Patient Specific Knee Alignment Guide And Associated Method

• US 20070288030A1
• Filed: 05/31/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Metzger, Robert, Berend, Keith R., Berend, Michael E., Perry, Lance D., Schoenefeld, Ryan J., Lombardi, Adolph V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,092,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/87
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/154 for preparing bone for knee prosthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/155 Cutting femur
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/157 Cutting tibia
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1764 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/56 Surgical instruments or methods for treatment of bones or joints; Devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/58 for osteosynthesis, e.g. bone plates, screws , setting implements or the like A61B17/14, A61B17/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/568 produced with shape and dimensions specific for an individual patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/108 Computer aided selection or customisation of medical implants or cutting guides
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations

Abstract

A method of preparing a joint for a prosthesis in a patient. The method includes obtaining scan data associated with the joint of the patient, preparing a three-dimensional image of the joint based on the scan data, preparing an interactive initial surgical plan based on the scan data, sending the surgical plan to a surgeon, receiving a finalized surgical plan from the surgeon, and preparing an image of a patient-specific alignment guide.

Claims

1. A method of preparing a joint for a prosthesis in a patient comprising:

obtaining scan data associated with the joint of the patient;

preparing a three-dimensional image of the joint based on the scan data;

preparing an interactive initial surgical plan based on the scan data;

sending the surgical plan to a surgeon;

receiving a finalized surgical plan from the surgeon; and

preparing an image of a patient-specific alignment guide.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein preparing an interactive initial surgical plan comprises aligning the joint based on mechanical or anatomic axes of the joint.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising aligning the joint based on a cylindrical or transepicondylar axis of the joint.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating tool path data for making the alignment guide.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

making the alignment guide; and

sending the alignment guide to the surgeon.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising sterilizing the alignment guide.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein preparing an image of an initial patient-specific alignment guide for the joint includes conforming an inner surface of the alignment guide to a portion of a joint surface.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising forming resection-guiding apertures in the alignment guide.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the surgical plan to a surgeon includes sending the surgical plan in electronic form.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the surgical plan to a surgeon includes sending the surgical plan in a storage medium or over the Internet or by e-mail.

11. A method of preparing a joint for a prosthesis in a patient, the method comprising:

securing a patient-specific alignment guide to a joint surface of the patient;

attaching a guide element through the alignment guide to the joint surface;

removing the alignment guide without removing the guide element; and

resecting the joint surface using the guide element.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein resecting the joint surface using the guide element includes supporting a cutting guide on the guide element.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein resecting the joint surface using the guide element includes supporting a robotic device on the guide element.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein attaching a guide element through the alignment guide to the joint surface includes passing the guide element through a guiding aperture of the alignment guide.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein removing the alignment guide without removing the guide element includes sliding the alignment guide off the guide element through a peripheral opening of the guiding aperture.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein attaching a guide element through the alignment guide to the joint surface includes

attaching a drill guide on the alignment guide;

and

inserting the guide element through a bore of the drill guide.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein securing the alignment guide to the joint surface includes inserting a fixation element through corresponding aperture of the alignment guide.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein securing the alignment guide to the joint surface includes mating an inner surface of the alignment guide to a matching portion of the joint surface.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein mating an inner surface of the alignment guide to a matching portion of the joint surface includes mating the inner surface of the alignment guide and the joint surface in three-dimensional space.

20. A method of preparing a knee joint for a prosthesis in a patient, the method comprising:

mating a patient-specific femoral alignment guide onto a femoral joint surface of the patient;

inserting at least one first guide element through the femoral alignment guide into the anterior or anterior-medial side of the femoral joint surface;

drilling resection-locating apertures in the distal side of femoral joint surface;

removing the femoral alignment guide without removing the first guide element;

supporting a femoral resection device on the first guide element; and

resecting the femoral joint surface using a femoral resection device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein mating a patient-specific femoral alignment guide onto a femoral joint surface of the patient includes conforming an inner surface of the femoral alignment guide to a corresponding portion of the femoral joint surface in three-dimensional space.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

mating a patient-specific tibial alignment guide onto a tibial joint surface of the patient;

inserting at least one second guide element through the tibial alignment guide into the anterior-medial side of the tibial joint surface

removing the tibial alignment guide without removing the second guide element;

supporting a tibial resection device on the second guide element; and

resecting the tibial joint surface with a tibial resection device.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising inserting at least one fixation element through the femoral alignment guide.