IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,672,924
Granted Patent B2
US 12,672,924 · App. 18/238,361 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Methods and systems for robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty

Inventors: Stuart L. Axelson (Succasunna, NJ); Alexander Raphe Massa (Basking Ridge, NJ); Anthony Joseph La Rosa (Wharton, NJ); R. Michael Meneghini (Terre Haute, IN); Michael J. Taunton (Rochester, MN); Scott M. Sporer (Chicago, IL); James A. Browne (Charlottesville, VA); Raymond H. Kim (Vail, CO)
Assignee: Encore Medical, LP
A61B34/30A61B17/154A61B17/1764A61B34/20A61B2034/2059
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,672,924
App. No.
18/238,361
Filed
Aug 25, 2023
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Examiner
YANG, ANDREW
Art Unit
3775
USPC
606/82
Abstract

Robotic systems for orthopedic surgery are provided. The robotic systems may include at least first and second motors coupled to each other. An output shaft of one of the motors may be connectable to a surgical tool guide. An output shaft of another of the motors may be coupled to a portion of a ball and socket joint. A corresponding portion of the ball and socket joint may be coupled to a bone mount which may be attached to a bone to mount the first and second motors to bone for performing orthopedic surgical procedures.

Claims (64)

1 . A robotic system for orthopedic surgery comprising:

a first motor comprising a first motor shaft defining a first rotation axis;

a first output drive shaft coupled to the first motor shaft;

a second motor coupled to the first motor and comprising a second motor shaft defining a second rotation axis parallel to the first rotation axis;

a second output drive shaft coupled to the second motor shaft;

a surgical tool or surgical tool guide integral with, coupled to, and/or configured to be coupled to an end of the first output drive shaft; and

a first portion of a ball and socket joint integral with, coupled to, and/or configured to be coupled to an end of the second output drive shaft, and

a bone mount, wherein the bone mount comprises a second portion of the ball and socket joint.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the ball and socket joint comprises a socket portion of the ball and socket joint.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the socket portion of the ball and socket joint comprises:

a first locking portion pivotally coupled to a second locking portion via a hinge pin; and

a locking lever configured to clamp the first and second locking portions down on a ball receiving portion.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the second portion of the ball and socket joint comprises a ball portion of the ball and socket joint.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the socket portion of the ball and socket joint comprises:

a first locking portion pivotally coupled to a second locking portion via a hinge pin; and

a locking lever configured to clamp the first and second locking portions down on a ball receiving portion to fix the ball portion of the bone mount inside the ball receiving portion.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the ball portion is configured to extend from a surface of the bone mount opposite a bone-facing surface of the bone mount.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

rotation of the first output drive shaft causes adjustment of an angular orientation of the surgical tool or surgical tool guide with respect to the first motor; and

rotation of the second output drive shaft causes adjustment of an angular orientation of the first motor with respect to the bone mount.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a ball portion and a socket portion of the ball and socket joint are friction fit stabilized for hand adjustment of the relative orientations of first motor, the second motor, and the bone mount.

9 . A robotic system for orthopedic surgery comprising:

a first motor comprising a first motor shaft defining a first rotation axis;

a first output drive shaft coupled to the first motor shaft;

a second motor coupled to the first motor and comprising a second motor shaft defining a second rotation axis parallel to the first rotation axis;

a second output drive shaft coupled to the second motor shaft;

a surgical tool or surgical tool guide integral with, coupled to, and/or configured to be coupled to an end of the first output drive shaft; and

a first portion of a ball and socket joint integral with, coupled to, and/or configured to be coupled to an end of the second output drive shaft;

a first position encoder configured to monitor a relative angular orientation of the surgical tool or the surgical tool guide with respect to the first motor; and

a second position encoder configured to monitor a relative angular orientation of the first motor with respect to a bone of the patient.

10 . A robotic system for orthopedic surgery comprising:

a first motor comprising a first motor shaft defining a first rotation axis;

a first output drive shaft coupled to the first motor shaft;

a second motor coupled to the first motor and comprising a second motor shaft defining a second rotation axis parallel to the first rotation axis;

a second output drive shaft coupled to the second motor shaft;

a surgical tool or surgical tool guide integral with, coupled to, and/or configured to be coupled to an end of the first output drive shaft; and

a first portion of a ball and socket joint integral with, coupled to, and/or configured to be coupled to an end of the second output drive shaft; and

wherein the surgical tool or surgical tool guide comprises a slot for a saw blade.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the surgical tool or surgical tool guide further comprises a hole for a drill.

12 . A robotic system for orthopedic surgery comprising:

at least one motor;

at least one motor output shaft coupled to the at least one motor, wherein the at least one motor output shaft comprises a non-circular strain wave generator;

a stationary circular ring gear around the at least one motor output shaft;

a deformable gear positioned between the stationary circular ring gear and the non-circular strain wave generator;

an output shaft integral with, coupled to, and/or configured to be coupled to the deformable gear;

a surgical tool integral with, coupled to, and/or configured to be coupled to the deformable gear.

13 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising at least a first position encoder configured to monitor a relative angular orientation of the at least one motor with respect to a bone of a patient.

14 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising a surgical tool or surgical tool guide integral with, coupled to, and/or configured to be coupled to the at least one motor.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the surgical tool or surgical tool guide comprises a slot for a saw blade.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the surgical tool or surgical tool guide further comprises a hole for a drill.

17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one motor comprises: a first motor comprising a first motor shaft defining a first rotation axis; a second motor coupled to the first motor and comprising a second motor shaft defining a second rotation axis parallel to the first rotation axis.

18 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising:

a first output drive shaft coupled to the first motor shaft;

a second output drive shaft coupled to the second motor shaft;

a surgical tool or surgical tool guide integral with, coupled to, and/or configured to be coupled to an end of the first output drive shaft.

19 . The system of claim 18 , further comprising a first portion of a ball and socket joint integral with, coupled to, and/or configured to be coupled to an end of the second output drive shaft.

20 . A robotic system for orthopedic surgery comprising:

a first motor comprising a first motor shaft defining a first rotation axis;

a first output drive shaft coupled to the first motor shaft;

a second motor coupled to the first motor and comprising a second motor shaft defining a second rotation axis parallel to the first rotation axis;

a second output drive shaft coupled to the second motor shaft;

a surgical tool or surgical tool guide integral with, coupled to, and/or configured to be coupled to an end of the first output drive shaft; and

a first portion of a ball and socket joint integral with, coupled to, and/or configured to be coupled to an end of the second output drive shaft,

wherein the end of each of the first and second output shafts comprises a post configured to engage with a respective aperture in a proximal end of one of the surgical tool or surgical tool guide and the first portion of the ball and socket joint, or wherein the end of each of the first and second output shafts comprises an aperture configured to receive a respective post extending from a proximal end of one of the surgical tool guide and the first portion of the ball and socket joint.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2025
From: AXELSON, STUART L.; MASSA, ALEXANDER RAPHE; LA ROSA, ANTHONY JOSEPH; MENEGHINI, R. MICHAEL; TAUNTON, MICHAEL J.; SPORER, SCOTT M.; BROWNE, JAMES A.; KIM, RAYMOND H.
To: ENCORE MEDICAL, LP DBA DJO SURGICAL
Reel/Frame 071402/0137 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63401412 · Aug 26, 2022
Related Publication 20240065784A1 · Feb 29, 2024
References Cited (177)
US 6837892B2 · Shoham · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6955654B2 · Gilmour · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 7572297B2 · Cheal et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7635369B2 · Cinquin et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7691108B2 · Lavallee · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7753960B2 · Cipolletti et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7803310B2 · Cheal · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 8096997B2 · Plaskos et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8126533B2 · Lavallee · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8214016B2 · Lavallee et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8231631B2 · Lavallee et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8241293B2 · Stone et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8277513B2 · Cipolletti et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8337508B2 · Lavallee et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8532807B2 · Metzger · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8617171B2 · Park et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8626267B2 · Lavallee · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8672945B2 · Lavallee et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8737700B2 · Park et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8771188B2 · Schers et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8801719B2 · Park et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8808301B1 · Nofsinger · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8828087B2 · Stone et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8880152B2 · Lavallee · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8882779B2 · Park et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8903530B2 · Metzger · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8990052B2 · Lavallee et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9033958B2 · Mailloux et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9037295B2 · Hodgson et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9050132B2 · Lavallee · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9173665B2 · Couture · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9220510B2 · Cheal et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9220571B2 · Lavallee · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9248001B2 · Colombet et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9351744B2 · Kunz et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9421019B2 · Plaskos et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9549782B2 · Park et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9610086B2 · Park et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9684768B2 · Lavallee et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9700259B1 · Nofsinger · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9730713B2 · Park et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9737311B2 · Lavallee et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9757136B2 · Park et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9757238B2 · Metzger et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9782226B2 · Park et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9782227B2 · Park et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9814533B2 · Park et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9855147B2 · Cipolletti et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9861446B2 · Lang · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9872733B2 · Shoham et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9883871B2 · Park et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9889021B2 · Park et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9980780B2 · Lang · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10034678B2 · Park et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10039558B2 · Park et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10092361B2 · Ferro et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10159530B2 · Lang · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10166002B2 · Schers et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10179032B2 · Andersson · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10182870B2 · Park et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10194990B2 · Amanatullah et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10226261B2 · Park et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10231786B2 · Ferro et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10278777B1 · Lang · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10285683B2 · Todorov et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10292768B2 · Lang · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10321904B2 · Todorov et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10357315B2 · Otto et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10383338B2 · Gomelsky et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10383638B2 · Cheal et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10405927B1 · Lang · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10441437B2 · Lavallee et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10449001B2 · Park et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10449004B2 · Ferro et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10456203B2 · Park et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10456204B2 · Park et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10463379B2 · Liu et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10470823B2 · Park et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10499996B2 · de Almeida Barreto · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10575875B2 · Pavlovskaia et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10646285B2 · Siemionow et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10687856B2 · Pavlovskaia et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10716643B2 · Justin et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10743939B1 · Lang · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10806465B2 · Lavallee et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10849609B2 · Plaskos et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10849636B2 · Hafez · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10849693B2 · Lang · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11266472B2 · Pedros · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20020115934A1 · Tuke et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20050267353A1 · Marquart et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060015114A1 · Bernardoni et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060122617A1 · Lavallee et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060200161A1 · Plaskos et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20070038223A1 · Marquart et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070100346A1 · Wyss et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070123896A1 · Wyss et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070156157A1 · Nahum et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080033571A1 · Tuke · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080319448A1 · Lavallee et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090043556A1 · Axelson et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100130986A1 · Mailloux et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100174287A1 · Walker et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100217400A1 · Nortman et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110130761A1 · Plaskos et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20130144392A1 · Hughes · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20150105698A1 · Park · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150125060A1 · Park et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150148807A1 · Park et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160038245A1 · Park et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170042557A1 · Plaskos et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170056022A1 · Cheal et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170312032A1 · Amanatullah et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170348008A1 · Lavallee et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180296226A1 · Park · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180317898A1 · Plaskos et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180333207A1 · Moctezuma De la Barrera · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190008499A1 · Plaskos et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190008500A1 · Plaskos et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190008501A1 · Plaskos et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190105107A1 · Park et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190117239A1 · Verma · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190122330A1 · Saget et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190142519A1 · Siemionow et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190175285A1 · Siemionow et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190380792A1 · Poltaretskyi et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200000523A1 · Ferro et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200038112A1 · Amanatullah et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200069376A1 · Garcia et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200229877A1 · Siemionow et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200261119A1 · Pavlovskaia et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200323561A1 · Park et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200337734A1 · Park et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200375666A1 · Murphy et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210315590A1 · Chappuis et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
AU 2005216267B2 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
AU 2004280263B2 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
AU 2006259555B2 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
AU 2012217694B2 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
AU 2016235175B2 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
CA 2954125C · 2018 [cited by applicant]
DE 10003533A1 · 2001 [cited by applicant]
DE 112004001893B4 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
EP 1861051B1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
EP 2558010A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
EP 2845547B1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
EP 2882368A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
EP 1890864B1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
EP 3273854A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
EP 3426179A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
EP 3443888A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
EP 3443924A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
EP 3445048A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
EP 3609424A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
EP 2863820B1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
EP 3273868B1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
JP 4608497 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO 2012024323A2 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO 2018189725A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO 2018200767A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019052622A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019084331A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019141704A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019245849A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019245851A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019245865A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019245867A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020037308A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020102665A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2024044384A1 · 2024 [cited by applicant]
Delp, S., et al., “Computer Assisted Knee Replacement.” Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, Sep. 1, 1998, v. 354, pp. 49-56, https://doi.org/10.1097/00003086-199809000-00007. [cited by applicant]
D'souza, M. et al., “Robotic-Assisted Spine Surgery: History, Efficacy, Cost, and Future Trends.” Robotic Surgery: Research and Reviews, 2019, pp. 9-23, v. 6, http://doi.org/10.2147/RSRR.S190720. [cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report mailed on Patentability on Mar. 13, 2025 in PCT/US23/31190. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion mailed Jan. 29, 2024 in PCT/US2023/031190. [cited by applicant]
Shalhoub, S. et al., “Development of an Active Soft-Tissue Balancing System for Robotic-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty.” Handbook of Robotic and Image-Guided Surgery. 2020, pp. 459-473, Elsevier Inc., https://doi.org/… [cited by applicant]
Shoham, M. et al., “Bone-Mounted Miniature Robot for SurgicalProcedures: Concept and Clinical Applications.” IEEE Transactions on Robotics and Automation, Oct. 2023, pp. 893-901, v. 19, n. 5, https://www.researchgate.ne… [cited by applicant]
Sugano, N. “Computer-assisted Orthopedic Surgery.” Journal of Orthopaedic Science, May 1, 2003, v. 8(3), pp. 442-448, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10776-002-0623-6. [cited by applicant]