INDICATOR DEVICE FOR USE WITH A SURGICAL GUIDE INSTRUMENT

• US 20070219559A1
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Technology Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zimmer Technology Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Heavener, Jackson R., Collins, James S., Grimm, James E., McGinley, Shawn E., Radford, Kathleen J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,882,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/87
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1764 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2025 with a pilot laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/828 With illuminating or viewing means for work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/853 Indicates tool position

Abstract

Instruments for use in resecting, reshaping, and preparing the end of a bone to receive an implant. The instruments may be equipped with indicator devices in the form of light-emitting devices to project an indicator onto the bone. Examples of such instruments may be a cut guide equipped with a built-in cut plane indicator device and a cut plane indicator device for use with existing cut guides. The cut plane indicator device may provide a visual indication or cue on a surface of the bone indicating where the cut plane of the cut guide will intersect the bone.

Claims

1. A guidance system for guiding a surgical procedure performed on an anatomical structure, the guidance system comprising:

a surgical guide instrument including at least one guide surface, said at least one guide surface extending along a guide direction; and

a light-emitting device securable to said guide instrument in a secured position such that an output of said light-emitting device is projected along said guide direction.

2. The guidance system of claim 1, wherein said light-emitting device comprises a laser.

3. The guidance system of claim 2, wherein said laser comprises one of a line-projecting laser and a point-projecting laser.

4. The guidance system of claim 2, wherein said light-emitting device further comprises a lens.

5. The guidance system of claim 1, wherein said light-emitting device is integrally formed with said guide instrument.

6. The guidance system of claim 1, wherein said guide instrument comprises a cut guide, said at least one guide surface defined by a cut slot extending through said cut guide.

7. The guidance system of claim 6, wherein said guide direction comprises a cut plane, said output projected along said cut plane, said output configured to provide an indicator on the anatomical structure corresponding to said cut plane.

8. The guidance system of claim 1, wherein said guide instrument comprises a drill guide, said at least one guide surface defined by a drill guide throughbore extending through said drill guide.

9. The guidance system of claim 8, wherein said guide direction comprises a drill axis, said output projected along said drill axis, said output configured to provide an indicator on the anatomical structure corresponding to said drill axis.

10. The guidance system of claim 1, wherein said light-emitting device includes at least one projection, said projection configured to engage with said at least one guide surface.

11. The guidance system of claim 1, wherein said guide instrument is operably coupled to a computer assisted surgery system.

12. A guidance system for guiding a surgical procedure performed on an anatomical structure, the guidance system comprising:

guidance means for guiding a surgical instrument relative to a guide direction; and

indication means for providing an indicator on the anatomical structure corresponding to said guide direction.

13. The guidance system of claim 12, wherein said indication means comprises a light-emitting device.

14. The guidance system of claim 12, further comprising alignment means for aligning said indication means relative to said guidance means.

15. The guidance system of claim 12, further comprising computer means for providing computer assisted guidance to the guidance system.

16. A method of performing an orthopaedic surgical procedure on an anatomical structure, comprising:

providing a guide instrument including at least one guide surface, the at least one guide surface extending along a guide direction;

providing a light-emitting device associated with the guide instrument; and

projecting an indicator from the light-emitting device onto the anatomical structure corresponding to the guide direction.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

evaluating a position of the indicator on the anatomical structure;

realigning the guide instrument based on the position of the indicator;

again projecting the indicator from the light-emitting device onto the anatomical structure corresponding to the guide direction; and

utilizing the indicator to guide a step of cutting the anatomical structure.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said second providing step further comprises engaging at least one projection of the light-emitting device with the at least one guide surface.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of providing a light-emitting device comprises the step of providing a laser.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of providing a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument configured to perform the orthopaedic surgical procedure on the anatomical structure based on the indicator projected onto the anatomical structure.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of providing a guide instrument comprises the step of providing one of a cut guide and a drill guide.