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Surgical templates

  • US 9,974,551 B2
  • Filed: 04/19/2017
  • Issued: 05/22/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of preparing a femur to receive a prosthetic knee using an assembly comprising at least one tool guide comprising at least one guide aperture for receiving and guiding a tool to work on the femur, and a patient-specific component comprising a plurality of locating members, each member having a respective bone-engaging surface adapted to conform to a respective portion of a predetermined surface of the femur, wherein the tool guide is secured in a fixed position with respect to the patient-specific component, the tool guide being formed of metal and the patient-specific component being formed of a polymeric material, the at least one guide aperture comprising a saw guide slot, the patient-specific component comprising a plurality of bores and a plurality of metal sleeves lining the bores, the method comprising:

  • mounting the assembly on the femur such that the member bone-engaging surfaces are secured in a fixed position with respect to each other, and engage different respective portions of the surface of the femur, the at least one guide aperture is secured in a fixed position with respect to the bone-engaging surfaces, and the bone-engaging surfaces of the locating members conform to said predetermined surface;

    inserting first and second pins through respective metal sleeves and into non-articular surfaces of the femur to secure the assembly in place against the femur;

    drilling first and second locating holes in an articular surface of the femur with a drill inserted through metal drill guides on the assembly;

    inserting a saw through the saw guide slot and cutting off a portion of the articular surface of the femur with the saw to form a first, flat surface on the end of the femur;

    removing the assembly from the femur;

    mounting another tool guide on the first flat surface of the femur by inserting locating protrusions of the another tool guide into the locating holes; and

    using the another tool guide to perform further work on the femur, wherein performing further work on the femur comprises inserting a saw through a saw guide slot of the another tool guide and cutting off another portion of the femur to form a second flat surface on the femur.

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