Distal femoral cutting guide

• US 20080228189A1
• Filed: 03/13/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Metzger, Robert, Fox, Duke A., Twomey, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,959,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/155 Cutting femur
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1764 for the knee

Abstract

A system locates a femoral cutting guide on a distal end of a femur. The femoral cutting guide establishes at least a first reference plane to perform a distal femoral planar cut. The system generally includes a mounting rod operable to insert into the distal end of the femur. An index member is operable to abut the distal end of the femur. A bridge member extends from the index member. A cutting guide member extends from the bridge member. The cutting guide member includes a first channel that establishes the first reference plane. A mounting mechanism releasably couples the cutting guide member to the bridge member. The mounting mechanism is operable to generate a sliding resistance between the bridge member and the cutting guide member that is generally overcome to position the cutting guide member relative to the femur.

Claims

1. A system for locating a femoral cutting guide on a distal end of a femur that establishes at least a first reference plane to perform a distal femoral planar cut, the system comprising:

a mounting rod operable to insert into the distal end of the femur;

an index member operable to abut the distal end of the femur;

a bridge member that extends from said index member;

a cutting guide member that extends from said bridge member, said cutting guide member having a first channel that establishes the first reference plane; and

a mounting mechanism that releasably couples said cutting guide member to said bridge member, wherein said mounting mechanism is operable to generate a sliding resistance between said bridge member and said cutting guide member that is generally overcome to position the cutting guide member relative to the femur.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said cutting guide member includes a second channel formed therethrough, said second channel establishes a second reference plane, said second reference plane is spaced from said first reference plane in a direction that is superior to said first reference plane.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said cutting guide member has an arcuate shape generally configured to be disposed over at least a medial anterior corner of the distal end of the femur.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said index member and said bridge member can each be positioned in a first orientation to be operable with a left femur, wherein said index member and said bridge member can each be positioned in a second orientation to be operable with a right femur, and wherein said bridge member defines an orientation specific coupling such that said bridge member in said first orientation only couples to said index member in said first orientation.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said mounting mechanism is configured such that said cutting guide member can overcome said sliding resistance to move in at least one of an anterior posterior direction, a medial lateral direction, a rotation about a longitudinal axis of the femur and one or more combinations thereof.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said bridge member inhibits movement of the cutting guide member in a superior direction relative to the distal end of the femur.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said cutting guide member has an arcuate shape that is configured to be disposed over a medial surface and an anterior surface of the femur so as to at least be disposed over a portion of a medial anterior corner of the femur.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said mounting mechanism is selected from a group consisting of a magnet, a hook and loop fastener, an adhesive, and one or more combinations thereof.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said mounting mechanism is able to be sterilized.

10. A system for locating a femoral cutting guide on a distal end of a femur that establishes at least a first reference plane to perform a distal femoral planar cut, the system comprising:

a mounting rod operable to insert into the distal end of the femur;

an index member coupled to said mounting rod and operable to abut the distal end of the femur;

a bridge member that couples to said index member;

a cutting guide member that couples to said bridge member, said cutting guide member having a first channel that establishes the first reference plane; and

one or more magnets that releasably couple said cutting guide member to said bridge member, wherein said magnets are operable to generate a sliding resistance between said bridge member and said cutting guide member that is generally overcome to position the cutting guide member relative to the femur.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said cutting guide member includes a second channel formed therethrough, said second channel establishes a second reference plane, said second reference plane is spaced from said first reference plane in a direction that is superior to said first reference plane.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said index member and said bridge member can each be positioned in a first orientation to be operable with a left femur, wherein said index member and said bridge member can each be positioned in a second orientation to be operable with a right femur, and wherein said bridge member defines an orientation specific coupling such that said bridge member in said first orientation only couples to said index member in said first orientation.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein said mounting mechanism is configured such that said cutting guide member can overcome said sliding resistance to move in at least one of an anterior posterior direction, a medial lateral direction, a rotation about a longitudinal axis of the femur and one or more combinations thereof.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said bridge member inhibits movement of the cutting guide member in a superior distal direction relative to the femur.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein said cutting guide member has an arcuate shape that is configured to be disposed over a medial surface and an anterior surface of the femur so as to at least be disposed over a portion of a medial anterior corner of the femur.

16. A method of positioning a femoral cutting guide on a distal end of a femur that establishes at least a first reference plane to perform a distal femoral planar cut, the method comprising:

inserting a mounting member into an intramedullary canal of the femur;

placing a cutting guide member over a medial anterior portion of the distal femur;

connecting a cutting guide member to a bridge member that is connected to the mounting member; and

overcoming a resistance generated by a mounting mechanism associated with the bridge member by positioning said cutting guide member relative to the femur.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein placing said cutting guide member over said medial anterior portion of the distal femur includes placing a portion of said cutting guide member over a medial surface and an anterior surface of the femur so as to at least be disposed over a portion of a medial anterior corner of the femur.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising changing said index member and said bridge member from a first orientation operable with a left femur and a second orientation operable with a right femur, wherein said bridge member only couples to said index member when each are in said first orientation.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein overcoming a resistance generated by said mounting mechanism includes moving said cutting guide member relative to the femur in at least one of an anterior posterior direction, a medial lateral direction, a rotation about a longitudinal axis of the femur and combinations thereof.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising inhibiting movement of said cutting guide member in a superior distal direction relative to the femur when said cutting guide member is connected to said bridge member.