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"Smart Bone Cutting"
When artificial joint components are installed, precise shapes must be cut in bone to insure proper biomechanics. Precision Freehand Sculpting (PFS) provides a handheld tool that enables the surgeon to accurately cut these shapes without the need for the complicated jigs and guides currently used in surgery. Utilizing PFS, surgeons can perform minimally-invasive procedures not possible with current surgical tools.
PFS belongs to a category of "semi-active" robotics that analyzes the surgeon's cutting motion and intelligently cuts bone. A preplanned target shape divides the bone into waste bone, which should be removed, and healthy bone to be preserved. When the surgeon moves the cutter over the bone, the PFS system determines whether it is over waste bone or healthy bone and cuts accordingly.
PFS works by coupling the cutting tool to a computer system and a position tracking system. The tracking system monitors the position of the tool relative to the bone and feeds this information to the computer system. Software running on the computer determines, based on the tracking information and the surgical plan, if the bone should be cut or not and adjusts the cutter accordingly.
This method combines the advantages of robotic technology (such as accurate positioning and fast reaction times) with the skill and experience of a surgeon. PFS allows a much smaller footprint compared to other robotic systems, which is a welcome convenience in a crowded operating room.
PFS is protected by US Patent #6,757,582