Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090138020 | GENERATING MRI IMAGES USABLE FOR THE CREATION OF 3D BONE MODELS EMPLOYED TO MAKE CUSTOMIZED ARTHROPLASTY JIGS - Disclosed herein is a method of creating a customized arthroplasty jig. The method may include: generating two-dimensional MRI images of a patient's joint area to undergo arthroplasty; electronically orienting the two dimensional MRI image slices to account for the patient's joint area being randomly physically oriented in a scanning area of a MRI machine; generating a three-dimensional bone image of at least a portion of a bone of the patient's joint area from the generated two-dimensional MRI images; using the three-dimensional bone image to generate data pertaining to the customized arthroplasty jig, wherein the data includes bone surface information; providing the data to at least one manufacturing device; and employing the bone surface information to cause the at least one manufacturing device to create a surface on the arthroplasty jig configured to matingly receive a surface of the bone. | 05-28-2009 |
20090149858 | Method And Apparatus For Forming A Bone Tunnel - A tool and method for drilling a bone for receipt of a first and second bundle includes drilling a first tunnel in the bone. A locating instrument may be positioned into the first bone tunnel thereby defining a reference axis. A tool may be inserted through a portal defined in surrounding tissue. The tool may engage the locating instrument thereby identifying a relative orientation between the reference axis and the drill axis for preparation of a second bone tunnel. The second bone tunnel may be drilled along the drill axis. | 06-11-2009 |
20090157083 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING ARTHROPLASTY JIGS - Disclosed herein is a method of computer generating a three-dimensional surface model of an arthroplasty target region of a bone forming a joint. The method may include: generating two-dimensional images of at least a portion of the bone; generating an open-loop contour line along the arthroplasty target region in at least some of the two-dimensional images; and generating the three-dimensional model of the arthroplasty target region from the open-loop contour lines. | 06-18-2009 |
20090270868 | GENERATION OF A COMPUTERIZED BONE MODEL REPRESENTATIVE OF A PRE-DEGENERATED STATE AND USEABLE IN THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF ARTHROPLASTY DEVICES - Disclosed herein is a method of generating a computerized bone model representative of at least a portion of a patient bone in a pre-degenerated state. The method includes: generating at least one image of the patient bone in a degenerated state; identifying a reference portion associated with a generally non-degenerated portion of the patient bone; identifying a degenerated portion associated with a generally degenerated portion of the patient bone; and using information from at least one image associated with the reference portion to modify at least one aspect associated with at least one image associated the generally degenerated portion. The method may further include employing the computerized bone model representative of the at least a portion of the patient bone in the pre-degenerated state in defining manufacturing instructions for the manufacture of a customized arthroplasty jig. Also disclosed herein is a customized arthroplasty jig manufactured according to the above-described method. The customized arthroplasty jig is configured to facilitate a prosthetic implant restoring a patient joint to a natural alignment. The prosthetic implant may be for a total joint replacement or partial joint replacement. The patient joint may be a variety of joints, including, but not limited to, a knee joint. | 10-29-2009 |
20100049195 | ARTHROPLASTY SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS - A method of manufacturing an arthroplasty jig is disclosed herein. The method may include the following: generate a bone model, wherein the bone model includes a three dimensional computer model of at least a portion of a joint surface of a bone of a patient joint to undergo an arthroplasty procedure; generate an implant model, wherein the implant model includes a three dimensional computer model of at least a portion of a joint surface of an arthroplasty implant to be used in the arthroplasty procedure; assess a characteristic associated with the patient joint; generate a modified joint surface of the implant model by modifying at least a portion of a joint surface of the implant model according to the characteristic; and shape match the modified joint surface of the implant model and a corresponding joint surface of the bone model. | 02-25-2010 |
20100312341 | Method for Soft Tissue Attachment - An apparatus and method for fixing a selected graft relative to a selected anatomical portion. An anchor may be provided that may be interconnected with a selected graft portion that is operable to pass through a selected bore and then moved into an operable position to engage a selected portion of the bore to substantially eliminate the possibility of the graft moving in an unselected direction through the bore. | 12-09-2010 |
20120016474 | Apparatus and Method for Tibial Fixation of Soft Tissue - Methods for fixation of a soft tissue graft in a bone including: forming in the bone a tunnel defining an entrance opening and an exit opening at opposite ends of the tunnel, the tunnel including an anterior wall surface and a posterior wall surface opposite to the anterior wall surface; positioning the soft tissue graft within the tunnel such that the soft tissue graft extends through both the entrance opening and the exit opening of the tunnel; inserting a graft fixation apparatus into the tunnel and driving spikes of the graft fixation apparatus into the posterior wall surface to mount the graft fixation apparatus to the posterior wall surface of the tunnel such that the graft fixation apparatus is anterior to the posterior wall surface and is not recessed beneath the posterior wall surface; and securing the soft tissue graft inside the tunnel with the graft fixation apparatus. | 01-19-2012 |
20120283832 | Apparatus And Method For Tibial Fixation Of Soft Tissue - An apparatus and method for fixation of a soft tissue graft. The apparatus may include a member having a first surface and a second surface. Each of the surfaces extend a distance relative to one another. A member is operable to resist movement of the apparatus relative to an anatomical portion. An interference member may be provided to fixedly associate the apparatus with the anatomical structure. | 11-08-2012 |
20120310400 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING ARTHROPLASTY JIGS - Disclosed herein is a method of computer generating a three-dimensional surface model of an arthroplasty target region of a bone forming a joint. The method may include: generating two-dimensional images of at least a portion of the bone; generating an open-loop contour line along the arthroplasty target region in at least some of the two-dimensional images; and generating the three-dimensional model of the arthroplasty target region from the open-loop contour lines. | 12-06-2012 |
20130345845 | ARTHROPLASTY SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS - A method of manufacturing an arthroplasty jig is disclosed herein. The method may include the following: generate a bone model, wherein the bone model includes a three dimensional computer model of at least a portion of a joint surface of a bone of a patient joint to undergo an arthroplasty procedure; generate an implant model, wherein the implant model includes a three dimensional computer model of at least a portion of a joint surface of an arthroplasty implant to be used in the arthroplasty procedure; assess a characteristic associated with the patient joint; generate a modified joint surface of the implant model by modifying at least a portion of a joint surface of the implant model according to the characteristic; and shape match the modified joint surface of the implant model and a corresponding joint surface of the bone model. | 12-26-2013 |