Methods used in performing femoral and tibial resection in knee surgery

• US 6,595,997 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2001
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Howmedica Osteonics Corp. (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Howmedica Osteonics Corp. (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Krackow, Kenneth A., Poggie, Matthew P., Axelson, Stuart L. Jr., Moctezuma, Jose Luis
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Priddy, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US09/811,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20020133161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 857 Days
• Field of Search: 606/86-89, 606/96
• US Class Current: 606/88
• 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 2017/564 Methods for bone or joint treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations

Abstract

A method for aligning a resection guide relative to a patient'"'"'s bone has applications during arthroplasty. An alignment guide is coupled to a patient'"'"'s bone, to which there is coupled a resection guide. The resection guide is positioned along a transactional path and a plurality of rotational paths by manipulation of the alignment guide, thereby providing three degrees of freedom of manipulation over infinitely adjustable ranges.

Claims

1. A method of resecting a bone during arthroplasty using a resection guide, said method comprising:

aligning the resection guide relative to the bone in three degrees of freedom, at least one of said degrees of freedom being rotational;

locking the resection guide in position; and

resecting the bone using the resection guide, wherein said step of aligning includes moving the resection guide through an infinitely adjustable range.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

coupling a computer navigation tracker to the resection guide; and

using the computer navigation system to perform the aligning of the resection guide.

3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

coupling an EM rod to the resection guide; and

using the EM rod to perform the aligning of the resection guide.

4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

coupling a computer navigation tracker to a plane probe;

moving the plane probe over the resected bone; and

using the computer navigation system to determine the accuracy of the resection.

5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising anchoring a pin to the bone, and coupling the resection guide to said pin via an alignment guide.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said locking of the resection guide comprises locking said alignment guide in each of said three degrees of freedom.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said three degrees of freedom include two rotations and one translation.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said three degrees of freedom include flexion-extension, varus-valgus, and proximal-distal.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said locking of the resection guide includes pinning said resection guide to the bone.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein said resecting the bone using the resection guide does not require the removal from the bone of any part of the resection guide prior to resection.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein said method is adapted for resecting both the femur and the tibia.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein said resecting the bone using the resection guide does not require the removal from the bone of any part of the resection guide prior to resection and said method is adapted for resecting both the femur and the tibia.

13. A method of resecting a bone during arthroplasty using a resection guide, said method comprising:

aligning the resection guide relative to the bone in three degrees of freedom, at least one of said degrees of freedom being rotational;

locking the resection guide in position; and

resecting the bone using the resection guide, wherein said method is adapted for resecting both the femur and the tibia.

14. A method according to claim 13 further comprising:

coupling a computer navigation tracker to the resection guide; and

using the computer navigation system to perform the aligning of the resection guide.

15. A method according to claim 13 further comprising:

coupling an EM rod to the resection guide; and

using the EM rod to perform the aligning of the resection guide.

16. A method according to claim 13 further comprising:

coupling a computer navigation tracker to a plane probe,

moving the plane probe over the resected bone; and

using the computer navigation system to determine the accuracy of the resection.

17. A method according to claim 13 further comprising anchoring a pin to the bone, and coupling the resection guide to said pin via an alignment guide.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein said locking of the resection guide comprises locking said alignment guide in each of said three degrees of freedom.

19. A method according to claim 13 wherein said three degrees of freedom include two rotations and one translation.

20. A method according to claim 13 wherein said three degrees of freedom include flexion-extension, varus-valgus, and proximal-distal.

21. A method according to claim 13 wherein said locking of the resection guide includes pinning said resection guide to the bone.

29. A method according to claim 20 wherein said three degrees of freedom include flexion-extension, varus-valgus, and proximal-distal.

22. A method of resecting a bone during arthroplasty using a resection guide, said method comprising:

aligning the resection guide relative to the bone in three degrees of freedom, at least one of said degrees of freedom being rotational;

locking the resection guide in position; and

resecting the bone using the resection guide, wherein no part of the resection guide needs to be removed from the bone prior to resection.

23. A method according to claim 22 further comprising:

coupling a computer navigation tracker to the resection guide; and

using the computer navigation system to perform the step of aligning the resection guide.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein said locking of the resection guide includes pinning said resection guide to the bone.

25. A method according to claim 26 further comprising:

coupling an EM rod to the resection guide; and

using the EM rod to perform the step of aligning the resection guide.

26. A method according to claim 22 further comprising:

coupling a computer navigation tracker to a plane probe;

moving the plane probe over the resected bone; and

using the computer navigation system to determine the accuracy of the resection.

27. A method according to claim 22 further comprising anchoring a pin to the bone, and coupling the resection guide to said pin via an alignment guide.

28. A method according to claim 22 wherein said three degrees of freedom include two rotations and one translation.

30. A method of locating a resection guide for resecting a bone during arthroplasty, said method comprising:

aligning the resection guide relative to the bone in three degrees of freedom, at least one of said degrees of freedom being rotational; and

locking the resection guide in position, wherein said aligning includes moving the resection guide through an infinitely adjustable range.

31. A method according to claim 30 further comprising:

coupling a computer navigation tracker to the resection guide; and

using the computer navigation system to perform the aligning the resection guide.

32. A method according to claim 30 further comprising:

coupling an EM rod to the resection guide; and

using the EM rod to perform the aligning of the resection guide.

33. A method according to claim 30 further comprising:

coupling a computer navigation tracker to a plane probe;

resecting the bone using the resection guide;

moving the plane probe over the resected bone; and

using a computer navigation system to determine the accuracy of the resection.

34. A method according to claim 30 further comprising anchoring a pin to the bone, and coupling the resection guide to said pin via an alignment guide.

35. A method according to claim 34 wherein said locking of the resection guide comprises locking said alignment guide in each of said three degrees of freedom.

36. A method according to claim 30 wherein said three degrees of freedom include two rotations and one translation.

37. A method according to claim 30 wherein said three degrees of freedom include flexion-extension, varus-valgus, and proximal-distal.

38. A method according to claim 30 wherein said locking of the resection guide includes pinning the resection guide to the bone.

39. A method according to claim 30 wherein said resection guide does not need to be removed from any part of the bone prior to resection.

40. A method according to claim 30 wherein said method is adapted for resecting both the femur and the tibia.

41. A method according to claim 30 wherein said resection guide does not need to be removed from any part of the bone prior to resection and said method is adapted for resecting both the femur and the tibia.

42. A method of locating a resection guide for resecting a bone during arthroplasty, said method comprising:

aligning the resection guide relative to the bone in three degrees of freedom, at least one of said degrees of freedom being rotational; and

locking the resection guide in position, wherein said method is adapted for resecting both the femur and the tibia.

43. A method according to claim 42 further comprising:

coupling a computer navigation tracker to the resection guide; and

using the computer navigation system to perform the aligning of the resection guide.

44. A method according to claim 42 further comprising:

coupling an EM rod to the resection guide; and

using the EM rod to perform the aligning of the resection guide.

45. A method according to claim 42 further comprising:

coupling a computer navigation tracker to a plane probe;

moving the plane probe over the resected bone; and

using the computer navigation system to determine the accuracy of the resection.

46. A method according to claim 42 further comprising anchoring a pin to the bone, and coupling the resection guide to said pin via an alignment guide.

47. A method according to claim 46 wherein said locking of the resection guide comprises locking said alignment guide in each of said three degrees of freedom.

48. A method according to claim 42 wherein said three degrees of freedom include two rotations and one translation.

49. A method according to claim 42 wherein said three degrees of freedom include flexion-extension, varus-valgus, and proximal-distal.

50. A method according to claim 42 wherein said locking of the resection guide includes pinning the resection guide to the bone.

51. A method of locating a resection guide for resecting a bone during arthroplasty, said method comprising:

aligning the resection guide relative to the bone in three degrees of freedom, at least one of said degrees of freedom being rotational; and

locking the resection guide in position, wherein no part of the resection guide needs to be removed from the bone prior to resection.

52. A method according to claim 51 further comprising:

coupling a computer navigation tracker to the resection guide; and

using the computer navigation system to perform the step of aligning.

53. A method according to claim 51 further comprising:

coupling an EM rod to the resection guide; and

using the EM rod to perform the aligning of the resection guide.

54. A method according to claim 51 further comprising:

coupling a computer navigation tracker to a plane probe;

moving the plane probe over the resected bone; and

using the computer navigation system to determine the accuracy of the resection.

55. A method according to claim 51 further comprising anchoring a pin to the bone, and coupling the resection guide to said pin via an alignment guide.

56. A method according to claim 55 wherein said locking of the resection guide comprises locking said alignment guide in each of said three degrees of freedom.

57. A method according to claim 51 wherein said three degrees of freedom include two rotations and one translation.

58. A method according to claim 51 wherein said three degrees of freedom include flexion-extension, varus-valgus, and proximal-distal.

59. A method according to claim 51 wherein said locking of the resection guide includes pinning the resection guide to the bone.

60. A method for aligning a resection guide relative to a patient'"'"'s bone during arthroplasty, said method comprising coupling an alignment guide to a patient'"'"'s bone, coupling a resection guide to said alignment guide, and positioning said resection guide along a translational path and along a plurality of rotational paths by manipulating said alignment guide.

61. A method according to claim 60, wherein said plurality of rotational paths comprise a first rotational path and a second rotational path.

62. A method according to claim 61, wherein said first and second rotational paths are about different axes.

63. A method according to claim 62, wherein said axes are transverse to each other.

64. A method according to claim 60, further including attaching an anchoring pin to a patient'"'"'s bone and securing said alignment guide thereto.

65. A method according to claim 60, further including locking said alignment guide along said translational path and about a first and second one of said plurality of rotational paths.

66. A method according to claim 60, wherein said translational path and said plurality of rotational paths comprise flexion-extension, varus-valgus and proximal-distal movement of said resection guide.

67. A method according to claim 60, further including attaching a tracker to said resection guide for determining the location of said resection guide.

68. A method according to claim 60, further including pinning said resection guide to said bone after said positioning of said resection guide.

69. A method for aligning a resection guide relative to a patient'"'"'s bone during arthroplasty, said method comprising coupling an alignment guide to a patient'"'"'s bone, coupling a resection guide to said alignment guide, and aligning said resection guide relative to the bone in three degrees of freedom by manipulation of the alignment guide, at least one of said degrees of freedom being rotational.

70. A method according to claim 69, further including attaching an anchoring pin to a patient'"'"'s bone and attaching said alignment guide thereto.

71. A method according to claim 69, wherein said three degrees of freedom comprise a translational path and first and second rotational paths.

72. A method according to claim 71, wherein said first and second rotational paths are about different axes.

73. A method according to claim 72, wherein said axes are transverse to each other.

74. A method according to claim 71, further including locking said alignment guide along said translational path and about a first and second one of said plurality of rotational paths.

75. A method according to claim 69, further including attaching a tracker to said resection guide for determining the location of said resection guide.