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 tracks a tool with respect to a bone in computer-assisted surgery. A reference tracker with a MEMS unit is secured to the bone. The tracker outputs data relating to its orientation. A tool provided with a MEMS unit and secured to the bone is preset with an initial orientation. The tool outputs tracking data related to orientation of the tool once initialized. A trackable frame of reference relating the bone to the orientation of the tracker is created. The MEMS unit of the tool is initialized. A relation between the initial orientation of the tool and the orientation of the tracker at initialization of the MEMS unit of the tool is recorded. Orientational data of the tool relative to the frame of reference of the bone calculated using the relation is displayed. A computer-assisted surgery system for tracking a tool with respect to a bone after an initialization of a MEMS unit is also described.

Abstract: A CAS system and method for guiding an operator in inserting a femoral implant in a femur as a function of a limb length and orientation of the femoral implant with respect to the femur, comprising a reference tool for the femur, a registration tool, a bone altering tool and a sensing apparatus.

Abstract: Systems and methods may be used to perform robot-aided surgery. A system may include a robotic controller to monitor a position and orientation of an end effector coupled to an end of a robotic arm. The robotic controller may apply a force to a bone using the end effector, such as via a soft tissue balancing component. The robotic controller may determine soft tissue balance using information from a tracking system, such as a position of a first tracker affixed to the bone. The soft tissue balance may be output, such as to a display device.

Abstract: Systems and methods may be used to perform robot-aided surgery. A system may include a robotic controller to monitor a position and orientation of an end effector coupled to an end of a robotic arm. The robotic controller may apply a force to a bone using the end effector, such as via a soft tissue balancing component. The robotic controller may determine soft tissue balance using information from a tracking system, such as a position of a first tracker affixed to the bone. The soft tissue balance may be output, such as to a display device.

Abstract: A method for assisting subchondral injection comprising creating a model of bone and soft tissue of a patient. At least one void is modeled in the bone from the model of bone and soft tissue. An injection site is identified from the model of bone and soft tissue and modeling of the at least one void. Data is output for guiding at least in the locating of the injection site and drilling of the bone to reach the void. A patient-specific jig for subchondral injection may be created based on the injection site location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining position and orientation of a bone of an anatomical feature are described. These include the use of a wearable holder configured to be mounted about an outer-skin surface of the anatomical feature, such that the anatomical feature and the bone are positioned in fixed relation with respect to the wearable holder when the wearable holder is mounted about the anatomical feature. Reference marker arrays are fixedly mounted to the wearable holder, each being positioned on the wearable holder to identify a landmark of the bone within the wearable holder when the wearable holder is mounted to the anatomical feature. The position and orientation of the reference markers are trackable to determine position and orientation of the wearable holder in a reference coordinate system, thereby enabling position and orientation of the landmarks on the bone to be determined.

Abstract: A pelvic digitizer device has a body defined by a shaft having a tooling end and a handle end with a handle for being manipulated. A visual guide is oriented in a reference plane of the digitizer device. A cup is connected to the tooling end and adapted to be received in an acetabulum of a patient. An inertial sensor unit is connected to the body, the inertial sensor unit having a preset orientation aligned with the reference plane.

Abstract: A method tracks a tool with respect to a bone in computer-assisted surgery. A reference tracker with a MEMS unit is secured to the bone. The tracker outputs data relating to its orientation. A tool provided with a MEMS unit and secured to the bone is preset with an initial orientation. The tool outputs tracking data related to orientation of the tool once initialized. A trackable frame of reference relating the bone to the orientation of the tracker is created. The MEMS unit of the tool is initialized. A relation between the initial orientation of the tool and the orientation of the tracker at initialization of the MEMS unit of the tool is recorded. Orientational data of the tool relative to the frame of reference of the bone calculated using the relation is displayed. A computer-assisted surgery system for tracking a tool with respect to a bone after an initialization of a MEMS unit is also described.

Abstract: A method for assisting in positioning the acetabular cup comprises orienting a cup positioning instrument with a cup thereon in an initial reference orientation relative to an acetabulum of a pelvis with the cup forming a joint with the acetabulum, the cup positioning instrument comprising an inertial sensor unit with pre-planned orientation data for a desired cup orientation based on at least one landmark of the pelvis, The cup positioning instrument is rotated to a desired abduction angle as guided by an interface of the cup positioning instrument, based on movements relative to at least one landmark. The cup positioning instrument is rotated to a desired anteversion angle as guided by the interface of the cup positioning instrument, based on movements relative to the at least one landmark. Upon reaching the desired cup orientation as indicated by the interface, the cup is impacted into the acetabulum.

Abstract: A system for tracking at least one bone in robotized computer-assisted surgery, comprises a processing unit and a non-transitory computer-readable memory communicatively coupled to the processing unit and comprising computer-readable program instructions executable by the processing unit for: obtaining backscatter images of the at least one bone from a tracking device in a coordinate system; generating a three-dimensional geometry of a surface of the at least one bone from the backscatter images, the three-dimensional geometry of the surface being in the coordinate system; determining a position and orientation of the at least one bone in the coordinate system by matching the three-dimensional geometry of the surface of the at least one bone to a three-dimensional model of the bone; controlling an automated robotized variation of at least one of a position and orientation of the tracking device as a function of a processing of the backscatter images; and continuously outputting the position and orientation of

Abstract: A method for assisting in positioning the acetabular cup comprises orienting a cup positioning instrument with a cup thereon in an initial reference orientation relative to an acetabulum of a pelvis with the cup forming a joint with the acetabulum, the cup positioning instrument comprising an inertial sensor unit with pre-planned orientation data for a desired cup orientation based on at least one landmark of the pelvis, The cup positioning instrument is rotated to a desired abduction angle as guided by an interface of the cup positioning instrument, based on movements relative to at least one landmark. The cup positioning instrument is rotated to a desired anteversion angle as guided by the interface of the cup positioning instrument, based on movements relative to the at least one landmark. Upon reaching the desired cup orientation as indicated by the interface, the cup is impacted into the acetabulum.

Abstract: A method for determining a mechanical axis of a tibia using a tibial digitizer is disclosed. The method includes: determining an upper reference point on a tibial plateau corresponding to an entry point of the mechanical axis; fastening an upper mounting end of the tibial digitizer to the tibial plateau at the upper reference point; and fastening a lower mounting end of the tibial digitizer to medial and lateral malleoli of the ankle, by inwardly displacing opposed caliper arms of a self-centering malleoli engaging mechanism toward each other in a common plane until the caliper arms abut the malleoli. A lower reference point located at a midpoint between the medial and lateral malleoli is then determined by identifying a corresponding midpoint between the caliper arms when they are clamped onto the medial and lateral malleoli.

Abstract: A system for tracking a femoral frame of reference in computer-assisted surgery comprises a sensor unit. The sensor unit is adapted to be secured to the femur. The sensor unit comprises accelerometer and gyroscope sensors that produce orientation data. A processing unit receives gyroscope and accelerometer data. The processing unit comprises a gyroscope-data calculator to provide calculated acceleration data resulting from movements of the femur, an accelerometer-data calculator to calculate measured acceleration data resulting from movements of the femur, and an acceleration comparator to relate an orientation of the sensor unit to the femur to define a femoral frame of reference. The femoral frame of reference is defined from the comparison between the calculated and the measured acceleration data. A sensor orientation interface provides orientation data for the femur from a tracking of the femoral frame of reference. A method for tracking a femoral frame of reference is also provided.

Abstract: An assembly of a patient specific instrument and tracking system comprises a patient specific instrument having a body with a patient specific contact surface negatively shaped relative to a corresponding surface of a bone for complementary contact therewith. An inertial sensor unit with a preset orientation is connected to the body in a planned connection configuration, such that a geometrical relation between the contact surface and the inertial sensor unit is known. A tracking system has a tracking processor connected to the inertial sensor unit, a user interface, and bone orientation data related to the patient specific contact surface, the tracking processor producing orientation tracking data for the bone using the geometrical relation and the bone orientation data when the preset orientation of the inertial sensor unit is initialized, to output the orientation tracking data on the user interface.

Abstract: A system for tracking a femoral frame of reference in computer-assisted surgery comprises a sensor unit. The sensor unit is adapted to be secured to the femur. The sensor unit comprises accelerometer and gyroscope sensors that produce orientation data. A processing unit receives gyroscope and accelerometer data. The processing unit comprises a gyroscope-data calculator to provide calculated acceleration data resulting from movements of the femur, an accelerometer-data calculator to calculate measured acceleration data resulting from movements of the femur, and an acceleration comparator to relate an orientation of the sensor unit to the femur to define a femoral frame of reference. The femoral frame of reference is defined from the comparison between the calculated and the measured acceleration data. A sensor orientation interface provides orientation data for the femur from a tracking of the femoral frame of reference. A method for tracking a femoral frame of reference is also provided.

Abstract: Example implants, systems and methods using sensors for orthopedic surgical assessment and/or planning are described herein. An example system can include a wearable sensor device for pre-operative use by a patient before an orthopedic surgery to generate pre-operative sensor data. The system can also include an implantable sensor device (e.g., a bone implant) to generate and aggregate post-operative sensor data associated with the patient after the surgery. The system can retrieve the pre-operative sensor data and the post-operative sensor data and predict, analyze or assess an outcome of the surgery.

Abstract: Systems and methods may be used to perform robot-aided surgery. A system may include a robotic controller to monitor a position and orientation of an end effector coupled to an end of a robotic arm. The robotic controller may apply a force to a bone using the end effector, such as via a soft tissue balancing component. The robotic controller may determine soft tissue balance using information from a tracking system, such as a position of a first tracker affixed to the bone. The soft tissue balance may be output, such as to a display device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for resurfacing bones, and in particular, for detecting and resurfacing one or more femoroacetabular impingements (FAIs). A FAI resurfacing controller may be used to perform this detecting and resurfacing of FAIs. The FAI resurfacing controller may include a bone model generator to receive bone imaging and to generate a model of at least one osteophyte and of a surface of a native bone surrounding the at least one osteophyte. The FAI resurfacing controller may include an osteophyte identifier to set a virtual 3D boundary surface between native bone surface and the at least one osteophyte. The FAI resurfacing controller may include a resurfacing navigator to generate and output a navigation file. The navigation file may include the model with the 3D boundary surface between native bone surface and the at least one osteophyte.

Abstract: There is described a method and a system for generating a non-imaged plane view of an anatomical part for assisting a surgery. A model of the anatomical part is provided, comprising features and dimension parameters. A first plane view of the anatomical part is obtained. Features are identified in the first plane view. The dimension parameters are measured from the features identified. The model is displayed in the non-imaged plane view such that the model is dimensioned with the measured dimension parameters. A position and orientation of a surgical object is then tracked relative to the anatomical part while a user navigates the surgical object in space and a representation of the surgical object to be overlaid in register on at least one the first plane view and/or the non-imaged view is generated.