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 knee arthroplasty procedure on at least a portion of a femur and at least a portion of a tibia of a patient's knee, the computer system comprising:
 (a) an input that receives image data 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;   (b) a memory that at least temporarily stores:
 (i) the image data about the patient's femur and tibia; 
 (ii) reference data about at least one reference related to the patient's femur or tibia; and 
 (iii) device data about a surgical device; 
   (c) a processor that accesses the image, reference and device data at least temporarily stored in the memory and identifies a desired position and orientation of the surgical device relative to at least one of the patient's femur or tibia based at least in part on the image, reference and device data; and   (d) an output that outputs information about the desired position and orientation of the surgical device relative to at least one of the patient's femur or tibia.   
     
     
         22 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the reference data relates to a mechanical or anatomic axis of at least one of the patient's femur and tibia. 
     
     
         23 . The computer system of  claim 22 , wherein the reference data includes data relating to one or both of a femoral mechanical axis or a tibial mechanical axis. 
     
     
         24 . The computer system of  claim 22 , wherein the reference data includes data relating to an epicondylar axis. 
     
     
         25 . The computer system of  claim 22 , wherein the reference data includes data relating to an anterior-posterior axis. 
     
     
         26 . The computer system of  claim 22 , wherein the reference data includes data relating to a posterior condylar axis. 
     
     
         27 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the image data relates to a femoral head and an ankle of the patient. 
     
     
         28 . The computer system of  claim 27 , wherein the reference data relates to a center of the femoral head and a center of the ankle. 
     
     
         29 . The computer system of  claim 27 , wherein the input receives image data about the patient's femur and tibia in an anterior-posterior plane and a lateral plane. 
     
     
         30 . The computer system of  claim 22 , wherein the computer system facilitates positioning the surgical device in at least one of a desired varus/valgus, flexion/extension, and internal/external orientation with respect to one or both of a femoral mechanical axis or a tibial mechanical axis. 
     
     
         31 . The computer system of  claim 30 , further comprising at least one position sensor adapted to track a position of at least one of the femur and the tibia. 
     
     
         32 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the surgical device is a knee arthroplasty cutting guide that includes an interior surface for contacting at least one of the patient's femur and tibia. 
     
     
         33 . The computer system of  claim 32 , wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the knee arthroplasty cutting guide is concave. 
     
     
         34 . The computer system of  claim 33 , wherein the device data is wire frame data about the knee arthroplasty cutting guide. 
     
     
         35 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one reference is at least one reference point on the patient's femur. 
     
     
         36 . The computer system of  claim 35 , wherein the at least one reference point is at least one point on a femoral condyle or a trochlear groove. 
     
     
         37 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the device data about the surgical device is wire frame data. 
     
     
         38 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the output outputs information about a predicted cutting path of the surgical device relative to at least one of the patient's femur and tibia. 
     
     
         39 . The computer system of  claim 21 , further comprising a display that displays a representation of at least one of the patient's femur and tibia. 
     
     
         40 . 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. 
     
     
         41 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the computer system is a networked computer system. 
     
     
         42 . A computer system for facilitating a knee arthroplasty procedure on at least a portion of a femur and at least a portion of a tibia of a patient's knee, the computer system comprising:
 (a) an input that receives image data 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;   (b) a memory that at least temporarily stores:
 (i) the image data about the patient's femur and tibia; 
 (ii) reference data about at least one reference related to the patient's femur or tibia; and 
 (iii) device data about a surgical device; 
   (c) a processor that: (1) accesses the image, reference and device data at least temporarily stored in the memory and identifies a desired position and orientation of the surgical device relative to at least one of the patient's femur or tibia based at least in part on the image, reference and device data, and (2) determines a mechanical axis or an anatomic axis of at least one of the patient's femur and tibia using the reference data; and   (d) an output that outputs information about the desired position and orientation of the surgical device relative to at least one of the patient's femur or tibia.   
     
     
         43 . The computer system of  claim 42 , wherein the desired position and orientation of the surgical device determines an actual position and orientation of the surgical device. 
     
     
         44 . The computer system of  claim 42 , wherein the desired position and orientation of the surgical device determines an actual position and orientation of a second surgical device. 
     
     
         45 . The computer system of  claim 42 , further comprising a display that displays a representation of the structure of at least one of the patient's femur and tibia. 
     
     
         46 . The computer system of  claim 42 , wherein the anatomic axis is an anterior/posterior axis or a medial/lateral axis of at least one of the patient's femur and tibia.