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 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer system for planning a joint arthroplasty procedure on a patient's joint, the computer system comprising:
 (a) an input configured to receive anatomic structure data about at least a portion of the patient's joint, kinematic data about the patient's joint, and first device data about a first size of an orthopaedic implant;   (b) a processor configured to access the anatomic structure data, the kinematic data, and the first device data, and based on the anatomic structure, kinematic, and first device data, execute code to automatically determine a suggested size modification for the orthopaedic implant; and   (c) an output configured to output information about the suggested size modification.   
     
     
         22 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the anatomic structure data received by the input comprises image data about the portion of the patient's joint. 
     
     
         23 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the kinematic data received by the input comprises kinematic data from a physical articulation of the patient's joint. 
     
     
         24 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor automatically selects a second size of the orthopaedic implant based on the anatomic structure and kinematic data. 
     
     
         25 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the computer system is configured to track a position and orientation of the orthopaedic implant relative to the patient's joint. 
     
     
         26 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the input is configured to receive additional device data about additional sizes of an orthopaedic implant. 
     
     
         27 . The computer system of  claim 26 , wherein the processor is configured to access the anatomic structure data, the kinematic data, the first device data, and the additional device data, and, based on the anatomic structure data, the kinematic data, the first device data, and the additional device data, automatically determine a suggested different size for the orthopaedic implant. 
     
     
         28 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the input is configured to receive data about a mechanical axis of the patient's joint. 
     
     
         29 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the input is configured to receive data relating to at least one of an alignment or a stability assessment of the patient's joint. 
     
     
         30 . The computer system of  claim 29 , wherein the data relating to at least one of the alignment or the stability assessment relates to at least one of an external/internal rotation assessment process, a rotational laxity test, or an anterior-posterior drawer test. 
     
     
         31 . The computer system of  claim 29 , wherein the data relating to at least one of the alignment or the stability assessment relates to an assessment performed during a surgery. 
     
     
         32 . The computer system of  claim 29 , wherein the processor is configured to access the anatomic structure data, the kinematic data, the first device data, and the data relating to at least one of the alignment or the stability assessment of the patient's joint, and, based on the accessed data, automatically determine the suggested size modification for the orthopaedic implant. 
     
     
         33 . A computer system for planning a joint arthroplasty procedure on a patient's joint, the computer system comprising:
 (a) an input configured to receive anatomic structure data about at least a portion of the patient's joint, kinematic data about the patient's joint, and first device data about a first size of an orthopaedic implant;   (b) a processor configured to access the anatomic structure data, the kinematic data, and the first device data, and based on the accessed data, execute code to automatically determine a suggested position modification for the orthopaedic implant; and   (c) an output configured to output information about the suggested position modification.   
     
     
         34 . The computer system of  claim 33 , wherein the anatomic structure data received by the input comprises image data about the portion of the patient's joint. 
     
     
         35 . The computer system of  claim 33 , wherein the kinematic data received by the input comprises kinematic data from a physical articulation of the patient's joint. 
     
     
         36 . The computer system of  claim 33 , wherein the computer system is configured to track a position and orientation of the orthopaedic implant relative to the patient's joint. 
     
     
         37 . The computer system of  claim 33 , wherein the input is configured to receive data relating to at least one of an alignment or a stability assessment of the patient's joint. 
     
     
         38 . The computer system of  claim 37 , wherein the data relating to at least one of the alignment or the stability assessment relates to at least one of an external/internal rotation assessment process, a rotational laxity test, or an anterior-posterior drawer test. 
     
     
         39 . The computer system of  claim 37 , wherein the processor is configured to access the anatomic structure data, the kinematic data, the first device data, and the data relating to at least one of the alignment or the stability assessment of the patient's joint, and, based on the accessed data, automatically determine the suggested position modification for the orthopaedic implant. 
     
     
         40 . A computer system for planning a joint arthroplasty procedure on a patient's joint, the computer system comprising:
 (a) an input configured to receive anatomic structure data about at least a portion of the patient's joint, kinematic data about the patient's joint, first device data about a first size of an orthopaedic implant, and data relating to at least one of an alignment or a stability assessment of the patient's joint;   (b) a processor configured to access the anatomic structure data, the kinematic data, the first device data, and the data relating to at least one of the alignment or the stability assessment, and based on the accessed data, execute code to automatically determine at least one of a suggested size or a suggested position for the orthopaedic implant; and   (c) an output configured to output information about the suggested size or position.   
     
     
         41 . The computer system of  claim 40 , wherein the data relating to at least one of the alignment or the stability assessment relates to at least one of an external/internal rotation assessment process, a rotational laxity test, or an anterior-posterior drawer test. 
     
     
         42 . A computer implemented method for planning a joint arthroplasty procedure on a patient's joint, the computer comprising an input, a processor, and an output, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving, by the input, anatomic structure data about at least a portion of the patient's joint, kinematic data about the patient's joint, and first device data about a first size of an orthopaedic implant;   (b) accessing, by the processor, the anatomic structure data, the kinematic data, and the first device data, and based on the anatomic structure, kinematic, and first device data, executing code, by the processor, to automatically determine a suggested size modification for the orthopaedic implant; and   (c) outputting, by the output, information about the suggested size modification.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein receiving the anatomic structure data comprises receiving image data about the portion of the patient's joint. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein receiving the kinematic data comprises receiving kinematic data from a physical articulation of the patient's joint. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein determining the suggested size modification comprises selecting a second size of the orthopaedic implant based on the anatomic structure and kinematic data. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising using the computer to track a position and orientation of the orthopaedic implant relative to the patient's joint. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising receiving, by the input, additional device data about additional sizes of an orthopaedic implant. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein determining the suggested size modification comprises using the data about additional sizes of an orthopaedic implant to determine the suggested size modification. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising receiving, by the input, data about a mechanical axis of the patient's joint. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising receiving, by the input, data relating to at least one of an alignment or a stability assessment of the patient's joint. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein receiving the data relating to at least one of an alignment or a stability assessment comprises receiving data relating to at least one of an external/internal rotation assessment process, a rotational laxity test, or an anterior-posterior drawer test. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein receiving the data relating to at least one of an alignment or a stability assessment comprises receiving data from an assessment performed during a surgery. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein determining the suggested size modification further comprises using the data relating to at least one of the alignment or the stability assessment to determine the suggested size modification. 
     
     
         54 . A computer implemented method for planning a joint arthroplasty procedure on a patient's joint, the computer comprising an input, a processor, and an output, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving, by the input, anatomic structure data about at least a portion of the patient's joint, kinematic data about the patient's joint, and first device data about a first size of an orthopaedic implant;   (b) accessing, by the processor, the anatomic structure data, the kinematic data, and the first device data, and based on the accessed data, executing code, by the processor, to automatically determine a suggested position modification for the orthopaedic implant; and   (c) outputting, by the output, information about the suggested position modification.   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein receiving the anatomic structure data comprises receiving image data about the portion of the patient's joint. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein receiving the kinematic data comprises receiving kinematic data from a physical articulation of the patient's joint. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising using the computer to track a position and orientation of the orthopaedic implant relative to the patient's joint. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising receiving, by the input, data relating to at least one of an alignment or a stability assessment of the patient's joint. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein receiving the data relating to at least one of the alignment or the stability assessment comprises receiving data relating to at least one of an external/internal rotation assessment process, a rotational laxity test, or an anterior-posterior drawer test. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the processor determines the suggested position modification for the orthopaedic implant using the data relating to at least one of the alignment or the stability assessment. 
     
     
         61 . A computer implemented method for planning a joint arthroplasty procedure on a patient's joint, the computer comprising an input, a processor, and an output, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving, by the input, anatomic structure data about at least a portion of the patient's joint, kinematic data about the patient's joint, first device data about a first size of an orthopaedic implant, and data relating to at least one of an alignment or a stability assessment of the patient's joint;   (b) accessing, by the processor, the anatomic structure data, the kinematic data, the first device data, and the data relating to at least one of the alignment or the stability assessment, and based on the accessed data, executing code, by the processor, to automatically determine at least one of a suggested size or a suggested position for the orthopaedic implant; and   (c) outputting, using the output, information about the suggested size or position.   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein receiving the data relating to at least one of the alignment or the stability assessment comprises receiving data relating to at least one of an external/internal rotation assessment process, a rotational laxity test, or an anterior-posterior drawer test.