Device and method for determining the aperture angle of a joint

Abstract

A device for determining the aperture angle of a joint includes a detection device for detecting positions of joint components and/or positions of structures connected to or to be connected to the joint and a computational unit for ascertaining the aperture angle of the joint based on the detected positions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for determining an aperture angle of a joint, said method comprising: 
 detecting at least one of (i) positions of components forming the joint and (ii) positions of structures connected to or to be connected to the joint; and    ascertaining the aperture angle of the joint from the detected positions.    
     
     
         2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 recording at least one of (i) joint structures and (ii) structures connected to or to be connected to the joint; and    using the recorded structures to determine the aperture angle.    
     
     
         3 . The method as set forth in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 performing a segmentation step to sub-divide the recorded structures.    
     
     
         4 . The method as set forth in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 attaching reference markers to at least one of (i) the joint and (ii) the structures connected to or to be connected to the joint.    
     
     
         5 . The method as set forth in  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 registering at least one of (i) the joint and (ii) the structures connected to or to be connected to the joint.    
     
     
         6 . The method as set forth in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 visualizing the ascertained aperture angle.    
     
     
         7 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein ascertained aperture angles are stored in a storage unit.  
     
     
         8 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 determining aperture angles of a natural joint in a plurality of directions;    implanting an artificial joint;    determining aperture angles of the implanted joint; and    comparing the determined aperture angles of the natural joint with the determined aperture angles of the implanted joint.    
     
     
         9 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising applying defined forces in defined directions to the joint.  
     
     
         10 . A computer program which, when it is loaded onto a computer or run on a computer, performs the method steps as set forth in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         11 . A machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions that, when executed, cause a system to perform the method as set forth in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         12 . A device for determining an aperture angle of a joint, said device comprising: 
 a detection device for detecting at least one of (i) positions of joint components and (ii) positions of structures connected to or to be connected to the joint; and    a computational unit for ascertaining the aperture angle of the joint based on the detected positions.    
     
     
         13 . The device as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising a storage unit for storing at least one of (i) a geometric structure of the joint and (ii) reference values for determining the aperture angle.  
     
     
         14 . The device as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising a data output device for outputting the ascertained aperture angle.  
     
     
         15 . The device as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising a robot and a force measuring device for applying defined forces in defined directions onto the joint.