Surgical Instrument

• US 20110245835A1
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy International Limited (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy International Limited (Johnson & Johnson), DePuy Orthopädie GmbH (Johnson & Johnson), DePuy Orthopaedics Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Dower, Liam, Auger, Daniel, Booth, Kevin, Dodds, Gordon, Bornfleth, Harald
• Granted Patent: US 9,005,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/87
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/155 Cutting femur
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1764 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter

Abstract

Patient specific surgical instruments, and in particular cutting guides, and methods of use and manufacture are described. The surgical instrument can be used in an orthopaedic arthroplasty procedure to be carried out on a joint of a patient and can allowing soft tissue balancing for the joint. The instrument comprises a body having an attachment area configured using data specific to a bone of the joint of the patient so as to attach to the bone in a unique position. The instrument includes at least a first cutting guide and an adjustment mechanism operable to change the position of the cutting guide relative to the bone.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument for use in an orthopaedic arthroplasty procedure to be carried out on a joint of a patient and allowing soft tissue balancing for the joint, comprising:

a body having at least one attachment areas, the attachment area being configured using data specific to a bone of the joint of the patient so as to attach to the bone in a define position;

at least a first cutting guide; and

an adjustment mechanism operable to change the position of the cutting guide relative to the bone.

2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism allows the cutting guide to be translated.

3. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism allows the cutting guide to be rotated.

4. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism allows the cutting guide to be tilted.

5. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a crumple zone.

6. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a plurality of holes in the body for accepting pins.

7. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of adjustment screws by which the body is mounted to the plurality of attachment areas.

8. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of spacers that can be removably attached to the attachment areas.

9. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of screws each having a foot bearing a one of the plurality of attachment areas.

10. The instrument of claim 1, wherein a plurality of different cutting guides are borne by the body.

11. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the cutting guide is adapted to receive a saw blade in use.

12. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the instrument includes at least one break away part which can be removed to allow the instrument to be moved relative to the bone to change the position or angle of the cutting guide.

13. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism is operable to move the or each cutting guide relative to the body.

14. The instrument of claim 1, and having a plurality of attachment areas which can engage the bone of the patient on at least three, five or seven different positions of the surface of the bone.

15. The instrument of claim 5, and further comprising at least a first removable support member which can be removed from the crumple zone to select a preferred amount and/or direction of deformation of the crumple zone.

16. The instrument of claim 1, and including at least a first member standing proud from a bone facing surface of the instrument and presenting a flat face, wherein the first member is positioned and configured to maintain an amount of separation between the instrument and the bone when the position of the cutting guide is changed.

17. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a cutting guide which can be removably attached to the instrument.

18. A method for carrying out an orthopaedic arthroplasty procedure on a joint of a patient and providing soft tissue balancing for the joint, comprising the steps of:

handling a surgical instrument having a body including a plurality of attachment areas, the plurality of attachment areas being configured using data specific to a bone of the joint of the patient so as to attach to the bone in a unique position;

attaching the surgical instrument to the bone by engaging the plurality of attachment areas with the surface of the bone of the patient; and

operating an adjustment mechanism of the instrument to change the position of a cutting guide of the surgical instrument.

19. (canceled)