Adaptive positioning technology
A method of treating a bone fracture includes taking a first 2D image of an implant and a reference body with an imaging device; creating a 3D orientation of the reference body and the implant based on the 2D image; determining an actual axis of delivery of a bone screw through an opening extending through the implant; determining an optimal axis of delivery of the bone screw through the opening such that the optimal axis of delivery guides the bone screw toward a medically optimal location; and moving the implant such that the optimal axis of delivery and the actual axis of delivery coincide.
1. A method of treating a bone fracture comprising:
taking a first 2D image of an implant and a reference body with an imaging device, the reference body being arranged in a space in a predetermined way such that the reference body is directly attached to an anatomical structure;
creating a 3D orientation of the reference body and the implant based on the 2D image in that a structure of the reference body allows a determination of the 3D orientation of the reference body based on the 2D projection image;
determining an actual axis of delivery of a bone screw through an opening extending through the implant;
determining an optimal axis of delivery of the bone screw through the opening such that the optimal axis of delivery guides the bone screw toward a medically optimal location; and
moving the implant such that the optimal axis of delivery and the actual axis of delivery coincide.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving the implant according to the created 3D orientation of the reference body and the implant.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning the reference body adjacent to the implant.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the moving step includes moving the implant such that the optimal axis of delivery extends into a femoral head.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising comparing at least one of the 2D image and the 3D orientation with a corresponding 2D image and a corresponding 3D orientation, respectively, within a database.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting a first set of reference points in the first 2D image relating to the reference body.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising determining whether the first set of reference points create a medically optimal 3D orientation of the reference body and the implant.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising alerting an operator that the medically optimal 3D orientation of the reference body and the implant has been created.
9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising moving the imaging device from a first location in which the first 2D image was taken to a second location and taking a second 2D image of the implant and the reference body.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising detecting a second set of reference points in the second 2D image relating to the reference body.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining whether the second set of reference points create the medically optimal 3D orientation of the reference body and the implant.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the creating step includes projecting a first x-ray pattern from the first image on a first projection surface to form a first pattern of projection points and a second x-ray pattern from a second image on a second projection surface to form a second pattern of projection points.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising measuring a distance between a point of the first pattern of projection points and another point of the first pattern of projection points.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising comparing the measured distance with a predetermined distance within a database.
15. A method for treating a proximal fracture of a femur comprising:
a. implanting a main implant coupled to a reference body in the femur;
b. taking a first anterior-posterior (A-P) x-ray image of the main implant and a femoral head;
c. taking a first medio-lateral (M-L) x-ray image of the main implant and the femoral head;
d. determining a spatial orientation and position of the implanted main implant coupled to the reference body;
e. determining a corridor through an opening in the main implant into the femoral head for a virtual hip screw;
f. determining an optimal corridor for a hip screw into the femoral head based on the first A-P and M-L x-ray images;
g. determining a movement of the main implant to move the corridor in the opening of the main implant to align with the optimal corridor;
h. moving the main implant according to the determined movement of the main implant; and
i. taking a second M-L x-ray image of the main implant and the femoral head to confirm an alignment between the corridor in the main implant and the optimal corridor.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
detecting the reference body in the first M-L and A-P x-ray images;
detecting at least one element selected from the group of an instrument, the main implant, and an anatomical structure in the first M-L and A-P x-ray images, and identifying a current state of the at least one element;
determining a state of progress of the treatment; and
providing information to a surgeon regarding steps to be performed next.