Computer-assisted orthopedic surgery (CAOS) systems have become one of the most important and challenging types of system in clinical orthopedics, as they enable precise treatment of musculoskeletal diseases, employing modern clinical navigation systems and surgical tools. This paper brings a comprehensive review of recent trends and possibilities of CAOS systems. There are three types of the surgical planning systems, including: systems based on the volumetric images (computer tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasound images), further systems utilize either 2D or 3D fluoroscopic images, and the last one utilizes the kinetic information about the joints and morphological information about the target bones. This complex review is focused on three fundamental aspects of CAOS systems: their essential components, types of CAOS systems, and mechanical tools used in CAOS systems. In this review, we also outline the possibilities for using ultrasound computer-assisted orthopedic surgery (UCAOS) systems as an alternative to conventionally used CAOS systems.

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This paper deals with a structural design of a mold for making a composite ring of external circular fixator used in medical applications. It also focuses on the choice of technology and material for the production of a fixator ring. Due to the high demands on the quality, appearance, material of the product and higher series production, prepreg compression molding was chosen for this purpose. Thanks to this sophisticated production process, the high quality and accuracy of the ring can be achieved. The starting material for the production of composite components is a layer of resinsaturated fibers, abbreviated prepreg. This blank is cut on a CNC plotter and embedded into a mold for molding. The aluminium mold is provided with a separator and a filler of pores. The result of this contribution is the design of the mold to obtain the resulting product of the required mechanical properties, functional requirements and appearance KEYWORDS Composite ring, external fixator, mold design, prepreg compression molding, aluminium mold

Patients and surgeons with tibia fracture using external fixator are worried about a higher weight of metal fixator´s construction and therefore also poor manipulation ability with this tool [1]. During the last few years the bone tissue engineering has improved significantly and along with that also material development has increased [2,3]. Therefore patients requirements can be achieved by optimizing the material composition of this product. The main objective of this research is a weight reduction by material and design changes of the external fixator. Another aim is the evaluation of the final model. The model of innovative fixator was created and also computed in software CATIA V5-6 using finite element method simulation. Appropriate forces were applied and the simulation was performed. Results of FEM simulation indicate that the final weight of complete product declined significantly after application of carbon-fiber composite. Test results also suggest that the rigidity and the stability of complete fixator are safe. Hence this research describes that application of carbon fiber composite into the external fixator design is an important improvement of the external fixator.

An application of the osteosynthesis fixator as a surgical method for the large bone treatment has been deeply described during the last 70 years [Solomin 2012]. Even the design using composite material is available at the market. Nevertheless, the interconnection of the main requirements including lightweight, adequate stiffness and adjustability around the tibia bone is the next step in external fixator improvement. Thus, the overall aim of this study is the innovation of this device with the subsequent analytical verification using finite element method. Due to these requirements, innovative external fixator has been developed and further optimized with structural analysis and surgeons´ requirements as well. The final improved design of osteosynthesis device with the analytical confirmation using finite element method has been manufactured and this state of the art further serve for experimental verification.