PLACEMENT IN THIN BONES SUCH AS SCAPULA

FIELD OF THE APPLICATION

[0001] The present application generally relates to computer assistance in positioning orthopedic implants on bones, using patient specific instrumentation.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

[0002] Orthopedic implants often comprise an articular surface that replaces damaged bone surface. There are different ways to secure the implant to a bone, one of which involves the use of a cement. In some instances, such as in shoulder implant surgery, the bones are relatively thin and this is a parameter to take into consideration when implanting the implant. For example, cement bores that are defined in the bone are often deeper than the length of the implant portion for cement to be received therein. However, there is a risk that a bore extends through the bone, as the subsequent injection of cement could unknowingly penetrate the body and cause various types of ailments. It is therefore desirable to assist the procedure of positioning cement bores for subsequent re-altering the bone.

SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION

[0003] It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a novel method and system for assisting implant placement in thin bones.

[0004] Therefore, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for planning a creation of a cement bore in a bone, comprising: obtaining a virtual model of a bone, the model of the bone including a proximal bone surface, a distal bone surface, and a depth profile between the proximal bone surface and the distal bone surface; obtaining a planned positioning of a first implant selected to be implanted in the proximal bone surface; obtaining an identity of at least one tool used to alter the proximal bone surface to receive the first implant in the planned positioning and obtaining geometry data for the at least one tool; generating a cement bore required in the bone using the geometry data of the at least one tool and the planned positioning of the first implant; and outputting the virtual model of the bone with the cement bore indicative of a relation between the cement bore and the distal bone surface.

[0005] Further in accordance with the first embodiment, the method is repeated with a second implant if the cement bore for the first implant pierces through the distal bone surface .

[0006] Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, a jig model is generated and output and has a contour surface being a negative of a corresponding surface of the bone for complementary unique engagement, the jig model for creating the cement bore in the bone.

[0007] Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, generating the jig model comprises defining a stop on the jig model to limit a depth of the cement bore to that calculated.

[0008] Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, outputting the virtual model of the bone with the cement bore comprises outputting a virtually manipulable three-dimensional model.

[0009] Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, obtaining a virtual model of a bone comprises generating a three-dimensional virtual model of the bone using imaging.

[0010] Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, obtaining an identity of at least one tool comprises determining the identity of the at least one tool using an identity or geometry data of the first implant. [0011] Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, obtaining a planned positioning of a first implant comprises generating a model of the first implant relative to a virtual model of the bone for navigated selection .

[0012] Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, generating the cement bore comprises calculating that the cement bore for the first implant pierces through the distal bone surface, and wherein outputting the virtual model of the bone with the cement bore comprises indicating that the first implant pierces through the distal bone surface .

[0013] Still further in accordance with the first embodiment, the method is for planning a creation of a cement bore in a scapula.

[0014] In accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a system for planning a creation of a cement bore in a bone comprising: a bone modeler module for obtaining a virtual model of a bone, the model of the bone including a proximal bone surface, a distal bone surface, and a depth profile between the proximal bone surface and the distal bone surface; and a depth image generator module for obtaining a planned positioning of a first implant selected to be implanted in the proximal bone surface, for obtaining an identity of at least one tool used to alter the proximal bone surface to receive the first implant in the planned positioning and obtaining geometry data for the at least one tool, and for calculating a cement bore required in the bone using the geometry data of the at least one tool and the planned positioning of the first implant, and for an outputting the virtual model of the bone with the cement bore indicative of a relation between the cement bore and the distal bone surface .

[0015] Still further in accordance with the second embodiment, a PSI jig module outputs a jig model having a contour surface being a negative of a corresponding surface of the bone for complementary unique engagement, the jig model for creating the cement bore in the bone.

[0016] Still further in accordance with the second embodiment, the jig model comprises a stop to limit a depth of the cement bore to that calculated.

[0017] Still further in accordance with the second embodiment, the jig model is a three-dimension printable model .

[0018] Still further in accordance with the second embodiment, the depth image generator module outputs a virtually manipulable three-dimensional model of the bone with the cement bore.

[0019] Still further in accordance with the second embodiment, the bone modeler module generates a three- dimensional virtual model of the bone from imaging data.

[0020] Still further in accordance with the second embodiment, the depth image generator module determines the identity of the at least one tool using an identity or geometry data of the first implant.

[0021] Still further in accordance with the second embodiment, the depth image generator module generates and outputs a model of the first implant relative to virtual model of the bone for navigated selection.

[0022] Still further in accordance with the second embodiment, a depth warning module calculates that the cement bore for the first implant pierces through the distal bone surface, the system indicating that the first implant pierces through the distal bone surface.

[0023] Still further in accordance with the second embodiment, the system is configured to plan the creation of the cement bore in a scapula. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Fig. 1 is a flow chart showing a method for assisting implant placement in thin bones in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0025] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a system for assisting implant placement in thin bones in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] Fig. 3 is a picture of a depth image generated in the method of Fig. 1 and extracted from 3D modeling, showing a pegged glenoid implant; and

[0027] Fig. 4 is a picture of a depth image generated in the method of Fig. 1 and extracted from 3D modeling, showing a keeled glenoid implant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a method 10 for assisting implant placement in thin bones, for instance by planning a creation of a cement bore in a bone and creating a patient specific instrumentation (hereinafter PSI) jig for guiding an operator in altering the bone for subsequently anchoring the implant to the bone. For clarity, reference to patient specific in the present application pertains to the creation of negative corresponding contour surfaces, i.e., a surface that is the negative opposite of a patient bone/cartilage surface, such that the patient specific surface conforms to the patient bone/cartilage surface, by complementary confirming unique engagement contact. The method is particularly suited to be used in shoulder surgery, when an implant must be secured to the glenoid cavity of the scapula (a.k.a., shoulder blade) .

[0029] According to 12, the bone is virtually modeled.

Obtaining the model includes generating the virtual model using imaging. The imaging may be done by any appropriate technology such as CT scanning (computerized tomography) , fluoroscopy, or like radiography methods, providing suitable resolution of images. The bone modeling may also be performed or supplemented by surface palpation, as an alternative or supplemental embodiment, using other tracking technology (e.g., optical, inertial sensors) . The model of the bone comprises a surface geometry of parts of the bone with or without cartilage. As the present disclosure relates to thin bones, the modeling of the bone comprises generating opposed surfaces to illustrate the depth profile of the portion of the bone of interest, i.e., the depth variations between the bone surfaces. The expression "depth" is used, as the bone will be altered in depth (e.g., using a drill) ; however, the expression "thickness" could also be employed, as in the thickness of the bone is profiled. The bone surfaces may include a proximal surface, that is exposed during surgery and upon which alterations are made, and a distal surface, often hidden behind soft tissue during surgery. To render surgery as minimally invasive as possible, the distal surface remains hidden so as not to displace soft tissue. In the case of shoulder surgery, the proximal surface may be the glenoid (a.k.a., glenoid vault, glenoid cavity, glenoid fossa) .

[0030] The bone modeling may comprise generating or refining a 3D surface of the bone if the bone modeling is not directly performed by the imaging equipment, or if not complete. Additional structures may be modeled as well, such as cartilage, etc.

[0031] According to 13, a cement bore model is generated, and is specific to the implant selected by the operator of the method 10. For example, based on the imaging, an implant model may be selected using sizing parameters and like information, according to a surgeon' s preference, to an engineer's design considerations, etc. The cement bore model consists of a representation of the bone alterations that must be performed in the bone, for the implant to be received and anchored to the bone based on a planned positioning of the implant. As seen in Figs. 3 and 4, the cement bore model A may comprises bores or mantels in which the cement will be received. It is observed that a depth of the cement bores exceeds the depth of implant components, and may also exceed the sectional size of the implant components .

[0032] 13 may be broken down into 13A to 13E, in accordance with an embodiment, to generate the cement bore model A. According to 13A, planned positioning and/or size data may obtained for the selected implant. The size data may be obtained using a data file associated with the implant model or with the implant selection. The size data may also be calculated using the virtual implant model. The size data is specific to the implant selection. The planned positioning may be selected by the operator or the surgeon, prior to or during the method 10. When the planned positioning is selected during the method 10, 13A may include generating a model of the implant relative to a virtual model of the bone for navigated selection, i.e., allowing the operator and/or surgeon to move the implant or part of it relative to the bone, until a desired positioning is reached, i.e., the planned positioning. The planned positioning may include a position and orientation of the implant relative to the bone, whereby the navigated selection may include rotating and translating the virtual model of the implant relative to the virtual model of the bone .

[0033] According to 13B, an identity of the tool(s) required to alter the bone is obtained, and it may be determined, based on the planned positioning of the selected implant, and the determination may be based on the size data of the selected implant. For example, if a peg of a given diameter and length is to be inserted in the bone, the identity of the tool will be as a function of making a hole of sufficient cross-section to receive the peg. The pairing of implants and altering tool(s) may be done before the generation of the cement bore model A, for example as part of the specifications of the implants. The specifications may indeed identify the tool(s) required or suggested to perform the alterations and prepare the bone to receive the selected implant. The identity may be part of a data file accompanying the implant model obtained by the system. The determination of identity may also be effected once the implant is selected, based on a condition or anatomical features of the bone.

[0034] According to 13C, geometry data is obtained for the tool(s) identified or paired to the selected implant. In particular, the geometry data is that of the working end of the tool(s), i.e., the part of the tool(s) that alter the bone. The geometry data may be in the form of a virtual tool model and/or quantitative data.

[0035] According to 13D, a cement bore A is generated by calculating the alterations to be made to the bone with the tool(s), to receive the selected implant. The generation of the cement bore A may include determining a depth of penetration of the tool(s) to create sufficient space for the insertion of any implant component (such as a peg) . Therefore, the generation of the cement bore A may include a consideration of the implant geometry and of the tool geometry .

[0036] According to 14, a depth image or model is output, displaying the image or model of the cement bore relative to the virtual model of the bone. The image or model may also include the selected implant and/or tool associated to the cement bore model A. For instance, the images of Figs. 3 and 4 are such depth images, and provide a 2D view of the bone in the depth orientation, as the depth of the cement bores is an important parameter in positioning the implant. The 2D views may be extracted from 3D models, to show the closest the cement bore model A comes to the distal surface of the bone. The generation of depth model may be in the form of a 3D model of the cement bore relative to the 3D model of the bone, such depth model being navigated to change a point of view and enable the operator to see the distal surface of the bone (i.e., the hidden surface) . Any piercing of the distal surface by the cement bore model A will therefore be apparent and indicative of a source of cement leak.

[0037] The generating of depth image/model of 14 may include indicating to the operator of the piercing of the distal surface, or may advise that the cement bore model A has reached a warning zone predefined in proximity to the distal surface. The warning may be in the form of a change of color of the cement bore model A, a message indicating a fault, a rejection of the implant selection. The outputting of the depth image/model may provide quantitative data representative of the distance to the distal surface, to guide the operator in selecting a different implant.

[0038] Any of these features allow the operator to be informed any risk in piercing through the thin dimension of the bone and causing hidden leaks of cement. 13 and 14 may be repeated until the operator finalizes the selection of the implant, based on the positioning and planning data generated in 13.

[0039] According to 15, once the operator has selected an implant as set forth above, a PSI jig model may be generated. The jig model will have a contact surface (s) defined to abut against the bone based in the planning visualized in 14, in a predictable and precise manner. Typically, the PSI jig is a cutting block or cutting guide that will guide the identified tool(s) of 13 to alter the bone to ensure the implant is positioned as planned, and to ensure that the alterations are as planned, including the cement bore planned to be as the cement bore model A in 13 and 14. The PSI jig model of 15 may therefore comprise cutting planes, drill guides, slots, or any other tooling interface or tool, oriented and/or positioned to allow bone alterations to be formed in a desired location of the bone, relative to the preplanned position. Moreover, as the depth of the cement bore must be as planned with the cement bore model A, the PSI jig model of 15 may feature a depth stop for the tool, or like tool abutment surfaces to limit the depth of machining of the tool as a function of the planned cement bore depth. The PSI jig model of 15 may be a 3D printable model (e.g., an STL file) .

[0040] Alternatively, in 15, a navigation file may be created, which navigation file will be used during surgery to guide the operator in manipulating the tools to alter the bone as planned in 14. For example, inertial sensors or optical tracking technology may be used in the implant procedure, and the navigation file will be used by the computer-assisted surgery system to guide the operator to create the cement bore corresponding to the planned cement bore model A.

[0041] According to 16, once the PSI jig model has been generated, the PSI jig may be created, according to any appropriate method, such as 3D printing (additive manufacturing), NC machining, etc. The PSI jig created in 16 may then be used intra-operatively to allow alterations to be made on the bone, and to reproduce the planned cement bore model A. For example, to ensure a suitable depth is achieved, the PSI jig may be used to guide a drill (e.g., a cannulated drill) or a pressurizer.

[0042] Now that the method for planning a creation of a cement bore in a bone and designing and creating a PSI device for assisting implant placement and cement bore alteration in thin bones, a system is set forth.

[0043] A system for assisting implant placement in thin bones (including planning a creation of a cement bore in a bone and designing and creating a PSI device for assisting implant placement and cement bore alteration in thin bones) is generally shown at 20 in Fig. 2. The system 20 may comprise an imaging unit 30, such as a CT scan or an X-ray machine, so as to obtain images of the bone and implant. As an alternative, images may be obtained from an image source 31. As an example, a CT scan may be operated remotely from the system 20, whereby the system 20 may simply obtain images and/or processed bone and implant models from the image source 31. The images may also include images from other sources, including surface palpation data obtained from tracking technology that may be part of the imaging unit 30 and/or may contribute in creating the images of the image source 31. The imaging unit 30 has the capacity of modeling a 3D model of the bone including opposed surfaces to illustrate the depth profile of the portion of the bone of interest.

[0044] The system 20 comprises a processor unit 40 (e.g., computer, laptop, etc.) that comprises different modules so as to ultimately produce a jig model or a navigation file. The processing unit 40 of the system 20 may therefore comprise a bone modeler 41 receiving images from sources 30 or 31 to generate a 3D model of the bone. In accordance with the method 10 of Fig. 1, the 3D model of the bone may comprise data pertaining to the surface geometry of a relevant portion of a bone. The surface geometry includes both sides of a thin portion of a bone upon which alterations must be performed.

[0045] The bone modeler 41 will create the 3D model of the bone that is then used by a depth image generator 42 of the processing unit 40. Alternatively, the depth image generator 42 may use a 3D model provided by the image source 31, provided the model obtained from the image source 31 comprises sufficient data, including the depth profile featuring both sides of a thin portion of a bone upon which alterations must be performed.

[0046] The depth image generator 42 obtains a planned positioning of an implant, which may include a model of an implant based for example on a selection made by an operator. In an embodiment, the implant model is selected in an implant database 42A. The implant model may include size data. The size data may also be calculated using the virtual implant model. The size data is specific to the implant selection. The depth image generator 42 may generate a model of the implant relative to a virtual model of the bone for navigated selection, by which a surgeon or operator may reach the planned positioning, as a depth model B. However, the planned positioning may have been previously done, and simply obtained by the depth image generator 42.

[0047] The depth image generator 42 also identifies the tool(s) required to alter the bone for receiving the implant, i.e., based on the selection made by the operator and the planned positioning. The depth image generator 42 may use the size data to identify a tool having the right dimensions to make a hole capable of receiving the implant. The pairing of implants and altering tool(s) may be provided as part of the specifications of the implants. The identification by the depth image generator 42 may include obtaining geometry data for the tool(s) identified or paired to the selected implant. In particular, the geometry data is that of the working end of the tool(s), i.e., the part of the tool(s) that alter the bone. The geometry data may be in the form of a virtual tool model and/or quantitative data .

[0048] With this data, the depth image generator 42 generates the virtual depth model B on any appropriate interface, featuring the cement bore A relative to the bone model. The depth image generator 42 outputs (generates) the depth images or models such as those shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and may allow a user to navigate the model, to observe the hidden surface of the bone. The depth image generator 42 calculates the alterations to be made to the bone with the tool(s), to receive the selected implant, to lead to the cement bore A. The cement bore A is as a function of a depth of penetration of the tool(s) to create sufficient space for the insertion of any implant component (such as a peg) . Therefore, the generation of the cement bore model A may include a consideration of the implant geometry and of the tool geometry.

[0049] A depth warning module 42C may be used in conjunction with the depth image generation 42 to warn the operator of the piercing of the distal surface, or may advise that the cement bore model A has reached a warning zone in too close proximity to the distal surface. The warning may be in the form of a change of colour of the cement bore model A, a message indicating a fault, a rejection of the implant selection. The depth warning module 42C may also provide quantitative data representative of the distance to the distal surface, to guide the operator in selecting a different implant

[0050] Once the operator is satisfied with the implant selection and position based on the data obtained from the depth image generator 42, a PSI jig model generator 43 will generate a jig model (e.g., such as a 3D printable model) . As in 15 of the method 10, the jig model will have a contact surface (s) defined to abut against the bone in a predictable and precise manner, for performing alterations to the bone to lead to the planned implant position, including the planned position and depth of the cement bore model A planned. As the PSI jig will support a tool to perform alterations on the bone, the jig model comprises cutting planes, guides, slots, or any other tooling interface or tool, trackers (oriented and/or positioned to allow bone alterations to be formed in a desired location of the bone, relative to the contact surface (s), as well as a depth stop for the tool, or like tool abutment surfaces to limit the depth of machining of the tool as a function of the planned cement bore depth.

[0051] Thus, PSI model generator 43 may alternatively be a navigation file generator, the navigation file being used in computer-assisted surgery for assisting the operator in placing the implant as planned. [0052] Accordingly, the system 20 outputs a PSI jig model or navigation file 50 that will be used to create the PSI jig. The PSI jig may be created, according to any appropriate method, such as 3D printing (additive manufacturing), NC machining, etc. The PSI jig or navigation file is then used intra-operatively to alter the bone for subsequent implant installation.

[0053] While the methods and systems described above have been described and shown with reference to particular steps performed in a particular order, these steps may be combined, subdivided or reordered to form an equivalent method without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the order and grouping of the steps is not a limitation of the present disclosure.