Rotational alignment femoral sizing guide

• US 20060142778A1
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Dees, Roger Ryan Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,451,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1764 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/067 for measuring angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3859 Femoral components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4657 Measuring instruments used for implanting artificial joints for surgical instruments A61B90/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4658 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4668 for measuring angles

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention allow unlimited rotational alignment between two boundaries for alignment with anatomic landmarks while still referencing both posterior condyles for A/P sizing of the distal femur. In particular embodiments, the system provides at least one movable paddle that provides a reference point from the condyles so that the measuring assembly can be aligned to be parallel with the epicondylar axis. Once the measuring assembly is properly angled, the A/P length of the bone can then be measured from a proper reference point.

Claims

1. A rotational alignment femoral sizing guide assembly, comprising:

(a) a body comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, an anterior portion, a posterior portion, and an actuator member located on the upper surface of the body;

(b) a paddle having an actuator member that cooperates with the actuator member of the body; and

(c) a rotational actuator that cooperates with the actuator member of the body and the actuator member of the paddle to provide varying degrees of angulation between the second paddle and the body.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising an additional paddle that extends from the posterior portion of the body.

3. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a measuring member that cooperates with the body via a member adapted to move the measuring member with respect to the body in order to measure an anterior/posterior distance.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the paddle is adapted to pivot away from and toward the body.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the paddle comprises a pivot member that cooperates with a pivot member of the body.

6. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising angle markings on the paddle, the body, or the rotational actuator, wherein the rotational actuator is adapted to pivot the body to an angle that is marked by the angle markings.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the body has sizing indicia on its upper surface.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the body comprises one or more fixation holes.

9. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a measuring member that cooperates with the body and is adapted to be extended toward the anterior or posterior portion of the body in order to determine what size prosthesis should be used.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the measuring member comprises a mark to indicate an axis.

11. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the measuring member comprises one or more drill guide holes.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the paddles has one or more fixation portions for securement to bone.

13. A method for measuring the rotation and size of a bone area, comprising:

(a) providing an assembly comprising one or more movable paddles adapted to cooperate with a body via an actuator, with angle measuring markings located on one or more of the body, the one or more movable paddles, or the actuator;

(b) placing the assembly on the bone to be measured;

(c) actuating the actuator to cause the body to rotate with respect to a reference point marked by the one or more paddles;

(d) reading an angle measured by the angle measuring markings.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the assembly further comprises a measuring member adapted to cooperate with the body, the method further comprising:

(e) adjusting a location of the measuring member to measure the width, length, or depth of the bone area to be measured.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

(f) correlating an implant size to the measurements taken.