Total knee arthroplasty systems and processes

Abstract

Systems and processes for tracking anatomy, instrumentation, trial implants, implants, and references, and rendering images and data related to them in connection with surgical operations, for example total knee arthroplasties (“TKA”). These systems and processes are accomplished by using a computer to intraoperatively obtain images of body parts and to register, navigate, and track surgical instruments.

1 . A system for performing total knee arthroplasty surgical operations on portions of a knee joint comprising: 
 (a) a locator for obtaining data corresponding to structure of a femur, wherein the locator and the femur are each attached to a fiducial capable of being tracked by a position sensor;    (b) at least one position sensor adapted to track position of said fiducials;    (c) a computer adapted to store data corresponding to the structure of the femur and to receive information from said at least one sensor in order to track position and orientation of said fiducials and thus the femur;    (d) an extramedullary rod adapted to be attached to a femur using an impactor, said impactor attached to a fiducial, whereby the position of the extramedullary rod is capable of being tracked by said sensor and the position and orientation of the rod is capable of being tracked by said computer; and    (e) a monitor adapted to receive information from the computer in order to display a representation of said extramedullary rod positioned and oriented relative to a representation of the femur for navigation and positioning of the rod on the femur.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the locator comprises a probe.  
     
     
         3 . A system for performing total knee arthroplasty surgical operations on portions of a knee joint comprising: 
 (a) a locator for obtaining data corresponding to structure of a femur, wherein the locator and the femur are each attached to a fiducial capable of being tracked by a position sensor;    (b) at least one position sensor adapted to track position of said fiducials;    (c) a computer adapted to store the data corresponding to the structure of the femur and to receive information from said at least one sensor in order to track position and orientation of said fiducials and thus the femur;    (d) a medullary rod adapted to be attached to a femur using an impactor, said impactor attached to a fiducial, whereby the position of the medullary rod is capable of being tracked by said sensor and the position and orientation of the rod is capable of being tracked by said computer; and    (e) a monitor adapted to receive information from the computer in order to display a representation of the medullary rod positioned and oriented relative to a representation of the femur for navigation and positioning of the rod on the femur.    
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the representation of the femur comprises at least one mechanical axis of the femur.  
     
     
         5 . A system for performing total knee arthroplasty surgical operations on portions of a knee joint comprising: 
 (a) a locator for obtaining data corresponding to the structure of bone, wherein the locator and the bone are each attached to a fiducial capable of being tracked by a position sensor;    (b) at least one position sensor adapted to track position of said fiducials;    (c) a computer adapted to store data relating to structure of the bone and to receive information from said at least one sensor in order to track position and orientation of said fiducials and thus the bone;    (d) a total knee arthroplasty surgical instrument adapted to be associated with a fiducial which is attached to bone, whereby the position and orientation of the instrument is capable of being tracked by said sensor; and    (e) a monitor adapted to receive information from the computer in order to display a representation of the instrument and a total knee arthroplasty implant component corresponding to said instrument, positioned and oriented relative to a representation of the knee joint for navigation and positioning of the instrument on the bone.    
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the locator comprises a probe.  
     
     
         7 . A system for performing total knee arthroplasty surgical operations on portions of a knee joint comprising: 
 (a) a locator for obtaining data corresponding to structure of a femur, wherein the locator and the femur are each attached to a fiducial capable of being tracked by a position sensor;    (b) at least one position sensor adapted to track position of said fiducials;    (c) a computer adapted to store the data corresponding to structure of the femur and to receive information from said at least one sensor in order to track position and orientation of said fiducials and thus the femur;    (d) a femoral trial implant whose position is capable of being tracked by said sensor and whose position and orientation is capable of being tracked by said computer; and    (e) a monitor adapted to receive information from the computer in order to display a representation of said femoral trial implant positioned and oriented relative to a representation of the femur for navigation and positioning of the trial implant on the femur.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the locator comprises a probe.  
     
     
         9 . A system for performing total knee arthroplasty surgical operations on portions of a knee joint comprising: 
 (a) a locator for obtaining data corresponding to structure of a tibia, wherein the locator and the tibia are each attached to a fiducial capable of being tracked by a position sensor;    (b) at least one position sensor adapted to track position of said fiducials;    (c) a computer adapted to store the data corresponding to the structure of the tibia and to receive information from said at least one sensor in order to track position and orientation of said fiducials and thus the tibia;    (d) a tibial trial implant whose position is capable of being tracked by said sensor and whose position and orientation is capable of being tracked by said computer; and    (e) a monitor adapted to receive information from the computer in order to display a representation of said tibial trial implant positioned and oriented relative to a representation of the tibia for navigation and positioning of the trial implant on the tibia.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the representation of the tibia comprises at least one mechanical axis of the tibia.  
     
     
         11 . A system for performing total knee arthroplasty surgical operations on portions of a knee joint comprising: 
 (a) a locator for obtaining data corresponding to structure of a femur, wherein the imager and the femur are each attached to a fiducial capable of being tracked by a position sensor;    (b) at least one position sensor adapted to track position of said fiducials;    (c) a computer adapted to store the data corresponding to the structure of the femur and to receive information from said at least one sensor in order to track position and orientation of said fiducials and thus the femur;    (d) a femoral implant capable of being mounted on a tool, said tool attached to a fiducial, whereby the position of the femoral implant is capable of being tracked by said sensor and the position and orientation of the implant is capable of being tracked by said computer; and    (e) a monitor adapted to receive information from the computer in order to display a representation of said femoral implant positioned and oriented relative to a representation of the femur for navigation and positioning of the implant on the femur.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the representation of the femur comprises at least one mechanical axis of the femur.  
     
     
         13 . A system for performing total knee arthroplasty surgical operations on portions of a knee joint comprising: 
 (a) a locator for obtaining data corresponding to structure of a tibia, wherein the imager and the tibia are each attached to a fiducial capable of being tracked by a position sensor;    (b) at least one position sensor adapted to track position of said fiducials;    (c) a computer adapted to store the data corresponding to the structure of the tibia and to receive information from said at least one sensor in order to track position and orientation of said fiducials and thus the tibia;    (d) a tibial implant capable of being mounted on an impactor, said impactor attached to a fiducial, whereby the position of the tibial implant is capable of being tracked by said sensor and the position and orientation of the implant is capable of being tracked by said computer; and    (e) a monitor adapted to receive information from the computer in order to display a representation of said tibial implant positioned and oriented relative to a representation of the tibia for navigation and positioning of the implant on the tibia.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the locator comprises a probe.  
     
     
         15 . A system for performing total knee arthroplasty surgical operations on portions of a knee joint comprising: 
 (a) a locator for obtaining data corresponding to structure of a femur, wherein the locator and the femur are each attached to a fiducial capable of being tracked by a position sensor;    (b) at least one position sensor adapted to track position of said fiducials;    (c) a computer adapted to store the data corresponding to the structure of the femur and to receive information from said at least one sensor in order to track position and orientation of said fiducials and thus the femur;    (d) a total knee arthroplasty surgical instrument whose position is capable of being tracked by said sensor and whose position and orientation is capable of being tracked by said computer;    (e) a femoral trial implant capable of being mounted on a tool, said tool attached to a fiducial, whereby the position of the femoral trial implant is capable of being tracked by said sensor and the position and orientation of the trial implant is capable of being tracked by said computer;    (f) a femoral implant capable of being mounted on a tool, said tool attached to a fiducial, whereby the position of the femoral implant is capable of being tracked by said sensor and the position and orientation of the implant is capable of being tracked by said computer; and    (g) a monitor adapted to receive information from the computer in order to display a representation of said instrument, said femoral trial implant and said femoral implant positioned and oriented relative to a representation of the femur for navigation and positioning of the instrument, the trial implant, and the implant on the femur.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the locator comprises a probe.  
     
     
         17 . A system for performing total knee arthroplasty surgical operations on portions of a knee joint comprising: 
 (a) a locator for obtaining data corresponding to structure of a tibia, wherein the locator and the tibia are each attached to a fiducial capable of being tracked by a position sensor;    (b) at least one position sensor adapted to track position of said fiducials;    (c) a computer adapted to store data corresponding to the structure of the tibia and to receive information from said at least one sensor in order to track position and orientation of said fiducials and thus the tibia;    (d) a total knee arthroplasty surgical instrument whose position is capable of being tracked by said sensor and whose position and orientation is capable of being tracked by said computer;    (e) a tibial trial implant capable of being mounted on a tool, said tool attached to a fiducial, whereby the position of the tibial trial implant is capable of being tracked by said sensor and the position and orientation of the trial implant is capable of being tracked by said computer;    (f) a tibial implant capable of being mounted on a tool, said tool attached to a fiducial, whereby the position of the tibial implant is capable of being tracked by said sensor and the position and orientation of the implant is capable of being tracked by said computer; and    (g) a monitor adapted to receive information from the computer in order to display a representation of said instrument, a representation of said tibial trial implant and a representation of said tibial implant positioned and oriented relative to a representation of the tibia for navigation and positioning of the instrument, the trial implant and the implant on the tibia.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the representation of the tibia comprises at least one mechanical axis of the tibia.  
     
     
         19 . A system for performing total knee arthroplasty surgical operations on portions of a knee joint comprising: 
 (a) a locator for obtaining data corresponding to the structure of bone, wherein the locator and the bone are each attached to a fiducial capable of being tracked by a position sensor;    (b) at least one position sensor adapted to track position of said fiducials;    (c) a computer adapted to store data relating to structure of the bone and to receive information from said at least one sensor in order to track position and orientation of said fiducials and thus the bone;    (d) a total knee arthroplasty surgical instrument adapted to be associated with a fiducial, whereby the position and orientation of the total knee arthroplasty instrument is capable of being tracked by said sensor; and    (e) a monitor adapted to receive information from the computer in order to display a representation of a projected position and orientation of a total knee arthroplasty implant or trial implant based on the tracked position and orientation of the total knee arthroplasty instrument positioned and oriented relative to the knee joint for navigation and positioning of the instrument on the bone.    
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the locator comprises a probe.