Methods for protecting anatomical structures from resection and devices thereof

A method for protecting anatomical structures from resection, the method implemented by one or more surgical computing devices and comprising:

• receiving an input from a user indicating that an anatomical structure requires protection from cutting action of resection equipment during a surgical procedure;
• intraoperatively obtaining coordinates from a point probe device, wherein the coordinates are in a reference frame of a bone to be resected during the surgical procedure and collectively define a line;
• defining a virtual protection area in the reference frame by extending the coordinates in at least one direction within the reference frame;
• tracking a cutting element of the resection equipment during the surgical procedure;
• determining a location of the cutting element in the reference frame based on the tracking;
• comparing the location of the cutting element to the virtual protection area;
• and
• controlling one or more control parameters associated with the resection equipment to:
• enable the cutting action according to a surgical plan associated with the surgical procedure when the comparison indicates the cutting element is outside of the virtual protection area;
• and
• disable the cutting action, when the comparison indicates the cutting element is at or within the virtual protection area.