Systems using imaging data to facilitate surgical procedures

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 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer system for facilitating a joint arthroplasty procedure on a patient's joint, the patient's joint including at least one bone, the computer system comprising:
 (a) an input that receives image data about a structure of the at least one bone;   (b) a memory that at least temporarily stores:
 (i) the image data about the structure of the at least one bone; and 
 (ii) device data about a surgical cutting guide; 
   (c) a processor; and   (d) an output that outputs information about a predicted position and orientation of the cutting guide relative to the at least one bone.   
     
     
         22 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the input also receives reference data about at least one reference related to the structure of the at least one bone. 
     
     
         23 . The computer system of  claim 22 , wherein the reference data is at least one reference point on the structure of the at least one bone. 
     
     
         24 . The computer system of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one reference point is at least one point on a femoral condyle or a trochlear groove. 
     
     
         25 . The computer system of  claim 22 , wherein the reference data is a center of rotation of the at least one bone. 
     
     
         26 . The computer system of  claim 22 , wherein the processor determines an axis of the at least one bone using the reference data. 
     
     
         27 . The computer system of  claim 26 , wherein the axis is a mechanical axis, an anterior/posterior axis, or a medial/lateral axis of the at least one bone. 
     
     
         28 . The computer system of  claim 21 , further comprising a position sensor for tracking the position of the at least one bone and the surgical cutting guide. 
     
     
         29 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the joint arthroplasty procedure is a knee arthroplasty procedure, wherein the at least one bone is a femur of the patient and a tibia of the patient, and wherein the image data is about the patient's femur and tibia, including at least portions of an upper and a lower extremity of the femur and an upper and lower extremity of the tibia. 
     
     
         30 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the device data about the surgical cutting guide is wire frame data. 
     
     
         31 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the output outputs information about a predicted cutting path of the cutting guide relative to the at least one bone of the patient. 
     
     
         32 . The computer system of  claim 31 , wherein the processor determines the predicted cutting path based at least in part on the image and device data as well as a surgeon's input. 
     
     
         33 . The computer system of  claim 32 , wherein the predicted cutting path of the cutting guide relative to the at least one bone of the patient determines an actual position and orientation of a second surgical instrument. 
     
     
         34 . The computer system of  claim 32 , wherein the predicted cutting path of the cutting guide relative to the at least one bone of the patient determines an actual position and orientation of an orthopaedic implant. 
     
     
         35 . The computer system of  claim 21 , further comprising a display that displays a representation of the structure of the at least one bone. 
     
     
         36 . The computer system of  claim 35 , wherein the display displays a representation of the predicted position and orientation of the cutting guide relative to the at least one bone. 
     
     
         37 . The computer system of  claim 35 , wherein the display displays a representation of a predicted position of an orthopaedic implant relative to the at least one bone. 
     
     
         38 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the image data is X-ray image data, CT image data, MRI image data, or fluoroscopic image data. 
     
     
         39 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the computer system is a networked computer system. 
     
     
         40 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the joint arthroplasty procedure is a total joint arthroplasty procedure or a partial joint arthroplasty procedure. 
     
     
         41 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the joint arthroplasty procedure is a knee arthroplasty, a hip arthroplasty, a shoulder arthroplasty, an elbow arthroplasty or an ankle arthroplasty. 
     
     
         42 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the cutting guide is a knee arthroplasty cutting guide that includes an interior surface for contacting the at least one bone. 
     
     
         43 . The computer system of  claim 42 , wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the knee arthroplasty cutting guide is concave. 
     
     
         44 . A computer system for facilitating a joint arthroplasty procedure on a patient's joint, the patient's joint including at least one bone, the computer system comprising:
 (a) an input that receives image data about a structure of the at least one bone;   (b) a memory that at least temporarily stores:
 (i) the image data about the structure of the at least one bone; and 
 (ii) device data about a surgical cutting guide; 
   (c) a processor that determines a mechanical axis or an anatomic axis of the at least one bone; and   (d) an output that outputs information about a predicted position and orientation of the cutting guide relative to the at least one bone.   
     
     
         45 . The computer system of  claim 44 , wherein the processor determines the mechanical axis or the anatomic axis of the at least one bone using reference data about at least one reference related to the structure of the at least one bone. 
     
     
         46 . The computer system of  claim 45 , wherein the processor identifies the predicted position and orientation of the cutting guide based at least in part on the image, reference and device data as well as a surgeon's input. 
     
     
         47 . The computer system of  claim 45 , wherein the predicted position and orientation of the cutting guide determines an actual position and orientation of the cutting guide. 
     
     
         48 . The computer system of  claim 45 , wherein the predicted position and orientation of the cutting guide determines an actual position and orientation of a second surgical device. 
     
     
         49 . The computer system of  claim 44 , further comprising a display that displays a representation of the structure of the at least one bone. 
     
     
         50 . The computer system of  claim 44 , wherein the anatomic axis is an anterior/posterior axis or a medial/lateral axis of the at least one bone.