SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR JOINT REPLACEMENT

• US 20110208093A1
• Filed: 01/21/2011
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orthalign, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Orthalign, Inc.
• Inventors: Lane, Richard, Shapiro, Charles, van der Walt, Nicholas, Gross, Jacob, Nash, Sean, Ryan, Matt
• Granted Patent: US 9,339,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/155 Cutting femur
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/157 Cutting tibia
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1764 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2048 using an accelerometer or inertia sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• 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 5/1071 measuring angles, e.g. using goniometers A61B5/1123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/10 for stereotaxic surgery, e.g. frame-based stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/11 with guides for needles or instruments, e.g. arcuate slides or ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/13 guided by light, e.g. laser pointers

Abstract

Systems and methods for joint replacement are provided. The systems and methods include a surgical orientation device, a reference sensor device, and at least one orthopedic fixture. The surgical orientation device, reference sensor device, and orthopedic fixtures can be used to locate the orientation of an axis in the body, to adjust an orientation of a cutting plane or planes along a bony surface, or otherwise to assist in an orthopedic procedure(s).

Claims

1-88. -88. (canceled)

89. A method of determining an anatomical feature during a knee procedure, comprising:

coupling an orientation system with a distal aspect of a femur, the orientation system comprising a housing, an orientation sensor disposed within the housing, and a user interface operably coupled with the orientation sensor;

interacting with the user interface to begin an analysis of potential sources of error in the orientation system after coupling the orientation system to the distal femoral aspect; and

moving the orientation system to collect data indicative of the anatomical feature relevant to the knee procedure.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein the analysis includes a determination of static bias in the orientation sensor.

91. The method of claim 90, further comprising maintaining the position of the orientation sensor for a minimum period prior to moving the orientation system to provides a signal indicative of no motion.

92. The method of claim 91, further comprising repeating the step of interacting with the user interface prior to repeating the step of moving if the minimum period has not passed prior to the initial step of moving.

93. The method of claim 89, further comprising maintaining an average minimum rate of motion of the orientation system during the step of moving.

94. The method of claim 93, wherein the average minimum rate of motion is at least 20 degrees per second about an axis of rotation.

95. The method of claim 89, wherein the orientation sensor includes a gyroscope and the analysis includes a determination of any gyroscope bias.

96. The method of claim 89, further comprising, at the end of the moving step, returning the orientation system to a position that is approximately the same as the position of the orientation system prior to at the beginning of the moving step.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein the orientation system is configured to determine whether the user has returned the orientation system to a position that is approximately the same as the position of the orientation system prior to at the beginning of the moving step.

98. The method of claim 97, wherein the orientation system comprises a filter with a minimum threshold to prevent a false stop indication.

99. The method of claim 98, wherein moving comprises moving in a first plane and further comprising subsequently moving the orientation system in a second plane that is disposed at an angle to the first plane to collect data indicative of the anatomical feature relevant to the knee procedure.

100. The method of claim 99, wherein the initial moving produces abduction of at least about 20 degrees and subsequently moving produces flexion of at least about 20 degrees.

101. The method of claim 89, wherein the sensor includes an accelerometer and the analysis includes determining a gravity component of the accelerometer output.

102. The method of claim 101, further comprising determining, based upon a portion of the accelerometer output excluding the gravity component, the orientation of one or more of the housing and the femur.

103. The method of claim 89, wherein the orientation system comprises a reference device and further comprising:

coupling an orthopedic orientation assembly with the femur, the orientation assembly having a positioning device, the reference device, and a surgical orientation device coupled with the positioning device;

maintaining the position of the reference sensor relative to the femur while moving the surgical orientation device to collect data.

104. The method of claim 89, wherein the anatomical feature is the mechanical axis of the leg.

105. The method of claim 89, further comprising:

positioning, based upon the collected data, a cutting guide coupled with the orthopedic orientation assembly; and

cutting the femur at an angle corresponding to the position of the cutting guide.

106. The method of claim 105, comprising calculating a relative difference in orientation between the surgical orientation device and the reference device prior to positioning the cutting guide.

107. The method of claim 89, comprising estimating a vector representing a mechanical center of rotation of the mechanical axis.

108. The method of claim 103, wherein the position of the reference sensor is maintained by constraining roll of the reference sensor and the surgical orientation device.