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A system for assisting in a surgical process, comprising: (a) a surgical device taken from a group consisting of a surgical tool and a surgical implant; (b) a positional sensor carried by the surgical device, the positional sensor including a wireless transmitter and associated circuitry for transmitting sensor data from the transmitter; and (c) a computer system including a wireless receiver and signal conditioning circuitry and hardware for converting sensor data received by the wireless receiver into at least one of (i) audio feedback of positional information for the surgical device and (ii) visual feedback of positional information for the surgical device.
1. A surgical telemetry system comprising:
a cutting jig adapted to be secured to a bone, the cutting jig having at least one cut slot for guiding a tool in altering the bone;
at least one sourceless sensor mounted to the cutting jig, the sensor outputting data representative at least of an orientation of the at least one cut slot relative to the bone;
a digital processing device operatively coupled to the sensor to receive data derived from the data output from the sensor, the digital processing device generating a display output indicative of an orientation of the at least one cut slot relative to the bone; and
a display operatively coupled to the digital processing device and adapted to receive the display output, where the display output displays the change in orientation of the at least one cut slot relative to the bone.
2. The surgical telemetry system of claim 1 , wherein the cutting jig is at least one of an intramedullary femoral and tibial cutting jig, and an extramedullary femoral and tibial cutting jig.
3. The surgical telemetry system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is operatively coupled to a remote transmitter adapted to transmit signals indicative of sensor output as an orientation of the at least one cut slot changes; and the digital processing device is operatively coupled to a receiver adapted to receive transmission signals from the remote transmitter; wherein the digital processing device generates display instructions for displaying the orientation of the cut slot relative to the bone.
4. The surgical telemetry system of claim 1 , wherein the system is adapted for use with total knee arthroplasty.
5. The surgical telemetry system of claim 1 , wherein the cutting jig has four of the cut slots.
6. The surgical telemetry system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer and a gyroscope.
7. The surgical telemetry system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a saw having a reference sourceless sensor generating data representative of an orientation of the saw, and
wherein the digital processing device is operatively coupled to the reference sensor to receive data derived from the data output from the reference sensor, the digital processing device generating the display output indicative of an orientation of the saw relative to the bone.
8. The surgical telemetry system of claim 7 , wherein the reference sourceless sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer and a gyroscope.
9. The surgical telemetry system of claim 1 , wherein the display and the digital processing device are located remotely from the patient.
10. The surgical telemetry system of claim 1 , wherein the cutting jig has a guide rod configured for being inserted in an intramedullary hole in a bone.
11. The surgical telemetry system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a second tool having a reference sourceless sensor generating data representative of an orientation of the second tool, the second tool configured to define the intramedullary hole to receive the cutting jig;
wherein the digital processing device is operatively coupled to the reference sensor to receive data derived from the data output from the reference sensor, the digital processing device generating the display output indicative of an orientation of the second tool relative to the bone.
12. The surgical telemetry system of claim 11 , wherein the digital processing device is operatively coupled to the second tool to control an operation of the second tool, the digital processing device automatically stopping or slowing the second tool if the orientation of the second tool is outside a predetermined tolerance.
13. The surgical telemetry system of claim 11 , wherein the digital processing device generates the display output indicative of depth of the second tool in the bone.
14. The surgical telemetry system of claim 11 , wherein the digital processing device is operatively coupled to the second tool to control an operation of the second tool, the digital processing device automatically stopping or slowing the second tool if the depth of the second tool is at or approaching an intended depth.
15. The surgical telemetry system of claim 11 , wherein the second tool is at least one of a drill and a intramedullary locator tool.
16. The surgical telemetry system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a prosthetic trial component having a reference sourceless sensor generating data representative of an orientation of the prosthetic trial component, the prosthetic trial component configured for being releasably mounted to the bone after use of the tool and of the cutting jig;
wherein the digital processing device is operatively coupled to the reference sensor to receive data derived from the data output from the reference sensor, the digital processing device generating the display output indicative of at least one of an orientation of the prosthetic trial component relative to the bone, and of a range of motion of a prosthetic joint corresponding to the prosthetic trial component.
17. The surgical telemetry system of claim 16 , further comprising:
a bone sourceless sensor configured for being mounted to the bone and generating data representative of an orientation of the bone;
wherein the digital processing device is operatively coupled to the bone sourceless sensor to receive data derived from the data output from the bone sourceless sensor, the digital processing device generating the display output indicative of a position between the prosthetic trial component and the bone.
18. The surgical telemetry system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a prosthetic component having a reference sourceless sensor generating data representative of an orientation of the prosthetic component, the prosthetic component configured for being mounted to the bone after use of the tool and of the cutting jig;
wherein the digital processing device is operatively coupled to the reference sensor to receive data derived from the data output from the reference sensor, the digital processing device generating the display output indicative of at least one of an orientation of the prosthetic component relative to the bone, of a range of motion of a prosthetic joint formed with the prosthetic component, and of a kinematic function of the prosthetic joint formed with the prosthetic component.