Abstract: A base component for a tibial implant has a lateral compartment and a medial compartment spaced from the lateral compartment defining an open central section therebetween. A connecting portion connects the medial and lateral compartments at an anterior end of the base component which anterior end is located adjacent the anterior tibia. The open central section of the base component intermediate the spaced medial and lateral compartments is open to a posterior end of the base component. The medial and lateral compartments have a bone contacting surface and a superiorly facing surface. The connecting portion has a curved anteriorly facing surface and has a first angled surface extending at an angle from adjacent the anterior end of the base component at a bone contacting surface of the connecting portion superiorly to a posterior end of the connecting portion. The first angled surface defining an anterior end of the open central section.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for sizing a distal portion of a femur during knee arthroplasty. A sizer according to the invention includes a body that can be removably attached to the distal portion of the femur and that is operable to support a module that is removably attachable to the body. The body with attached module is operable for use in measuring the size of the distal portion of the femur. The module can be attached to the body either before or after the body has been attached to the distal portion of the femur and can be detached from the body either before or after the body is detached from the distal portion of the femur.

Abstract: A base component for a tibial implant has a lateral compartment and a medial compartment spaced from the lateral compartment defining an open central section therebetween. A connecting portion connects the medial and lateral compartments at an anterior end of the base component which anterior end is located adjacent the anterior tibia. The open central section of the base component intermediate the spaced medial and lateral compartments is open to a posterior end of the base component. The medial and lateral compartments have a bone contacting surface and a superiorly facing surface. The connecting portion has a curved anteriorly facing surface and has a first angled surface extending at an angle from adjacent the anterior end of the base component at a bone contacting surface of the connecting portion superiorly to a posterior end of the connecting portion. The first angled surface defining an anterior end of the open central section.

Abstract: A cutting block for use in a bone osteotomy procedure is disclosed, and includes a first cutting guide surface, a second cutting guide surface, and a third cutting guide surface. The first, second, and third cutting guide surfaces are adapted to be temporarily affixed to a bone having a first side and a second side such that the first cutting guide surface is disposed on the first side of the bone, and such that the second cutting guide surface and third cutting guide surface are disposed on the second side of the bone forming an angle therebetween.

Abstract: A tibial implant includes a baseplate having a proximally facing surface surrounded at least in part by a proximally extending wall. The wall has a ramp surface extending from the wall towards the baseplate proximally facing baseplate surface and a bore located distally of the ramp. A polyethylene bearing insert is mounted on the baseplate and has a distally facing surface engaging the proximally facing surface of the baseplate. The distally facing bearing insert surface has a recess and the insert has a side surface with a passageway extending from the recess through the insert side surface. A spring detent is mounted in the bearing insert recess and has a moveable pin biased outwardly of the bearing insert side surface and into the bore of the baseplate.

Abstract: An instrument and method for determining the location of the anatomical epicondylar axis between the condyles of a femur is provided. The instrument includes first and second gauges each for measuring a radius of a femoral condyle and a frame. At least one of the gauges is movably connected to the frame. The method includes positioning the measuring end of each gauge against a separate condyle of a femur, actuating a pivoting member of each gauge to determine the radius of each condyle, measuring the distance between the condyles, and determining the location of the anatomical epicondylar axis of the femur. A measurement can be taken from a measuring scale provided on the gauge and from another scale provided on the frame. Determining the location of the axis can further include performing a calculation utilizing the radii of the condyles and the distance between the condyles.

Abstract: A knee prosthesis includes a femoral component, a tibial component, and a coupling component interconnecting the femoral component and the tibial component. The tibial component includes ball. The femoral component is configured to move relative to the tibial component. The coupling component defines an internal cavity including a first spherical end portion and a second spherical end portion. The internal cavity is dimensioned to receive the ball of the tibial component. The ball is repositioned between the first spherical end portion and the second spherical end portion of the internal cavity upon movement of the femoral component relative to the tibial component.

Abstract: A system for resecting a posterior region of a femoral condyle includes a posterior resection guide having a main body with an upper end and a lower end, a cutting instrument guide surface provided on the main body, and a series of anchor pin holes extending through the main body. The series of anchor pin holes includes a first pair of pin holes located a first distance from the upper end of the main body, a second pair of pin holes located a second distance from the upper end of the main body that is less than the first distance, and a third pair of anchor pin holes located a third distance from the upper end of the main body that is more than the first distance. Anchor pins are insertable through the anchor pin holes for coupling the posterior resection guide with a femoral condyle of a femur.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for preparing the trochlear groove of a patient's femur to receive a prosthesis thereon. In the system, a combination drill-and-alignment guide includes at least a proximal and intermediate section, and preferably also includes a distal section. Guide holes for receiving guide pins therein are located in the proximal and distal sections of the guide. After the guide is positioned using at least one of several visual and/or tactile guide references in the system, the guides pins are placed through the guide holes of the guide and into bone. The guide may then be removed and replaced by cannulated reamers that are rotated and used to resect a predetermined amount of bone around the guide pins. A prosthesis having at least a portion of an outer surface that substantially matches the trochlear groove of the patient in a pre-degenerated state is then implanted on the resected bone.

Abstract: A cutting block for use in a bone osteotomy procedure is disclosed, and includes a first cutting guide surface, a second cutting guide surface, and a third cutting guide surface. The first, second, and third cutting guide surfaces are adapted to be temporarily affixed to a bone having a first side and a second side such that the first cutting guide surface is disposed on the first side of the bone, and such that the second cutting guide surface and third cutting guide surface are disposed on the second side of the bone forming an angle therebetween.

Abstract: A knee prosthesis includes a femoral component, a tibial component, and a coupling component interconnecting the femoral component and the tibial component. The tibial component includes ball. The femoral component is configured to move relative to the tibial component. The coupling component defines an internal cavity including a first spherical end portion and a second spherical end portion. The internal cavity is dimensioned to receive the ball of the tibial component. The ball is repositioned between the first spherical end portion and the second spherical end portion of the internal cavity upon movement of the femoral component relative to the tibial component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for preparing the trochlear groove of a patient's femur to receive a prosthesis thereon. In the system, a combination drill-and-alignment guide includes at least a proximal and intermediate section, and preferably also includes a distal section. Guide holes for receiving guide pins therein are located in the proximal and distal sections of the guide. After the guide is positioned using at least one of several visual and/or tactile references in the system, the guides pins are placed through the guide holes of the guide and into bone. The guide may then be removed and replaced by cannulated reamers that are rotated and used to resect a predetermined amount of bone around the guide pins. A prosthesis having at least a portion of an outer surface that substantially matches the trochlear groove of the patient in a pre-degenerated state is then implanted on the resected bone.

Abstract: A surgical sagittal saw blade and a complementary cutting guide for use with the blade. The blade includes a bar shaped to be releasably secured in a static position to a complementary surgical sagittal saw. A blade head with teeth is mounted to the bar to pivot. One or more drive links connected to the saw extend to the blade head to pivot the blade head. The cutting guide and blade bar have complementary features for holding the blade bar to above a surface of the cutting guide. The features that hold the blade bar to the cutting guide allow the blade to move over the cutting guide surface while constrain the blade from moving out of the plane immediately above the cutting guide surface.

Abstract: A detachable cutting tool capture for a cutting block provides a guide surface to convert an open surface block into a slotted block for plying a surgical cutting tool along the surfaces of the guide during a surgical procedure such as a bone resection with a blade. A magnetized catch provides a convenient device for securing the capture and the block together. A triangular cam on the detachable capture in conjunction with a “v” groove in a magnetized lever of the catch permits a pin of the catch to be selectively retracted from or extended into an aperture of the block when the lever is rotated so that when the pin extends, it serves to secure the combined apparatus for cutting. Mating surfaces of the block and capture provide additional structure for supporting the capture with the block to secure them from relative movement.

Abstract: A system for forming keel openings in tibial bone includes a plurality of templates having different sizes, each template having a top surface, a bottom surface and a central opening extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The system includes a bone cutting instrument for forming the keel openings and a guide having a leading end that is adapted to be coupled with the templates so that the leading end of the guide is aligned with the central openings in the templates. The guide includes a plurality of slots extending toward the leading end thereof for guiding advancement of the bone cutting instrument through the central openings in the templates. Each slot is associated for use with one of the differently sized templates.

Abstract: A cutting block for use in a bone osteotomy procedure is disclosed, and includes a first cutting guide surface, a second cutting guide surface, and a third cutting guide surface. The first, second, and third cutting guide surfaces are adapted to be temporarily affixed to a bone having a first side and a second side such that the first cutting guide surface is disposed on the first side of the bone, and such that the second cutting guide surface and third cutting guide surface are disposed on the second side of the bone forming an angle therebetween.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a deflectable cutting element extending from the distal end of the instrument. The deflection of the cutting element is controllable based on a user operating a moveable member of the instrument. The deflectable cutting element is normally disposed within a circumferential region defined by the distal end of the instrument. The moveable member can be moved in relation to the instrument to deflect the deflectable cutting element, such that the cutting element is at least partially outside of the circumferential region. The extent that the cutting element is outside of the circumferential region is a function of the position to which the moveable member is moved in relation to the instrument. The instrument further includes direct imaging of the distal end, such that the deflection of the cutting element for selective removal of bone tissue at the distal end of the instrument can be controlled in real-time.

Abstract: A cutting block for use in a bone osteotomy procedure includes a first cutting guide surface, a second cutting guide surface, and a third cutting guide surface. The first, second, and third cutting guide surfaces are adapted to be temporarily affixed to a bone having a first side and a second side such that the first cutting guide surface is disposed on the first side of the bone, and such that the second cutting guide surface and third cutting guide surface are disposed on the second side of the bone forming an angle therebetween.

Abstract: A base component for a tibial implant has a lateral compartment and a medial compartment spaced from the lateral compartment defining an open central section therebetween. A connecting portion connects the medial and lateral compartments at an anterior end of the base component which anterior end is located adjacent the anterior tibia. The open central section of the base component intermediate the spaced medial and lateral compartments is open to a posterior end of the base component. The medial and lateral compartments have a bone contacting surface and a superiorly facing surface. The connecting portion has a curved anteriorly facing surface and has a first angled surface extending at an angle from adjacent the anterior end of the base component at a bone contacting surface of the connecting portion superiorly to a posterior end of the connecting portion. The first angled surface defining an anterior end of the open central section.

Abstract: An apparatus to aid in cutting a bone during a bone osteotomy procedure, including a frame having a first bushing, a first fixation pin, and an adjustment screw. The apparatus further includes a side plate attached to the frame and moveable with respect thereto, the side plate having a second bushing and a second fixation pin. In addition, the apparatus includes a drill block assembly releasably attached to the side plate and moveable with respect thereto, the drill block having a third bushing and a hinge pin.