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Acoustic feedback to determine orthopaedic implant fixation

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A device that detects and communicates when an implant is in place through frequency

Project Overview

In orthopaedics, surgeons often impact implants into place. During one of the most common surgeries in orthopaedics, Total Hip Arthroplasty, a surgeon removes some or all of the hip joint and replaces it with a prosthesis. This procedure includes an acetabular cup and a femoral component inserted in a press-fit fashion with important precision . It can be difficult for surgeons to determine whether the cup is seated properly, which is necessary for longevity of the implant. Currently, surgeons rely on multiple simultaneous sources of information in the operating room such as tactile feedback, radiographic images, and direct visualization, with sight and touch being crucial. Dr. Jeffrey Hestenberg’s 2022 study noted that as the cup is implanted, the pitch changes from a high pitched frequency to a lower pitch as the implant resonates with the pelvis and the rest of the human body . There is little in the literature exploring the auditory changes that happen during orthopaedic procedures, let alone the possibility of surgeons using these changes to enhance their performance. The design team has been tasked with creating a device that can measure the frequency and give a signal when the implant is placed correctly.

Team Picture

(Left to Right) Edward Han, Dhruv Nadkarni, Liv Baumann, Shuyan Zhang
(Left to Right) Edward Han, Dhruv Nadkarni, Liv Baumann, Shuyan Zhang

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