PATIENT SPECIFIC ALIGNMENT GUIDE AND INTER-OPERATIVE ADJUSTMENT

• US 20080312659A1
• Filed: 01/09/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2006
• 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., Perry, Lance D., Schoenefeld, Ryan J., Serban, Radu, Donaldson, Thomas, Berend, Michael E., Lombardi, Adolph V. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,070,752 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 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/252 indicating steps of a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/20 relating to practices or guidelines

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 a pre-operative surgical plan based on the scan data, and preparing an image of a patient-specific alignment guide, and intra-operatively modifying the surgical plan.

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 a pre-operative surgical plan based on the scan data;

preparing an image of a patient-specific alignment guide; and

inter-operatively modifying the surgical plan.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein preparing a pre-operative surgical plan comprises:

sending the surgical plan to a surgeon; and

receiving a finalized surgical plan from the surgeon.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein preparing an image of a patient-specific alignment guide comprises:

making the alignment guide; and

sending the alignment guide to the surgeon.

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 sterilizing the alignment guide.

6. 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 1, wherein sending the surgical plan to a surgeon includes sending the surgical plan in electronic form.

9. 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.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein intra-operatively modifying the surgical plan includes inter-operatively changing a pre-operatively planned orientation of a cutting block.

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

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;

supporting a cutting block having an adjustable cutting guide on the guide element;

adjusting the cutting guide relative to the cutting block; and

resecting the joint surface.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting the cutting guide relative to the cutting block includes rotating the cutting guide relative to the cutting block.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein rotating the cutting guide relative to the cutting block includes operating a rotational actuator for rotating the cutting guide relative to the cutting block.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting the cutting guide relative to the cutting block includes linearly translating the cutting guide relative to the cutting block.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein linearly translating the cutting guide relative to the cutting block includes operating a linear actuator for incrementally displacing the cutting guide relative to the cutting block.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. The method of claim 17, 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.

19. 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 a first guide element through the femoral alignment guide into femoral joint surface;

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

supporting an adjustable resection device having a cutting guide on the first guide element;

adjusting the orientation of the cutting guide relative to the resection device;

drilling an aperture into the femur joint surface through the resection device;

inserting a second guide element into the aperture;

removing the adjustable resection device;

supporting a cutting block on the second guide element; and

resecting the femoral joint surface.

20. The method of claim 19, 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.