Method and system for surgical planning

1. A method for surgical planning, comprising:

displaying a set of related two-dimensional (2D) anatomical images;

identifying a plurality of anatomical landmarks on the set of 2D anatomical images;

scaling a three-dimensional (3D) representation of a parent prosthesis to match a scale of the set of related 2D anatomical images based at least in part on a relationship between the plurality of anatomical landmarks;

displaying a 2D representation of the scaled 3D parent prosthesis on at least one of the set of related 2D anatomical images;

scaling a three dimensional (3D) representation of at least one child prosthesis to match the 3D scaling of the parent prosthesis;

relating the at least one scaled 3D representation of the child prosthesis to the scaled 3D parent prosthesis based on a known relationship between the parent prosthesis and the at least one child prosthesis; and

taking a 2D representation of the 3D relationship between the at least one child prosthesis and the parent prosthesis which is consistent with at least one of the images from the set of related 2D anatomical images.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of related 2D anatomical images comprises a set of x-rays or axial CT images that comprise a volume.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the set of x-rays comprises an anterior-posterior (AP) view and a medial lateral view.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the set of x-rays comprises at least two views.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of related 2D anatomical images comprises 2D images derived from a CT scan.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the plurality of anatomical landmarks on the set of related 2D anatomical images comprises selecting at least one anatomical landmark from the group consisting of a pelvis socket, a tear drop line, a greater trochanter, a lesser trochanter, a femoral head, and an anatomical mechanical axis.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the plurality of anatomical landmarks on the set of related 2D anatomical images is performed manually.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the plurality of anatomical landmarks on the set of related 2D anatomical images is performed automatically.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the plurality of anatomical landmarks on the set of related 2D anatomical images is performed semi-automatically.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

creating a 3D anatomical model from the set of related 2D anatomical images using at least one of the plurality of anatomical landmarks.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the 3D anatomical model comprises the plurality of anatomical landmarks located in three dimensions.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

relating the plurality of anatomical landmarks located in three dimensions to the 3D parent prosthesis.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

displaying the relationship between the plurality of anatomical landmarks located in three dimensions to the 3D parent prosthesis.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

taking an alternate 2D representation of the 3D relationship between the anatomical landmarks located in three dimensions to the 3D parent prosthesis.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

displaying the alternate 2D representation of the 3D relationship between the plurality of anatomical landmarks and the parent prosthesis.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying the 2D representation of the 3D relationship between the at least one child prosthesis and the parent prosthesis.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

updating a process of prosthesis selection based on anatomical landmarks from previously planned cases.

18. A system for surgical planning, comprising:

a prosthesis knowledge-based information system;

a patient anatomical-based information system;

a user interface; and

a controller comprising:

a) an anatomical landmark identifier;

b) a prosthesis to anatomical feature relator; and

c) a prosthesis parent to prosthesis child relator,

wherein the controller is configured for displaying a set of related two-dimensional (2D) anatomical images from the patient anatomical-based information system on the user interface,

wherein the anatomical landmark identifier is configured for identifying a plurality of anatomical landmarks on the set of related 2D anatomical images;

wherein the prosthesis to anatomical feature relator is configured for scaling a three-dimensional (3D) representation of a parent prosthesis and at least one child prosthesis to match a scale of the set of related 2D anatomical images based at least in part on a relationship between the plurality of anatomical landmarks identified by the anatomical landmark identifier;

wherein the prosthesis parent to prosthesis child relator is configured for relating the at least one scaled 3D representation of the child prosthesis to the scaled 3D parent prosthesis based on a known relationship between the parent prosthesis and the at least one child prosthesis; and

wherein the controller is configured for taking a 2D representation of the 3D relationship between the at least one child prosthesis and the parent prosthesis which is consistent with at least one of the images from the set of related 2D anatomical images.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the prosthesis knowledge-based information system comprises a database having at least one data field selected from the group consisting of a 3 D model of a prosthesis, rotation points of the prosthesis, mechanical axis of a prosthesis, movement of the prosthesis, orientation of the prosthesis, translation of the prosthesis, rotation of the prosthesis, support measurements of the prosthesis, material information for the prosthesis, positional information for the prosthesis, and degrees of freedom for the prosthesis.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the patient anatomical-based information system comprises a database having at least one data field selected from the group consisting of an x-ray, a CT scan, a patient image, an anatomical landmark, and an anatomical mechanical axis.

21. The system of claim 18 , wherein the anatomical landmark identifier is configured to enable a user to identify one or more anatomical landmarks manually via the user interface.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the user interface comprises a set of related 2D anatomical images where the one or more anatomical landmarks are identified.

23. The system of claim 18 , wherein the anatomical landmark identifier is configured to identify the one or more anatomical landmarks automatically.

24. The system of claim 18 , wherein the controller further comprises a three dimensional (3D) model generator.

25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the 3D model generator is configured to utilize at least two images from the set of related 2D anatomical images to create a 3D anatomical model.

26. The system of claim 25 , wherein the 3D anatomical model comprises anatomical landmarks located in three dimensions.

27. The system of claim 26 , wherein the prosthesis to anatomical feature relator is configured to determine a 3D relationship between the 3D anatomical model and a 3D prosthesis model from the prosthesis knowledge-based information system.

28. The system of claim 27 , wherein the prosthesis to anatomical feature relator is further configured to create a 2D representation of the 3D relationship.

29. The system of claim 28 , wherein the user interface displays the 2D representation of the 3D relationship.

30. The system of claim 29 , wherein the prosthesis parent to prosthesis child relator is configured to determine a 3D relationship between the 3D prosthesis model and a child prosthesis model from the prosthesis knowledge-based information system as well-as with the 3D anatomical model.

31. The system of claim 18 , wherein the prosthesis knowledge-based information system is updated by plans developed using the system by a clinical user.

32. The system of claim 18 , wherein the prosthesis knowledge-based information system is updated by plans developed using the system by a group of clinical users.

33. The system of claim 18 , wherein the prosthesis knowledge-based information system is updated by plans developed using the system by all users of the system.

34. A set of machine executable instructions embodied on a machine readable medium for surgical planning, comprising:

instructions displaying a set of related two-dimensional (2D) anatomical images;

instructions identifying a plurality of anatomical landmarks on the set of 2D anatomical images;

instructions scaling a three-dimensional (3D) representation of a parent prosthesis to match a scale of the set of related 2D anatomical images based at least in part on a relationship between the plurality of anatomical landmarks; and

instructions displaying a 2D representation of the scaled 3D parent prosthesis on at least one of the set of related 2D anatomical images;

instructions scaling a three dimensional (3D) representation of at least one child prosthesis to match the 3D scaling of the parent prosthesis;

instructions relating the at least one scaled 3D representation of the child prosthesis to the scaled 3D parent prosthesis based on a known relationship between the parent prosthesis and the at least one child prosthesis; and

instructions taking a 2D representation of the 3D relationship between the at least one child prosthesis and the parent prosthesis which is consistent with at least one of the images from the set of related 2D anatomical images.

35. The set of machine executable instructions of claim 34 , wherein the set of related 2D anatomical images comprises a set of x-rays.

36. The set of machine executable instructions of claim 35 , wherein the set of x-rays comprises an anterior-posterior (AP) view and a medial lateral view.

37. The set of machine executable instructions of claim 35 , wherein the set of x-rays comprises at least two views.

38. The set of machine executable instructions of claim 34 , wherein the set of related 2D anatomical images comprises 2D images derived from a CT scan.

39. The set of machine executable instructions of claim 34 , wherein identifying the plurality of anatomical landmarks on the set of related 2D anatomical images comprises selecting at least one anatomical landmark from the group consisting of a pelvis socket, a tear drop line, a greater trochanter, a lesser trochanter, a femoral head, a femoral ridge, and an anatomical mechanical axis.

40. The set of machine executable instructions of claim 34 , wherein identifying the plurality of anatomical landmarks on the set of related 2D anatomical images is performed manually.

41. The set of machine executable instructions of claim 34 , wherein identifying the plurality of anatomical landmarks on the set of related 2D anatomical images is performed automatically.

42. The set of machine executable instructions of claim 34 , wherein identifying the plurality of anatomical landmarks on the set of related 2D anatomical images is performed semi-automatically.

43. The set of machine executable instructions of claim 34 , further comprising:

instructions creating a 3D anatomical model from the set of related 2D anatomical images using at least the plurality of anatomical landmarks.

44. The set of machine executable instructions of claim 42 , wherein the 3D anatomical model comprises the plurality of anatomical landmarks located in three dimensions.

45. The set of machine executable instructions of claim 44 , further comprising:

instructions relating the plurality of anatomical landmarks located in three dimensions to the 3D parent prosthesis.

46. The set of machine executable instructions of claim 45 , further comprising:

instructions displaying the relationship between the plurality of anatomical landmarks located in three dimensions to the 3D parent prosthesis.

47. The set of machine executable instructions of claim 45 , further comprising:

instructions taking a 2D representation of the 3D relationship between the plurality of anatomical landmarks located in three dimensions to the 3D parent prosthesis which is consistent with at least one of the images from the set of related 2D anatomical images.

48. The set of machine executable instructions of claim 43 , further comprising:

instructions displaying the 2D representation of the 3D relationship between the plurality of anatomical landmarks and the parent prosthesis.

49. The set of machine executable instructions of claim 34 , further comprising:

instructions displaying the 2D representation of the 3D relationship between the at least one child prosthesis and the parent prosthesis.