Surgical positioners

• US 8,491,597 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2010
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Russell, Thomas A., Terrill-Grisoni, Lauralan, Culley, Patrick J., Ruffin, Therise, Raburn, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Yang, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US12/957,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20110077695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 606/86.R, 606/87, 606/130, 606 96- 98, 600/235
• US Class Current: 606/97
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2055 Optical tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2072 Reference field transducer attached to an instrument or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/363 Use of fiducial points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3983 Reference marker arrangements for use with image guided surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms

Abstract

Surgical positioners may include platforms, surgical item positioners and/or surgical references as well as methods for using stabilizer platforms, surgical item positioners and/or surgical references. Stabilizer platforms may include low profile platforms rigidly mounted to portions of an individual'"'"'s anatomy. Various items may be secured and/or stabilized by the stabilizer platform, including support platforms as well as surgical references. Support platforms may stabilize and assist surgeons in using, navigating, aligning and positioning surgical items. Surgical references may include modular fiducial systems that may be secured to stabilizer platforms, support platforms, surgical items and/or directly to portions of an individual'"'"'s anatomy.

Claims

1. A surgical positioner, comprising:

(a) a plurality of fasteners; and

(b) a platform, comprising;

(i) a concave surface and a second surface, wherein the concave surface is configured to be biased against a portion of a patient'"'"'s anatomy such that at least three points of the concave surface contact the portion of the patient'"'"'s anatomy;

(ii) whereby the platform is configured to be fastened to the portion of the patient'"'"'s anatomy by the plurality of fasteners; and

(iii) at least one portal structure extending from the second surface of the platform, the portal structure including a guiding structure, the guiding structure configured to guide and orient a surgical item in a desired angular relationship with the portion of the patient'"'"'s anatomy;

wherein the plurality of fasteners are configured to secure the platform to the portion of the patient'"'"'s anatomy, wherein each of the fasteners is configured to be connected to one or more bones of the patient such that at least one of the fasteners is not parallel to at least one other of the fasteners, wherein the platform further comprises a flexible arm configured to be affixed to the portion of the patient'"'"'s anatomy.

2. The surgical positioner of claim 1, wherein the guiding structure is a cylindrical bore.

3. The surgical positioner of claim 2, wherein the cylindrical bore extends in a direction radially from the concave surface.

4. The surgical positioner of claim 1, wherein the at least one portal structure has a slot.

5. The surgical positioner of claim 1, wherein the at least one portal structure is configured to receive a drill guide.

6. The surgical positioner of claim 1, wherein the at least one portal structure is configured to receive a portion of a drill.

7. The surgical positioner of claim 1, wherein the at least one portal structure is configured to receive a reamer.

8. The surgical positioner of claim 1, wherein the at least one portal structure is configured to receive a saw.

9. The surgical positioner of claim 1, wherein the flexible arm is formed from a material with memory to retain a shape once bent.

10. The surgical positioner of claim 1, wherein the platform further comprises a plurality of protrusions, wherein at least some of the protrusions are configured to interact with the surgical item in a rotating or sliding fashion.

11. A surgical positioner, comprising:

(a) a platform, comprising;

(i) a concave surface and a second surface, wherein the concave surface is configured to be biased against a portion of a patient'"'"'s anatomy such that at least three points of the concave surface contact the portion of the patient'"'"'s anatomy;

(ii) at least one portal structure extending from the second surface of the platform, the portal structure including a guiding structure, the guiding structure configured to guide and orient a portion of a drill in a desired angular relationship with the portion of the patient'"'"'s anatomy; and

(b) a flexible arm configured to secure the platform to the portion of the patient'"'"'s anatomy.

12. The surgical positioner of claim 11, wherein the guiding structure is a cylindrical bore.

13. The surgical positioner of claim 12, wherein the cylindrical bore extends in a direction radially from the concave surface.

14. The surgical positioner of claim 11, wherein the at least one portal structure is configured to receive a drill guide.

15. The surgical positioner of claim 11, further comprising a slot extending from the second surface of the platform.

16. The surgical positioner of claim 15, wherein the slot is configured to receive a saw.

17. The surgical positioner of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of protrusions, wherein at least some of the protrusions are configured to interact with the portion of the drill in a rotating or sliding fashion.

18. A surgical positioner, comprising:

(a) a platform, comprising;

(i) a concave surface and a second surface, wherein the concave surface is configured to be biased against a portion of a patient'"'"'s anatomy such that at least three points of the concave surface contact the portion of the patient'"'"'s anatomy; and

(ii) at least one portal structure extending from the second surface of the platform, the portal structure including a guiding structure, the guiding structure configured to guide and orient a portion of a surgical item in a desired angular relationship with the portion of the patient'"'"'s anatomy; and

(b) a flexible arm configured to secure the platform to the portion of the patient'"'"'s anatomy.

19. The surgical positioner of claim 18, wherein the guiding structure is a cylindrical bore.

20. The surgical positioner of claim 19, wherein the cylindrical bore extends in a direction radially from the concave surface.

21. The surgical positioner of claim 18, wherein the at least one portal structure has a slot.

22. The surgical positioner of claim 18, wherein the at least one portal structure is configured to receive a drill guide.

23. The surgical positioner of claim 18, wherein the at least one portal structure is configured to receive a portion of a drill.

24. The surgical positioner of claim 18, wherein the at least one portal structure is configured to receive a reamer.

25. The surgical positioner of claim 18, wherein the at least one portal structure is configured to receive a saw.

26. The surgical positioner of claim 18, wherein the platform further comprises a plurality of protrusions, wherein at least some of the protrusions are configured to interact with the surgical item in a rotating or sliding fashion.

27. A surgical positioner, comprising:

(a) a plurality of fasteners;

(b) a plurality of protrusions; and

(c) a platform, comprising;

(i) a concave surface and a convex surface, wherein the concave surface is configured to be biased against a portion of a patient'"'"'s anatomy such that at least three points of the concave surface contact the portion of the patient'"'"'s anatomy;

(ii) whereby the platform is configured to be fastened to the portion of the patient'"'"'s anatomy by the plurality of fasteners;

(iii) at least one portal structure extending from the convex surface of the platform, the portal structure including a guiding structure, the guiding structure configured to guide and orient a surgical item in a desired angular relationship with the portion of the patient'"'"'s anatomy; and

wherein each of the fasteners is configured to be connected to a bone of the patient such that at least one of the fasteners is not parallel to at least one other of the fasteners, and wherein at least some of the protrusions are configured to interact with a portion of the surgical item in a rotating or sliding fashion.

28. The surgical positioner of claim 27, wherein the guiding structure is a cylindrical bore.

29. The surgical positioner of claim 28, wherein the cylindrical bore extends in a direction radially from the concave surface.

30. The surgical positioner of claim 27, wherein the at least one portal structure has a slot.

31. The surgical positioner of claim 27, wherein the at least one portal structure is configured to receive a drill guide.

32. The surgical positioner of claim 27, wherein the at least one portal structure is configured to receive a portion of a drill.

33. The surgical positioner of claim 27, wherein the at least one portal structure is configured to receive a reamer.

34. The surgical positioner of claim 27, wherein the at least one portal structure is configured to receive a saw.

35. The surgical positioner of claim 27, further comprising a rigid arm configured to be affixed to the portion of the patient'"'"'s anatomy.