Intra-operative Shape Acquisition of Tibio- Femoral Joints Using 3d Laser Scanning for Computer Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery: a Proof of Concept

Image registration is an important aspect in all computer assisted orthopaedic surgery (CAOS). It is a process of developing a spatial relationship between pre-operative data, such as Computed Tomography (CT) scans or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans and the physical patient in the operation theatre. Current image registration techniques for CAOS in minimally invasive Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty surgery (UKA) are invasive, time consuming and often take 15-20 minutes and are therefore costly (Mozes et al., 2009; Hagag et al., 2011; Banger et al., 2013). The rationale for this study was to develop a new operation theatre compliant, quick, cost effective, contactless, automated shape acquisition technique during CAOS based on an accurate rigid body model of the ends of the exposed knee joint produced using 3D laser scans taken intra-operatively by a Laser Displacement Sensor.