MBARS: Mini Bone Attached Robotic System for Joint Arthroplasty

A mini bone attached robotic system (MBARS) was developed for shaping of the bone cavity in joint arthroplasty. While the system is designed for a general use in joint replacement procedures, the initial implementation was for patellofemoral arthroplasty (PFA) procedure. The current application is image-based, with the plans to develop an image-free approach in which all data collection and planning is performed intra-operatively in the robot coordinate system, eliminating the need for external tracking in the operating room. Experiments conducted using the first MBARS prototype supported the feasibility of the approach. The applied methodology could be extended to other orthopaedic procedures to improve the accuracy and operational time. Moreover, it enables use of the next generation, more anatomically shaped implants and related minimally invasive surgical procedures