Drill guides for confirming alignment of patient-specific alignment guides
First Claim
1. An orthopedic method comprising:
- intraoperatively nesting a three-dimensional patient-specific surface of a patient-specific alignment guide to a corresponding surface of a bone, the three-dimensional patient-specific surface being preoperatively configured to align the patient-specific alignment guide relative to the bone when nested to the corresponding surface in only one position, the patient-specific alignment guide including a first referencing hole and a second referencing hole;
intraoperatively mounting a drill guide onto the patient-specific alignment guide by inserting first and second coupling members of the drill guide into the first and second referencing holes, respectively, and aligning corresponding drill openings of the first and second coupling members with the first and second referencing holes, respectively;
intraoperatively confirming that the patient-specific alignment guide is aligned relative to a mechanical axis of the bone using an alignment confirmation feature of the drill guide, including passing a rod through an alignment opening of the alignment confirmation feature confirming that a rod axis of the rod is parallel to the mechanical axis of the bone; and
drilling a hole into the bone through one of the drill openings after confirming that the patient-specific alignment guide is aligned relative to the mechanical axis of the bone.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An orthopedic device includes a drill guide configured to be mounted on a patient-specific alignment guide for intraoperatively confirming alignment of the patient-specific alignment guide relative to a bone. The patient-specific alignment guide includes first and second referencing holes. The drill guide includes a main body with a first coupling member and a second coupling member. The first and second coupling members are configured to be received within the first and second referencing holes, respectively. The first and second coupling members each include corresponding first and second drill openings configured to align with the first and second referencing holes, respectively. The drill openings each guide a drilling tool toward the bone to drill corresponding holes in the bone. The main body also includes an alignment confirmation feature configured for confirming alignment of the patient-specific alignment guide relative to the bone before drilling holes in the bone.
1066 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. An orthopedic method comprising:
-
intraoperatively nesting a three-dimensional patient-specific surface of a patient-specific alignment guide to a corresponding surface of a bone, the three-dimensional patient-specific surface being preoperatively configured to align the patient-specific alignment guide relative to the bone when nested to the corresponding surface in only one position, the patient-specific alignment guide including a first referencing hole and a second referencing hole; intraoperatively mounting a drill guide onto the patient-specific alignment guide by inserting first and second coupling members of the drill guide into the first and second referencing holes, respectively, and aligning corresponding drill openings of the first and second coupling members with the first and second referencing holes, respectively; intraoperatively confirming that the patient-specific alignment guide is aligned relative to a mechanical axis of the bone using an alignment confirmation feature of the drill guide, including passing a rod through an alignment opening of the alignment confirmation feature confirming that a rod axis of the rod is parallel to the mechanical axis of the bone; and drilling a hole into the bone through one of the drill openings after confirming that the patient-specific alignment guide is aligned relative to the mechanical axis of the bone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. An orthopedic method comprising:
-
nesting a three-dimensionally mirrored patient-specific surface of an alignment guide against a three-dimensional surface of a bone to attach a drill guide to the bone; inserting a rod into an opening in the drill guide; determining if the rod lies substantially within a predetermined plane relative to a mechanical axis of the bone; withdrawing the rod; utilizing the drill guide as a reference for attaching a resection guide to the bone, wherein attaching the resection guide comprises; preparing holes in the bone using the drill guide; driving referencing pins into the prepared holes; removing the alignment guide and the drill guide prior to attaching the resection guide; and attaching the resection guide onto the referencing pins; and guiding a resection tool toward the bone via a guide surface in the resection guide. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
Specification