Abstract: A system and process for performing orthopedic surgery is provided that uses a patient's existing implant as a registration tool in an orthopedic surgical procedure. The systems and processes may be used with computer assisted systems or navigation systems to aid in the removal of bone, bone cement, or a bone prosthesis, typically a bone prosthesis used in hip replacement surgery, knee replacement surgery, and the like. The removal of the prosthesis may be done by conventional methods, with navigation systems, robotic assistance or articulating hand held systems. The removal of bone and/or bone cement may be performed with navigated systems, robotic systems, articulating hand-held systems and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A calibration device is provided having a body with an exterior surface configured for placement about a tool such that the body rotates about a tool axis. One or more fiducial marker is positioned on the exterior surface and in communication with a tracking system. A fixed fiducial marker array is provided that is also in communication with the tracking system. A calibration tool defines the tool axis relative to the fiducial marker array. A surgical system is also provided with a tracking module that calculates a center point of the rotation or a normal vector to the circular path to define a tool axis orientation. A method of using the surgical system and defining a tool axis relative to a fiducial marker array is provided. A system for defining a robot link orientation or tracking a tool a medical procedure and a fiducial marker array are provided.

Abstract: A system and process for performing orthopedic surgery is provided that uses a tibial trial system in total knee arthroplasty for assessing optimal internal-external rotation and posterior tibial slope, and for measuring the rotation of a tibial trial throughout flexion-extension to determine and mark the best position for the final tibial component. The tibial trial system determines the internal-external location on a patient specific basis with improved component placement well within the present manual methods. One particular advantage to the tibial trial system is to assess the natural internal-external rotation that the tibial component will experience relative to the femoral component during flexion-extension as opposed to simply recording and balancing forces on a static tibial trial. The invention disclosed herein may also be adapted to be used with a computer assisted surgical device. Such surgical devices include active, semi-active, and haptic devices as well as articulating drill and saw systems.

Abstract: A method for improved robotic cutting, the method comprising: determining at least one of cutting force data and bone motion data during robotic cutting; determining when at least one of the cutting force data and bone motion data exceeds a predetermined parameter; and when it is determined that at least one of the cutting force data and the bone motion data exceeds the predetermined parameter, providing the user with an indication of the same and pausing the robotic cutting so as to enable the user to mitigate the cause of at least one of the cutting force data and the bone motion data exceeding the predetermined parameter.

Abstract: A process for confirming registration of bones involved in a joint replacement procedure is provided that includes a three dimensional (3-D) models of the bones being generated. The bones are tracked with a tracking device attached to each of the bones to allow 6-degrees of freedom (DOF) tracking during the joint replacement procedure. The 3-D models to the bones are registered and the bones having the tracking device are moved. A corresponding motion in the 3-D models with the moving of the bones is then observed. The registration of the 3-D models to the bone when the observations of the 3-D models move in correspondence with the actual bones is then confirmed or an alarm when an algorithm detects the 3-D bone models move unexpectedly during the movement of the bones. A system for confirming registration of bones involved in the joint replacement procedure is also provided.

Abstract: A fiducial attachment device for securement of one or more fiducials to a bone is provided that includes a bracket body having a first hole adapted to receive a first bone pin at a non-parallel angle ? and having a second hole adapted to receive a second bone pin at a non-parallel angles ??, the angles ? and ?? being relative to a center line of said bracket body between the first hole and the second hole. The bracket body sometimes having an aperture therein for knob attachment. A fiducial attachment member extends away from the bracket body, where a distal end of the fiducial attachment member is an attachment point for the one or more fiducials. A method of using the fiducial attachment device is also provided. A system for using a fiducial attachment device of during a surgical procedure is also provided.

Abstract: A process and system for computer assisted orthopedic procedure is provided with a plurality of options to plan, execute, and monitor the creation of a cavity to receive a prosthetic based on clinical needs and pre-operative imaging data. A phantom made of materials of known densities is used to normalize CT image intensity values to estimate bone density. The process and system controls the speed, cutter engagement, orientation, and shape of the cavity so produced based on the normalized bone density values.

Abstract: An optical tracking system includes at least one tracking array for generating and optically transmitting data between 1 and 2,000 MB/s. At least one tracker for optically receiving the optically transmitted data between 1 and 2,000 MB/s is also provided. The tracking system is used not only for tracking objects and sending tracking information quickly but also providing the user or other components in an operating room with additional data relevant to an external device such as a computer assisted device. Orthopedic surgical procedures such as total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are performed more efficiently and with better result with the optical tracking system.

Abstract: A method and system to align a pin or drill a tunnel along a single line in space with a two degree of freedom (2-DOF) surgical device in a patient is provided. A plane is defined relative to a desired location for an implant or tunnel on a bone, where the implant or tunnel has an axis. An end-effector of the 2-DOF surgical device is aligned coincident with the plane, and the 2-DOF surgical device is moved side-to until a first indicator signals when the end-effector aligns with an entry point for the desired location for the implant or tunnel on the bone. A tip of the end-effector is anchored into the bone at the entry point; and the 2-DOF surgical device is rotated about the anchored tip until a second indicator signals when the end-effector aligns with the axis of the implant or tunnel at the desired location.

Abstract: An optical tracking system includes at least one tracking array for generating and optically transmitting data between 1 and 2,000 MB/s. At least one tracker for optically receiving the optically transmitted data between 1 and 2,000 MB/s is also provided. The tracking system is used not only for tracking objects and sending tracking information quickly but also providing the user or other components in an operating room with additional data relevant to an external device such as a computer assisted device. Orthopedic surgical procedures such as total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are performed more efficiently and with better result with the optical tracking system.

Abstract: Systems and processes are provided that utilize the accuracy and adaptability of an optical tracking system to track an object by maintaining a line of sight (LOS) between the optical signals from the tracked object and the optical receivers regardless of the position and orientation of the object being tracked. LOS is maintained without having to manually adjust a tracked device or the optical receivers, or be limited to a specified working volume. Instead, whenever the tracked device moves, an active controller device calculates new values for the degrees of freedom of a series of joints holding a tracking array to the tracked object to position and orient the tracking array to maintain visibility to the optical receivers. A computer-assisted or robotic device that decreases operating times, and improves surgical accuracy, without additional user requirements or adjustments to maintain the LOS of the optical tracking system is provided.

Abstract: A computer-assisted surgery system for guiding alterations to a bone, comprises a trackable member secured to the bone. The trackable member has a first inertial sensor unit producing orientation-based data. A positioning block is secured to the bone, and is adjustable once the positioning block is secured to the bone to be used to guide tools in altering the bone. The positioning block has a second inertial sensor unit producing orientation-based data. A processing system providing an orientation reference associating the bone to the trackable member comprises a signal interpreter for determining an orientation of the trackable member and of the positioning block. A parameter calculator calculates alteration parameters related to an actual orientation of the positioning block with respect to the bone.

Abstract: A surgical device for pin insertion in a bone of a subject to aid in performing a bone cutting procedure is provided that includes a drive portion configured to drive a pin for insertion into the bone. The drive portion has a pin drive assembly with a shaft Q having a shaft proximal end. At least one magnet is associated with the shaft proximal end adapted for attraction and retention of the pin in the shaft proximal end. A spindle assembly is adapted to drive the shaft so as to rotate the pin into the bone to a degree of bone retention that overcomes the attraction and the retention of the pin in the shaft proximal end. An alignment system for surgical bone cutting procedures inclusive of the same is also provided along with a method for aligning a cutting guide on a subject's bone.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to optically track a subject's anatomy without the need for the use of invasive pins and screws currently used to support and attach six-degree-of-freedom fiducial arrays directly to the bone. The system and method is especially advantageous for surgical procedures involving brittle or osteoporotic bone or any other procedure where the preservation of surrounding healthy bone is desirable. The system and method are advantageous for computer-assisted total knee arthroplasty, revision knee arthroplasty, and other medical procedures where the position and orientation (POSE) of bone surface cuts planes are critical for successful placement and correct alignments of joint implants. Often, these procedures require a form of external support to reduce the motion of the bones relative to the computer-assisted device.

Abstract: A system and process is provided for creating accurate and precise bone cuts with a tool, while maintaining the stability and mechanical integrity of the tool during bone cutting. In some instances, the tool is minimally invasive, where the use of a minimally invasive tool reduces the risk of injuring surrounding soft tissues and provides greater access to portions of the bony anatomy through a smaller surgical incision.

Abstract: A system and process for performing orthopedic surgery is provided that uses a patient's existing implant as a registration tool in an orthopedic surgical procedure. The systems and processes may be used with computer assisted systems or navigation systems to aid in the removal of bone, bone cement, or a bone prosthesis, typically a bone prosthesis used in hip replacement surgery, knee replacement surgery, and the like. The removal of the prosthesis may be done by conventional methods, with navigation systems, robotic assistance or articulating hand held systems. The removal of bone and/or bone cement may be performed with navigated systems, robotic systems, articulating hand-held systems and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A computer-assisted surgery system for guiding alterations to a bone, comprises a trackable member secured to the bone. The trackable member has a first inertial sensor unit producing orientation-based data. A positioning block is secured to the bone, and is adjustable once the positioning block is secured to the bone to be used to guide tools in altering the bone. The positioning block has a second inertial sensor unit producing orientation-based data. A processing system providing an orientation reference associating the bone to the trackable member comprises a signal interpreter for determining an orientation of the trackable member and of the positioning block. A parameter calculator calculates alteration parameters related to an actual orientation of the positioning block with respect to the bone.

Abstract: A method of planning a minimally invasive surgical incision in a subject includes an image data set of an anatomical region of the subject being received. A surgical plan is created within the image data set. The anatomical region is registered to the surgical plan. A laser is articulated to project a light indication on the subject indicative of a depth of a first incision. A system for implementing the surgical plan on a subject includes a tracking array. A processor receives an initial positional input from the tracking array, three-dimensional scan data of a surgical field and includes software for generating a surgical plan. A laser is positioned to project a light indication on the subject. A controller controls the laser to modify the light indications to indicate a preselected path and a preselected depth of incision. The articulating device receives the position input and the surgical plan.

Abstract: A system and process is provided for dynamically positioning or repositioning a robot in a surgical context based on workspace and task requirements, manipulator requirements, or user preferences to execute a surgical plan. The system and method accurately determines and indicates an optimal position for a robot with respect to a patient's anatomy before or during a surgical procedure. Optimal positions for a robot are intuitively indicated to a user, surgical procedures can illustratively include surgery to the knee joint, hip joint, spine, shoulder joint, elbow joint, ankle joint, jaw, a tumor site, joints of the hand or foot, and other appropriate surgical sites.

Abstract: A system and process for performing orthopedic surgery is provided that uses a patient's existing implant as a registration tool in an orthopedic surgical procedure. The systems and processes may be used with computer assisted systems or navigation systems to aid in the removal of bone, bone cement, or a bone prosthesis, typically a bone prosthesis used in hip replacement surgery, knee replacement surgery, and the like. The removal of the prosthesis may be done by conventional methods, with navigation systems, robotic assistance or articulating hand held systems. The removal of bone and/or bone cement may be performed with navigated systems, robotic systems, articulating hand-held systems and combinations thereof.