to a first single pixel value; identifying objects in the image data based on pixel connectivity; and filtering identified objects having an area less than a predetermined value from the image data; generating three-dimensional models of the bone fragments from the image data; determining contours of fractured ends of the bone fragments; matching the fractured ends of the bone fragments; determining a transformation that places the fractured ends in three-dimensional alignment to form a reconstructed bone; and generating an image of the reconstructed bone that results from the transformation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A virtual surgical system comprising:
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a memory including instructions for providing virtual alignment of bone fragments; and a processor configured to execute the instructions to; receive captured image data of the bone fragments; pre-process the image data by; comparing the value of each pixel in the image data to a threshold value; setting the value of each pixel in the image data that is above the threshold value to a first single pixel value; identifying objects in the image data based on pixel connectivity; and filtering identified objects having an area less than a predetermined value from the image data; generate three-dimensional models of the bone fragments; determine contours of fractured ends of the bone fragments; match the fractured ends of the bone fragments; determine a transformation that places the fractured ends in three-dimensional alignment to form a reconstructed bone; and generate an image of the reconstructed bone that results from the transformation. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer-readable memory that stores a computer program for providing virtual alignment of bone fragments comprising:
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logic configured to generate three-dimensional models of bone fragments that were separated due to bone fracture; logic configured to compare the value of each pixel in the image data to a threshold value; logic configured to set the value of each pixel in the image data that is above the threshold value to a first single pixel value; logic configured to identify objects in the image data based on pixel connectivity; logic configured to filter identified objects having an area less than a predetermined value from the image data; logic configured to determine contours of fractured ends of the bone fragments; logic configured to match the fractured ends of the bone fragments; logic configured to determine a transformation that places the fractured ends in three-dimensional alignment to form a reconstructed bone; and logic configured to generate an image of the reconstructed bone that results from the transformation. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification