Scientists at Saarland University’s Homburg Campus, Germany, have developed a pioneering robot-assisted procedure for joint replacement surgery. Their approach removes the need for bone pins and external infrared cameras in procedures such as knee replacement surgery. Led by Professor Stefan Landgraeber, director of the department of orthopedics and orthopedic surgery at the University Medical Center, and research associate Philipp Winter, the project seeks to make orthopedic surgery both safer and less invasive.
Until now, the surgical robots deployed in orthopedic and trauma surgery have made use of bone pins–metal pins approximately 3.2 mm thick that are anchored directly into the bone. These pins allow the robot to determine the bone’s exact position in the body using an infrared tracking system. However, this method carries risks, including bone fractures and damage to muscles or soft tissue. The new approach eliminates the need for the pins and for the external camera system. Instead, the robot uses its own built-in sensors. By precisely scanning a defined structure, such as a bone or a prosthesis, the robot can determine its spatial position and generate a 3D model of the surgical field. This process is further supported by x-ray images taken in 2 planes.
The key innovation lies in the robot’s internal coordinate system, which determines its spatial relationship to the surgical object and replaces the need for infrared tracking. A patent application for the technology has already been filed.
