Systems and methods for identifying landmarks on orthopedic implants

US8784425B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SMITH & NEPHEW, INC. · US

Inventors

• Nicholas S. Ritchey · Collierville, US
• Henry B. Faber · Memphis, US
• Nathaniel Kelley Grusin · Germantown, US
• James K. Rains · Cordova, US
• Gene Edward Austin · Bartlett, US
• Tobias Schwägli · Solothurn, CH
• William M. Ricci · Richmond Heights, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 26, 2009
• Grant date: Jul 22, 2014
• Expiry date: Jul 24, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2090/0813
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Systems (10, 110, 1010, 1110) for identifying landmarks (31, 131, 1028, 1128) on orthopedic implants (30, 130, 1024, 1124) are disclosed. The systems (10, 110, 1010, 1110) include a field generator (16, 116, 1016, 1116) for generating a magnetic field and an orthopedic implant (30, 130, 1024, 1124) located within the magnetic field. The implant (30, 130, 1024, 1124) includes at least one landmark (31, 131, 1028, 1128), an optional removable probe (1029, 1129) and a first magnetic sensor (32, 132, 1026, 1126). The systems (10, 110, 1010, 1110) further include a landmark identifier (18, 118, 1016, 1116) with an optional second magnetic sensor (20, 120, 1020, 1120) and a processor (12, 112, 1012, 1112) for comparing sensor data from the first sensor (32, 132, 1026,1126) and second sensor (20, 120, 1020, 1120) or data from the first sensor (32, 132, 1026,1126) and landmark identifier (18, 118, 1016, 1116) using the set distance to calculate the position of the landmark identifier (18, 118, 1016, 1116) relative to the at least one landmark (31, 131, 1028,1128). The disclosed systems (10, 110, 1010, 1110) allow for blind targeting of one or more landmarks (31, 131, 1028, 1128).