Robotic-Assisted Transcorporeal Procedure System for Cervical Spine Surgery
Legal Citation
Summary of the Inventive Concept
A next-generation system for performing transcorporeal procedures in the cervical spine, leveraging robotics, navigation, and virtual reality to enhance precision, safety, and patient outcomes.
Background and Problem Solved
The original patent disclosed a method and apparatus for placement of vertebral body replacement devices into a transcorporeal void during a surgical operation on the cervical portion of the spine. However, the existing approach has limitations in terms of accuracy, speed, and patient safety. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing a robotic-assisted system that enables more precise and efficient procedures.
Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept
The system comprises a robotic arm configured to create a void in a vertebral body, a vertebral body replacement device configured to be placed into the void, and a navigation system configured to guide the robotic arm and vertebral body replacement device during the procedure. The system may also include a virtual reality interface for real-time visualization, a machine learning algorithm for predicting optimal device placement, and a haptic feedback system for training surgeons. The vertebral body replacement device features a modular design with interchangeable components and a sensor for monitoring its position and orientation.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The new claims introduce a paradigm shift in transcorporeal procedures by integrating robotics, navigation, and virtual reality. The inventive concept's novelty lies in the combination of these technologies to achieve unprecedented precision, speed, and safety in cervical spine surgery.
Alternative Embodiments and Variations
Alternative embodiments may include variations in the robotic arm's design, the navigation system's architecture, or the virtual reality interface's features. The system could also be adapted for use in other spinal regions or for treating different types of spinal disorders.
Potential Commercial Applications and Market
The robotic-assisted transcorporeal procedure system has significant commercial potential in the spinal surgery market, with potential applications in hospitals, clinics, and surgical centers. The system's advanced features and improved patient outcomes could lead to increased adoption and market share.
CPC Classifications
| Section | Class | Group |
|---|---|---|
| A | A61 | A61F2/442 |
| A | A61 | A61F2/2846 |
| A | A61 | A61F2002/3071 |
| A | A61 | A61F2002/4435 |
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
Field of Art
Orthopedic surgical techniques and medical device design, specifically spinal surgery interventions involving vertebral body replacement and minimally invasive transcorporeal procedures
Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile
A medical device engineer or orthopedic surgeon with advanced knowledge of spinal surgical techniques, robotic surgical systems, and medical device design, possessing expertise in computer-assisted surgical technologies and biomechanical engineering
Obviousness Rationale
A PHOSITA would recognize that integrating robotic guidance, navigation systems, and virtual reality into the existing transcorporeal vertebral body replacement procedure represents a predictable technological evolution that combines known surgical technologies to enhance precision and training. The core surgical technique remains fundamentally consistent with the source patent, with technological augmentations that would be considered incremental improvements by those skilled in the art. The modular design and sensor integration represent logical extensions of existing medical device engineering principles applied to spinal surgical interventions.
Obvious Combinations & Variations
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,431 |
|---|---|
| Title | Method and apparatus for placement of vertebral body replacement device into a transcorporeal void during a surgical operation on the cervical portion of the spine |