Background: This paper presents a novel multi-modality tracking and navigation system that provides a unique capability to guild a flexible drill tip inside the bone with accurate curved tunnelling.
Methods: As the flexible drill tip cannot be tracked optically inside the bone, this research focuses on developing a hybrid tracking and navigation system for tracking a flexible drill tip by using both optical and kinematic tracking. The tracking information is used to guide the THA (total hip arthroplasty) procedure, providing a real-time virtual model of the flexible drill.
Results: The flexible and steerable drill tip system is then tested on total hip arthroplasty followed by evaluation of the positioning and orientation of femoral stem placement by femoral milling.
Conclusions: Based on this study, we conclude that the tracking and navigation system is able to guide the flexible drill to mill inside femoral canal.
Keywords: flexible; navigation; orthopaedics; robotics; steerable; tracking.
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