Surgical alignment system, apparatus and method of use

Abstract

A surgical positioning system is provided that includes a radiolucent grid having a plurality of dimensioned radio-opaque lines corresponding to surgical variables and a substrate connect to or integral with the radiolucent grid. This system is used to obtain subject specific data from an image of a subject obtained during a surgical procedure by following the steps of: providing a radiolucent grid having a plurality of dimensioned radio-opaque lines relating to surgical variables; placing the subject on a substrate; and obtaining subject specific data from an image of said subject. This invention related to an apparatus made of a radiolucent grid having a plurality of dimensioned radio-opaque lines relating to surgical variables and a sealable radiolucent container sized to receive the grid.

1 . A surgical positioning system comprising:
 a radiolucent grid having a plurality of dimensioned radio-opaque lines corresponding to surgical variables and a substrate connect to or integral with the radiolucent grid.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the substrate is selected from the group of: an operating room table mat, operating room table, a mobile positioning device and a surgical drape. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the substrate is an operating room table mat and said grid is integrated into said operating room table mat to form a dimensioned grid mat, said dimensioned grid mat having at least one aperture in a top surface sized to accommodate a positioning device, said positioning device sized to project through and above said top surface of the dimensioned grid mat, wherein the position of a subject on said mat can be maintained in a selected position with said at least one positioning device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  further comprising an operating room table with a top surface, wherein said grid is adjacent to said operating room table top surface. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the substrate is an operating room table and said grid is integrated into said operating room table to form a grid table assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the said operating room table mat includes at least one aperture in a top surface sized to accommodate a positioning device, said positioning device sized to project through and above said top surface of the operating room table mat, wherein the position of a subject on said surface of the grid table assembly can be maintained in a selected position with said at least one positioning device. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the assembly further comprises at least one internal positioning peg contacting the operating room table and the operating room table mat to from a raised area configured to stabilize a body part of the subject. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the substrate is a mobile positioning device and further comprises a leg holder device configured to hold a subject's leg in place during surgery. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an apparatus to facilitate the positioning of said grid relative to a subject, wherein said grid comprises a plurality of support plates configured to retain said grid, and wherein the apparatus to facilitate the positioning of said grid is a medial-lateral slot in said plate; and a central axis pin connected to at least one of said plurality of support plates, wherein said medial-lateral slot is configured to retain a central axis pin and to allow medial-lateral translation of the grid plate relative to a horizontal line of said support plates and to rotate around the axis of said central axis pin wherein the medial-lateral slot is comprised of a plurality countersunk grooves that are configured to retain said central axis pin. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus comprising:
 a radiolucent grid having a plurality of dimensioned radio-opaque lines relating to surgical variables and a sealable radiolucent container sized to receive the grid.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said container is a C-arm cover. 
     
     
         12 . A method to obtain subject specific data from an image of a subject obtained during a surgical procedure comprising:
 providing a radiolucent grid having a plurality of dimensioned radio-opaque lines corresponding to surgical variables and a substrate connect to or integral with the radiolucent grid;   placing the subject on a substrate; and   obtaining subject specific data from an image of said subject.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said wherein the data consists of: a leg length, an off-set and a cup position; and further comprising the step of adjusting the placement of a prosthetic device during an arthroplasty based on the subject specific data. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the steps of placing the radiolucent grid having a plurality of dimensioned radio-opaque lines relating to surgical variables in a sealable radiolucent container sized to receive the grid to form a grid assembly; and positioning said grid assembly over the C arm intensifier of an X-ray machine. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the data consists of: obtaining of a “Y” axis corresponding to an anatomical axis of said subject and an “X” axis corresponding to an angle related to an abnormality, and further comprises the step of adjusting the orthopedic abnormality based on the subject specific data. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said “x” axis is selected from the group consisting of: a proximal femoral angle, a lateral distal femoral angle, a medial proximal fibular angle and a distal tibial angle. 
     
     
         17 . A method to print a radio-opaque grid pattern on a radiolucent substrate comprising:
 printing a radio-opaque dimensioned grid corresponding to surgical variables on a radiolucent substrate.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the surgical variables are selected for the group consisting of: specific reference angles, length, positioning or targeting. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said substrate is a surgical drape.