Computer-assisted shoulder surgery and method

1 . A system for computer-assisted guidance in glenohumeral joint surgery comprising:

a processor unit, and

a non-transitory computer-readable memory communicatively coupled to the processor and comprising computer-readable program instructions executable by the processor unit for:

obtaining a natural range of motion profile for the glenohumeral joint by tracking movement of a humerus relative to a scapula of the glenohumeral joint in a non-invasive natural state,

registering intra-operatively the humerus and the scapula to a referential system,

intra-operatively fitting the natural range of motion profile to the humerus and the scapula in the referential system,

creating an intraoperative range of motion profile for the glenohumeral joint by tracking movement of the humerus relative to the scapula of the glenohumeral joint intraoperatively in the referential system, and

outputting the intraoperative range of motion for the glenohumeral joint as a function of the natural range of motion, the intraoperative range of motion for the glenohumeral joint as a function of the natural range of motion being expressed in a percentage and/or in degrees.

2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein obtaining the natural range of motion profile includes creating the natural range of motion profile for the glenohumeral joint.

3 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein creating the natural range of motion profile for the glenohumeral joint includes tracking movement of the humerus relative to the scapula of the glenohumeral joint in the non-invasive natural state.

4 . The system according to claim 3 , wherein tracking movement of the humerus relative to the scapula of the glenohumeral joint in the non-invasive natural state includes tracking the movement pre-operatively without disrupting a soft-tissue envelope covering the glenohumeral joint.

5 . The system according to claim 3 , wherein tracking movement of the humerus relative to the scapula of the glenohumeral joint in the non-invasive natural state includes tracking the humerus and the scapula using at least one ultrasound imaging device.

6 . The system according to claim 5 , wherein tracking the humerus relative to the scapula using at least one ultrasound imaging device includes tracking the scapula with a vest on soft-tissue covering the scapula, the vest including a plurality of ultrasound probe units.

7 . The system according to claim 6 , including the vest with the plurality of ultrasound probe units.

8 . The system according to claim 6 , wherein tracking movement of the scapula includes optically tracking the vest.

9 . The system according to claim 5 , wherein tracking the humerus relative to the scapula using at least one ultrasound imaging device includes tracking the humerus with a wearable band on soft-tissue covering the humerus, the wearable band including a plurality of ultrasound probe units.

10 . The system according to claim 9 , including the wearable band with the plurality of ultrasound probe units.

11 . The system according to claim 9 , wherein tracking movement of the humerus relative to the scapula includes optically tracking the wearable band.

12 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein creating the natural range of motion profile for the glenohumeral joint includes creating the natural range of motion profile pre-operatively or peri-operatively, prior to soft-tissue incisions being made to access the glenohumeral joint.

13 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein registering intra-operatively the humerus and the scapula to a referential system includes obtaining points on the humerus and on the scapula.

14 . The system according to claim 13 , wherein registering intra-operatively the humerus and the scapula to a referential system includes merging virtual bone models to the points obtained on the humerus and on the scapula.

15 . The system according to claim 14 , wherein merging virtual bone models includes obtaining bone models from an atlas.

16 . The system according to claim 1 , further including tracking the humerus and the scapula relative to the referential system continuously after the registering.

17 . The system according to claim 16 , wherein tracking the humerus and the scapula includes tracking alterations to the humerus.

18 . The system according to claim 16 , wherein tracking alterations to the humerus includes a retroversion angle and/or an inclination angle for a plane of resection.

19 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein outputting the intraoperative range of motion includes outputting a gain or loss of range of motion relative to the natural range of motion.

20 . A system for computer-assisted guidance in glenohumeral joint surgery comprising:

a processor unit, and

a non-transitory computer-readable memory communicatively coupled to the processor and comprising computer-readable program instructions executable by the processor unit for:

obtaining a natural range of motion profile for the glenohumeral joint by tracking movement of a humerus relative to a scapula of the glenohumeral joint in a non-invasive natural state;

in an intra-operative phase of the glenohumeral joint surgery:

registering intra-operatively the humerus and the scapula to a referential system for tracking of the humerus and the scapula relative to the referential system,

fitting the natural range of motion profile to the humerus and the scapula in the referential system, and

creating an intraoperative range of motion profile for the glenohumeral joint by tracking movement of the humerus relative to the scapula of the glenohumeral joint in the referential system; and

outputting the intraoperative range of motion for the glenohumeral joint as a function of the natural range of motion, the intraoperative range of motion for the glenohumeral joint as a function of the natural range of motion being expressed in a percentage and/or in degrees.