Howmedica and WSU have teamed up to improve

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Howmedica and WSU have teamed up to improve hip
replacement surgery
A local doctor has developed a device that
references specific landmarks of the pelvis.
Using these landmarks (namely the ASIS and
greater sciatic notch), the acetabular component
can be correctly positioned consistently.
Although the device has already been proven as a
reliable concept in the operating room,
it is still unknown how the device
settings affect the acetabular component
orientation. WSU has derived the relationships
between the device settings and the component
orientation. The results are presented in an
easy-to-use software.

• Every year, 7 of all hip replacements result
  in dislocation. Of these dislocations, about
  half are caused by improper orientation of the
  replacement hip socket (the acetabular
  component).
• It is very difficult for a hip surgeon to
  consistently orient the acetabular component. In
  fact, surgeons use past experience and make their
  best guess in order to orient the acetabular
  component.
• Proper placement of the acetabular component
  could potentially save the healthcare industry in
  over 10 million dollars every year, not to
  mention avoiding additional patient discomfort.

• Project Stages
• Confirm past pelvic statistical data
• Develop a device kinematics model
• Derive solution to kinematics model