A61B5/4595

Alignment instruments and methods for use in total ankle replacement

Alignment instruments may include joint-line referencing systems having an alignment arm having a body with first and second portions defining first and second sides. The first portion has at least one first pin tube through-hole extending from the first to the second side. The second portion has a first opening on the first side. A pin tube guide member is receivable in the first through-hole. The pin tube guide member has a passageway therethrough. An angelwing alignment member includes a portion receivable in the first opening of the alignment arm. An alignment foot is secured to the second portion, and the alignment foot has a handle and a shim. The shim is positionable in a joint between a first bone and a second bone, the alignment arm is alignable relative to a first bone, and the pin tube guide is operable for securing a pin into the first bone.

METHODS FOR EVALUATING PATIENTS
20220039739 · 2022-02-10 ·

Methods for evaluating subjects having conditions associated with loss of muscle function (e.g., a motor neuron disease, a neuromuscular disease, or a myopathy) by measuring muscle function (e.g., muscle strength) are disclosed.

Unified coil (UNIC) systems and method for next generation magnetic resonance coils
11209510 · 2021-12-28 · ·

A unified coil assembly for magnetic resonance imaging is disclosed. The coil assembly includes an RF coil element and a shim coil array with a shim coil element. The shim coil element is physically separated or partially separated from the RF coil element. The shim coil element includes a DC current loop having a DC power supply connection to allow DC current to generate a local BO magnetic field. The unified coil array assembly is configured to simultaneously provide an RF mode for at least one of transmit or receive and a direct current mode to generate a local B0 magnetic field for B0 shimming Larger number of shim coils relative to the RF coil element provides superior shimming performance. The mutual inductance between the shim coil element and the RF coil element is minimized by proposed geometrical decoupling methods in order to minimize the RF interaction between the two.

UNIFIED COIL (UNIC) SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR NEXT GENERATION MAGNETIC RESONANCE COILS
20220206094 · 2022-06-30 · ·

A unified coil assembly for magnetic resonance imaging is disclosed. The coil assembly includes an RF coil element and a shim coil array with a shim coil element. The shim coil element is physically separated or partially separated from the RF coil element. The shim coil element includes a DC current loop having a DC power supply connection to allow DC current to generate a local BO magnetic field. The unified coil array assembly is configured to simultaneously provide an RF mode for at least one of transmit or receive and a direct current mode to generate a local BO magnetic field for BO shimming. Larger number of shim coils relative to the RF coil element provides superior shimming performance. The mutual inductance between the shim coil element and the RF coil element is minimized by proposed geometrical decoupling methods in order to minimize the RF interaction between the two.

ALIGNMENT INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS FOR USE IN TOTAL ANKLE REPLACEMENT

Alignment instruments may include joint-line referencing systems having an alignment arm having a body with first and second portions defining first and second sides. The first portion has at least one first pin tube through-hole extending from the first to the second side. The second portion has a first opening on the first side. A pin tube guide member is receivable in the first through-hole. The pin tube guide member has a passageway therethrough. An angelwing alignment member includes a portion receivable in the first opening of the alignment arm. An alignment foot is secured to the second portion, and the alignment foot has a handle and a shim. The shim is positionable in a joint between a first bone and a second bone, the alignment arm is alignable relative to a first bone, and the pin tube guide is operable for securing a pin into the first bone.

DYNAMIC JOINT ANALYSIS FOR JOINT REPLACEMENT
20230263572 · 2023-08-24 ·

Devices, systems, and techniques are described for determining surgical guidance for a joint replacement implantation based on dynamic joint analysis. Techniques include receiving patient specific data indicative of pre-operative motion associated with an ankle (300) of a patient and determining, based on the patient specific data, a current kinematic axis (302) of the motion associated with the ankle. Techniques also include determining a target kinematic axis (304) of motion for the ankle, the target kinematic axis being different than the current kinematic axis, and generating a transform function between the current kinematic axis and the target kinematic axis. Additionally, techniques include generating, based on the transform function, a recommended surgical intervention that adjusts tissue associated with the ankle to achieve the target kinematic axis of motion.

Isokinetic rotational testing, evaluation and training system
11331536 · 2022-05-17 ·

An isokinetic rotational exercise device provides for training and collection of information of a knee joint as it rotates. The isokinetic rotational exercise device includes vertical supports attached to a base frame that provides for an inclusion of rotational foot plates. The rotational foot plates are connected to cables of a pulley system that allows for an ability to add resistance of free weights and resistance tubing. Bottoms of the rotational foot plates include sensors to measure rotational degree, and the corresponding information is sent to a processor for display on a monitor on the isokinetic rotational exercise device or to an external device. A degree of force used to turn the rotational foot plates when the resistance is added is data collectable through force sensors in the cables of the pulley system.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR JOINT HEALTH ASSESSMENT
20230255552 · 2023-08-17 ·

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a system for assessing joint health comprising a joint sensor configured to measure at least one non-acoustic characteristic of a joint during movement; a bioimpedance sensor configured to measure bioimpedance of a joint structure exposed to electrical current at a plurality of frequencies; a processor; and a memory, the memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to provide an assessment of joint health through interpretation of measurements from the joint sensor and the bioimpedance sensor.

Foot and ankle surgical method and apparatus therefor

A weight-bearing stance corrected foot orthotic (12) is adapted to be used on the foot (2) of a anaesthetised patient in the supine or prone position, the weight bearing stance corrected foot orthotic (12) adapted to dorsiflex the toes of the forefoot of the patient an angle of between 30° to 50° to the plane of the foot (2). A surgical foot orthotic (12) is formed by the steps of disposing a patient's foot (2) or both feet in a weight bearing neutral position and dorsiflexing the forefoot or forefeet of the patient such that patient's foot (2) or feet are in or towards the Windlass configuration. A first orthotic (5) correcting the stance of the patient in the weight bearing position with dorsiflexed forefoot is formed and this is scanned to form an electronic image of the corrective load bearing surface. The electronic image is modified to include one or more guide apertures or cut-outs (9) and a surgical corrected weight-bearing orthotic from the modified electronic image is 3-D printed with the one or more guide apertures or cut-outs.

EVALUATING THE STABILITY OF A JOINT IN THE FOOT AND ANKLE COMPLEX VIA WEIGHT-BEARING MEDICAL IMAGING

Systems and methods are provided for evaluating a stability of a joint within the foot and ankle complex of a subject. The subject is instructed to assume a position in which the joint is bearing weight, and a three-dimensional medical image of the joint comprising a sequence of two-dimensional image slices is captured at a scanner. The sequence of two-dimensional image slices is provided to a predictive model, comprising an artificial neural network having at least one convolutional layer. A clinical parameter representing the stability of the joint at the predictive model is determined from at least the sequence of two-dimensional image slices.