Patient specific alignment guide with cutting surface and laser indicator

• US 9,173,661 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2009
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• 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, Schoenefeld, Ryan J., Belcher, Nathan E., Uthgenannt, Brian A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Isabella, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): NELSON, CHRISTINE L
• Application Number:
  US12/571,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20100087829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,224 Days
• Field of Search: 606/87
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/15 Guides therefor arrangements for guiding straight saw blades in general B23D51/025
• 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 17/1675 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1703 using imaging means, e.g. by X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1764 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/568 produced with shape and dimensions specific for an individual patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/108 Computer aided selection or customisation of medical implants or cutting guides
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3945 Active visible markers, e.g. light emitting diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/13 guided by light, e.g. laser pointers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30617 Visible markings for adjusting, locating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4662 for measuring penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4668 for measuring angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4687 Mechanical guides for implantation instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0097 Visible markings, e.g. indicia

Abstract

A patient-specific guiding system for guiding an instrument relative to a portion of an anatomical feature of a patient. The patient-specific guiding system includes a patient-specific guide. The guide includes a first portion having a first patient-specific inner surface that conforms to a first surface of the anatomical feature and an outer surface opposite the first patient-specific inner surface. The first portion also includes a guide surface for use in guiding the instrument relative to the anatomical feature. The guide also includes a second portion having a second patient-specific inner surface that conforms to a second surface of the anatomical feature and an outer surface opposite the second patient-specific inner surface. The second portion is removably connected to the first portion.

Claims

1. A method of guiding an instrument relative to an anatomical feature of a patient comprising:

nesting a patient-specific guide that includes a first portion having a first patient-specific inner surface and a second portion having a second patient-specific inner surface on an unresected surface of the anatomical feature, wherein the first and second inner surfaces are patient-specific according to image scans of the corresponding unresected surface of the specific patient, the first portion having a first mateable surface and the second portion having a second mateable surface, the first portion directly connected to and removeably separable from the second portion via the corresponding first and second mateable surfaces;

securing the guide including the first portion and the second portion to the anatomical feature by fixedly coupling only the first portion to the anatomical feature;

removing the second portion from the secured guide by de-coupling the second portion from the fixed first portion;

leaving the first portion secured to the anatomical feature;

removably supporting a cutting guide on an outer guide surface of the fixed first portion to align the cutting guide relative to the anatomical feature; and

guiding a cutting tool for cutting the anatomical feature with a cutting surface on the cutting guide.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein fixedly coupling the first portion comprises pinning the first portion to the anatomical feature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cutting surface is slot that receives the cutting tool.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising emitting a laser light that identifies a reference plane for use in aligning the cutting surface relative to the anatomical feature.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing a spacer between the cutting guide and the first portion to space the cutting guide and the first portion apart at a predetermined distance.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising removably supporting a secondary cutting guide on the outer guide surface of the first portion to align the secondary cutting guide relative to the anatomical feature, securing the secondary cutting guide to the anatomical feature, removing the first portion from the anatomical feature while the secondary cutting guide is coupled to the anatomical feature, and guiding a cutting tool for cutting the anatomical feature with a cutting surface on the secondary cutting surface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second inner surfaces conformingly contact and match three-dimensional surfaces of the anatomical feature.

8. A method of guiding an instrument relative to an anatomical feature of a patient comprising:

nesting a patient-specific guide on a distal femoral bone of the patient, such that a first inner surface of a first portion of the guide mates to an unresected anterior surface of the femoral bone and simultaneously a second inner surface of a second portion of the guide mates to an unresected distal surface of the femoral bone, wherein the first and second inner surfaces are patient-specific according to image scans of the femoral bone of the specific patient, such that the first and second inner surfaces conformingly contact and match three-dimensional surfaces of the femoral bone, and wherein the first portion has a first mateable surface and the second portion has a second mateable surface and the first portion is directly coupled to and removeably separable from the second portion via the corresponding first and second mateable surfaces;

securing the guide having the first portion and the second portion to the femoral bone by securing only the first portion to the femoral bone with a primary pin;

removing the second portion from the guide without removing the primary pin;

leaving the first portion secured to femoral bone; and

guiding a cutting instrument through a guide surface of an elongated opening of the first portion; and

resecting the femoral bone along a cutting plane passing through the elongated opening.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein removing the first portion from the second portion comprises breaking off the second portion along a scoring line of the patient-specific guide.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein removing the first portion from the second portion comprises decoupling a dovetail connection between the first and second portions.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein removing the first portion from the second portion comprises decoupling a snap-fit connection between the first and second portions.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein removing the first portion from the second portion comprises removing a secondary pin coupling the first and second portions.