SURGICAL IMPLANTATION METHOD AND DEVICES FOR AN EXTRA-ARTICULAR MECHANICAL ENERGY ABSORBING APPARATUS

• US 20090276054A1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Moximed
• Original Assignee: Exploramed nc4, Inc.
• Inventors: Tornetta, Paul III, Landry, Michael E., Clifford, Anton G., O'Connell, Mary
• Granted Patent: US 8,425,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/20.210
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1728 for holes for bone plates or plate screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1739 specially adapted for particular parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1764 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/6425 specially adapted to be fitted across a bone joint
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/88 Osteosynthesis instruments; Methods or means for implanting or extracting internal or external fixation devices A61B17/7074 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/567 Joint mechanisms or joint supports in addition to the natural joints and outside the joint gaps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/08 Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments sutures A61B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3836 Special connection between upper and lower leg, e.g. constrained
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain

Abstract

A surgical implantation approach for preparing a patient and precisely and effectively placing an energy absorbing apparatus relative to the patient'"'"'s anatomy. Various surgical implantation apparatus and methods for achieving proper device-to-anatomy juxtapositional relationships are employed in the implantation approach.

Claims

1. A method for attaching a base to a bone involving a guide, comprising:

attaching a member at a center of rotation of a bone;

placing the guide over the member attached to the center of rotation; and

inserting a plurality of elongate members through the guide subsequently to placement of the guide over the member attached to the center of rotation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a guide having a shape and length which is commensurate with the bone.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the guide includes a plurality of tubes each of through which one of the plurality of elongate members are inserted.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising affixing the elongate members to bone.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the template is applied to a fluoroscopic image of the joint.

6. A method of implanting a medical device across an articulating knee joint, comprising:

viewing a femur and a tibia of the articulating joint from a side vantage point;

positioning a first wire antero proximal to a midpoint of Blumensaat'"'"'s line;

placing a guide over the first wire by configuring the first wire through a window formed in the guide, the guide including a center hole, an offset hole, a plurality of adjacently arranged variable sized arcs and a line traversing a portion of the guide;

determining which arc best fits inferior and posterior regions of a femoral condyle;

inserting a second wire through the center hole;

aligning the straight wire with a longitudinal axis of the femur; and

inserting a third wire through the offset hole.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising removing the guide and first and second wires.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising identifying a center of rotation of the femur.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising placing a femoral base over the third wire and affixing the femoral base to the femur.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising affixing a tibial base component to the tibia.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising attaching an absorber between the femoral and tibia bases.

12. A method of attaching a medical device across a joint including first and second members, comprising:

attaching a first base to the first member with compression and locking screws;

attaching a second base to the second member with one or more of compression and locking screws; and

affixing a third component to the first and second bases.

13. A method of implanting a medical device with an articulating element across an articulating knee joint, comprising:

viewing a femur and a tibia of the articulating joint from a side vantage point;

identifying a midpoint of Blumensaat'"'"'s line;

configuring the medical device such that the articulating element thereof corresponds to the midpoint of Blumensaat'"'"'s line.