Pelvic waypoint clamp assembly and method

• US 20050027303A1
• Filed: 06/17/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David R. Lionberger, Stephanie Lionberger
• Original Assignee: David R. Lionberger, Stephanie Lionberger
• Inventors: Lionberger, Stephanie, Lionberger, David R.
• Application Number:
  US10/870,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20050027303A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/102
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/154 for preparing bone for knee prosthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/10 for stereotaxic surgery, e.g. frame-based stereotaxis

Abstract

A pelvic waypoint clamp assembly designed for external attachment to a patient'"'"'s hips. The clamp assembly serves as a foundation for a fixation mount (i.e. a passive or active tracker) that, when in communication with conventional computer-assisted orientation systems, is used to determine, non-invasively, the center of the femoral head prior to or during knee arthroscopy.

Claims

1. A clamp assembly for attachment to a patient'"'"'s hip in knee arthroscopy, said assembly comprising:

a. a pair of opposing jaws secured to an elongated rod, each of said jaws configured to attach externally to a patient'"'"'s hip;

b. a waypoint fixation mount secured to said rod and positioned between said pair of opposing jaws, said waypoint fixation mount designed for attachment to a computer assisted orientation system, and wherein said system is programmed to generate data corresponding to a position of said fixation mount for use in said knee arthroscopy.

2. The clamp assembly of claim 1, wherein said computer assisted orientation system is further programmed, through a series of algorithmic calculations, to establish the center of a femoral head of said patient prior to or during said knee arthroscopy.

3. The clamp assembly of claim 1, said pair of opposing jaws comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, and wherein said first jaw is secured to a base, said base movably secured to said elongated rod, such that said base, in combination with said first jaw, may be moved horizontally a desired distance away from said second jaw in order accommodate a width of said patient'"'"'s hip.

4. The clamp assembly of claim 3, wherein said second jaw is secured to a base, said second jaw base secured to said elongated rod.

5. The clamp assembly of claim 4, wherein said second jaw base is fixedly secured to said elongated rod.

6. The clamp assembly of claim 4, wherein said second jaw base is movably secured to said elongated rod, such that a distance between said bases may be adjusted by moving either or both of said bases horizontally along said rod.

7. The clamp assembly of claim 4, wherein said first and second jaws are rotatably secured to said first and second bases, respectively, such that each of said jaws may be rotated about a vertical axis extending perpendicular to said elongated rod.

8. The clamp assembly of claim 7, wherein at least one of said first and second jaws may rotate up to 360 degrees about said vertical axis.

9. The clamp assembly of claim 4, wherein said first and second jaws each have a height that may be adjusted vertically along a vertical axis extending perpendicular to said elongated rod.

10. The clamp assembly of claim 9, wherein each of said first and second jaws include a terminal rod portion housed within a sleeve of each of said bases, such that each of said jaws may be moved vertically along said vertical axis of said assembly.

11. A clamp assembly for attachment to a patient'"'"'s hip in knee arthroscopy, said assembly comprising:

a. a pair of opposing jaws secured to an elongated rod, each of said jaws configured to attach externally to a patient'"'"'s hip;

b. a waypoint fixation mount secured to said rod and positioned between said pair of opposing jaws, said waypoint fixation mount designed for attachment to a computer assisted orientation system, and wherein said system is programmed to generate data corresponding to a position of said fixation mount for use in said knee arthroscopy, said computer assisted orientation system further programmed, through a series of algorithmic calculations, to establish the center of a femoral head of said patient prior to or during said knee arthroscopy.

12. The clamp assembly of claim 11, said pair of opposing jaws comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, and wherein said first jaw is secured to a base, said base movably secured to said elongated rod, such that said base, in combination with said first jaw, may be moved horizontally a desired distance away from said second jaw in order accommodate a width of said patient'"'"'s hip.

13. The clamp assembly of claim 12, wherein said second jaw is secured to a base, said second jaw base secured to said elongated rod.

14. The clamp assembly of claim 12, wherein said first and second jaws are rotatably secured to said first and second bases, respectively, such that each of said jaws may be rotated about a vertical axis extending perpendicular to said elongated rod.

15. The clamp assembly of claim 14, wherein said first and second jaws each have a height that may be adjusted vertically along a vertical axis extending perpendicular to said elongated rod.

16. A method of establishing the center of the femoral head prior to or during knee arthroscopy comprising:

a. securing a clamp assembly externally about a patient'"'"'s hips, said clamp assembly including;

i) a pair of opposing jaws secured to an elongated rod, each of said jaws configured to attach externally to a patient'"'"'s hip; and

ii) a waypoint fixation mount secured to said rod and positioned between said pair of opposing jaws, said waypoint fixation mount designed for attachment to a computer assisted orientation system, and wherein said system is programmed to generate data corresponding to a position of said fixation mount for use in said knee arthroscopy; and

b. measuring the location of the center of the femoral head via said waypoint fixation mount and said computer assisted orientation system.

17. The method of claim 17, said pair of opposing jaws of said clamp assembly comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, and wherein said first jaw is secured to a base, said base movably secured to said elongated rod, such that said base, in combination with said first jaw, may be moved horizontally a desired distance away from said second jaw in order accommodate a width of said patient'"'"'s hip.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said second jaw of said clamp assembly is secured to a base, said second jaw base secured to said elongated rod.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said first and second jaws of said clamp assembly are rotatably secured to said first and second bases, respectively, such that each of said jaws may be rotated about a vertical axis extending perpendicular to said elongated rod.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said first and second jaws of said clamp assembly each have a height that may be adjusted vertically along a vertical axis extending perpendicular to said elongated rod.