Abstract
Commercial C-arm fluoroscopes are routinely used to analyze human skeletal joints during motions such as deep knee bends, or chair rises. Such diagnostics are used to characterize pre and post operative arthoplasty results, particularly in association with total joint replacement procedures. Stationary fluoroscopes restrict the patient motion and load conditions, thus diminishing the diagnostic utility of the results. A new class of fluoroscopy has been developed in which a robotic mechanization is used to allow selected joints to be x-rayed while the human subjects perform natural motions such as walking. The tracking fluoroscope system (TFS) is a mobile robot that acquires real-time x-ray records of hip, knee, or ankle joint motion while the patient walks normally. Because the fluoroscope line of sight dynamically tracks the joint of interest, the TFS provides clearer and contained joint images.
The technical features of the TFS will be reviewed, recent development testing summarized, and the results of preliminary patient trials presented.
