Claims
- 1. A method of resecting a bone during arthroplasty, said method comprising the steps of:
a) anchoring a resection guide to the bone; b) aligning the resection guide relative to the bone in three degrees of freedom; c) locking the resection guide in position; and d) resecting the bone using the resection guide, wherein said step of aligning includes moving the resection guide through an infinitely adjustable range.
- 2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
e) coupling a computer navigation tracker to the resection guide; and f) using a computer navigation system to perform the step of aligning.
- 3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
e) coupling an EM rod to the resection guide; and f) using the EM rod to perform the step of aligning.
- 4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
e) coupling a computer navigation tracker to a plane probe; f) moving the plane probe over the resected bone; and g) using a computer navigation system to determine the accuracy of the resection.
- 5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of anchoring includes pinning to the bone.
- 6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said three degrees of freedom include two rotations and one translation.
- 7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said three degrees of freedom include flexion-extension, varus-valgus, and proximal-distal.
- 8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of locking includes pinning said resection guide to the bone.
- 9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of resecting the bone using the resection guide does not require the removal from the bone of any part of the resection guide prior to resection.
- 10. A method according to claim 1 wherein said method is suitable for resecting both the femur and the tibia.
- 11. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of resecting the bone using the resection guide does not require the removal from the bone of any part of the resection guide prior to resection and said method is suitable for resecting both the femur and the tibia
- 12. A method of resecting a bone during arthroplasty, said method comprising the steps of:
a) anchoring a resection guide to the bone; b) aligning the resection guide relative to the bone in three degrees of freedom; c) locking the resection guide in position; and d) resecting the bone using the resection guide, wherein said method is suitable for resecting both the femur and the tibia.
- 13. A method according to claim 12 further comprising the steps of:
e) coupling a computer navigation tracker to the resection guide; and f) using a computer navigation system to perform the step of aligning.
- 14. A method according to claim 12 further comprising the steps of:
e) coupling an EM rod to the resection guide; and f) using the EM rod to perform the step of aligning.
- 15. A method according to claim 12 further comprising the steps of:
e) coupling a computer navigation tracker to a plane probe; f) moving the plane probe over the resected bone; and g) using a computer navigation system to determine the accuracy of the resection.
- 16. A method according to claim 12 wherein said step of anchoring includes pinning to the bone.
- 17. A method according to claim 12 wherein said three degrees of freedom include two rotations and one translation.
- 18. A method according to claim 12 wherein said three degrees of freedom include flexion-extension, varus-valgus, and proximal-distal.
- 19. A method according to claim 12 wherein said step of locking includes pinning said resection guide to the bone.
- 20. A method of resecting a bone during arthroplasty, said method comprising the steps of:
a) anchoring a resection guide to the bone; b) aligning the resection guide relative to the bone in three degrees of freedom; c) locking the resection guide in position; and d) resecting the bone using the resection guide, wherein no part of the resection guide needs to be removed from the bone prior to resection.
- 21. A method according to claim 20 further comprising the steps of:
e) coupling a computer navigation tracker to the resection guide; and f) using a computer navigation system to perform the step of aligning.
- 22. A method according to claim 20 further comprising the steps of:
e) coupling an EM rod to the resection guide; and f) using the EM rod to perform the step of aligning.
- 23. A method according to claim 20 further comprising the steps of:
e) coupling a computer navigation tracker to a plane probe; f) moving the plane probe over the resected bone; and g) using a computer navigation system to determine the accuracy of the resection.
- 24. A method according to claim 20 wherein said step of anchoring includes pinning to the bone.
- 25. A method according to claim 20 wherein said three degrees of freedom include two rotations and one translation.
- 26. A method according to claim 20 wherein said three degrees of freedom include flexion-extension, varus-valgus, and proximal-distal.
- 27. A method according to claim 21 wherein said step of locking includes pinning said resection guide to the bone.
- 28. A method of locating a resection guide for resecting a bone during arthroplasty, said method comprising the steps of:
a) anchoring a resection guide to the bone; b) aligning the resection guide relative to the bone in three degrees of freedom; and c) locking the resection guide in position, wherein said step of aligning includes moving the resection guide through an infinitely adjustable range.
- 29. A method according to claim 28 further comprising the steps of:
d) coupling a computer navigation tracker to the resection guide; and e) using a computer navigation system to perform the step of aligning.
- 30. A method according to claim 28 further comprising the steps of;
d) coupling an EM rod to the resection guide; and e) using the EM rod to perform the step of aligning.
- 31. A method according to claim 28 further comprising the steps of:
d) coupling a computer navigation tracker to a plane probe; e) moving the plane probe over the resected bone; and f) using a computer navigation system to determine the accuracy of the resection.
- 32. A method according to claim 28 wherein said step of anchoring includes pinning to the bone.
- 33. A method according to claim 28 wherein said three degrees of freedom include two rotations and one translation.
- 34. A method according to claim 28 wherein said three degrees of freedom include flexion-extension, varus-valgus, and proximal-distal.
- 35. A method according to claim 28 wherein said step of locking includes pinning the resection guide to the bone.
- 36. A method according to claim 28 wherein said resection guide does not need to be removed from any part of the bone prior to resection.
- 37. A method according to claim 28 wherein said method is suitable for resecting both the femur and the tibia.
- 38. A method according to claim 28 wherein said resection guide does not need to be removed from any part of the bone prior to resection and said method is suitable for resecting both the femur and the tibia.
- 39. A method of locating a resection guide for resecting a bone during arthroplasty, said method comprising the steps of:
a) anchoring a resection guide to the bone; b) aligning the resection guide relative to the bone in three degrees of freedom; and c) locking the resection guide in position, wherein said method is suitable for resecting both the femur and the tibia.
- 40. A method according to claim 39 further comprising the steps of:
d) coupling a computer navigation tracker to the resection guide; and e) using a computer navigation system to perform the step of aligning.
- 41. A method according to claim 39 further comprising the steps of:
d) coupling an EM rod to the resection guide; and e) using the EM rod to perform the step of aligning.
- 42. A method according to claim 39 further comprising the steps of:
d) coupling a computer navigation tracker to a plane probe; e) moving the plane probe over the resected bone; and f) using a computer navigation system to determine the accuracy of the resection.
- 43. A method according to claim 39 wherein said step of anchoring includes pinning to the bone.
- 44. A method according to claim 39 wherein said three degrees of freedom include two rotations and one translation.
- 45. A method according to claim 39 wherein said three degrees of freedom include flexion-extension, varus-valgus, and proximal-distal.
- 46. A method according to claim 39 wherein said step of locking includes pinning the resection guide to the bone.
- 47. A method of locating a resection guide for resecting a bone during arthroplasty, said method comprising the steps of:
a) anchoring a resection guide to the bone; b) aligning the resection guide relative to the bone in three degrees of freedom; and c) locking the resection guide in position, wherein no part of the resection guide needs to be removed from the bone prior to resection.
- 48. A method according to claim 47 further comprising the steps of:
d) coupling a computer navigation tracker to the resection guide; and e) using a computer navigation system to perform the step of aligning.
- 49. A method according to claim 47 further comprising the steps of:
d) coupling an EM rod to the resection guide; and e) using the EM rod to perform the step of aligning.
- 50. A method according to claim 47 further comprising the steps of:
d) coupling a computer navigation tracker to a plane probe; e) moving the plane probe over the resected bone; and f) using a computer navigation system to determine the accuracy of the resection.
- 51. A method according to claim 47 wherein said step of anchoring includes pinning to the bone.
- 52. A method according to claim 47 wherein said three degrees of freedom include two rotations and one translation.
- 53. A method according to claim 47 wherein said three degrees of freedom include flexion-extension, varus-valgus, and proximal-distal.
- 54. A method according to claim 47 wherein said step of locking includes pinning the resection guide to the bone.
PRIOR PROVISIONAL APPLICATION
[0001] This application relates to and claims priority from a pending provisional application Ser. No. ______ entitled “Methods, Systems and Tools Used In Performing Femoral and Tibial Resection In Knee Surgery”, filed Feb. 28, 2001.