Abstract: A method and system for performing a total joint arthroplasty procedure on a patient's damaged bone region. A CT image or other suitable image is formed of the damaged bone surfaces, and location coordinate values (xn,yn,zn) are determined for a selected sequence of bone surface locations using the CT image data. A mathematical model z=f(x,y) of a surface that accurately matches the bone surface coordinates at the selected bone splice locations, or matches surface normal vector components at selected bone surface locations, is determined. The model provides a production file from which a cutting jig and an implant device (optional), each patient-specific and having controllable alignment, are fabricated for the damaged bone by automated processing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of defining a mating surface in a first side of an arthroplasty jig. The mating surface is configured to matingly receive and contact a corresponding patient surface including at least one of a bone surface and a cartilage surface. The first side is oriented towards the patient surface when the mating surface matingly receives and contacts the patient surface. The method may include: a) identifying a contour line associated with the patient surface as represented in a medical image; b) evaluating via an algorithm the adequacy of the contour line for defining a portion of the mating surface associated with the contour line; c) modifying the contour line if the contour line is deemed inadequate; and d) employing the modified contour line to define the portion of the mating surface associated with the contour line.

Abstract: A method and system for performing a total joint arthroplasty procedure on a patient's damaged bone region. A CT image or other suitable image is formed of the damaged bone surfaces, and location coordinate values (xn,yn,zn) are determined for a selected sequence of bone surface locations using the CT image data. A mathematical model z=f(x,y) of a surface that accurately matches the bone surface coordinates at the selected bone slice locations, or matches surface normal vector components at selected bone surface locations, is determined. The model provides a production file from which a cutting jig and an implant device (optional), each patient-specific and having controllable alignment, are fabricated for the damaged bone by automated processing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a surgical guide tool for use in total hip replacement surgery. The surgical guide tool may include a customized mating region and a resection guide. The customized mating region and the resection guide are referenced to each other such that, when the customized mating region matingly engages a surface area of a proximal femur, the resection guide will be aligned to guide a resectioning of the proximal femur along a preoperatively planned resection plane.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of defining a mating surface in a first side of an arthroplasty jig. The mating surface is configured to matingly receive and contact a corresponding patient surface including at least one of a bone surface and a cartilage surface. The first side is oriented towards the patient surface when the mating surface matingly receives and contacts the patient surface. The method may include: a) identifying a contour line associated with the patient surface as represented in a medical image; b) evaluating via an algorithm the adequacy of the contour line for defining a portion of the mating surface associated with the contour line; c) modifying the contour line if the contour line is deemed inadequate; and d) employing the modified contour line to define the portion of the mating surface associated with the contour line.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, computer program products, and the like, for utilizing a series of images of a patient's anatomy to determine a cut plane for use during a hip replacement procedure. To determine a cut plane for use during the procedure, the computer program determines a best fit line through the center of the neck of the femur, as well as a best fit line through the femoral shaft. In one particular embodiment, a cut plane through the femur may then be determined as perpendicular to the center line through the neck of the femur. Further, the location of these features in the images may be determined by analyzing the gray scale value of one or more pixels around a selected point on the image. The pixel with the lowest gray scale value may then be assumed to be the edge of the cortical bone in the 2D image.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a surgical guide tool for use in total hip replacement surgery. The surgical guide tool may include a customized mating region and a resection guide. The customized mating region and the resection guide are referenced to each other such that, when the customized mating region matingly engages a surface area of a proximal femur, the resection guide will be aligned to guide a resectioning of the proximal femur along a preoperatively planned resection plane.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, computer program products, manufacturing processes and the like, for utilizing a series of images of a patient's anatomy to determine an estimation of relevant lengths and angles and other dimensions for use during a hip replacement procedure, which may be used to create one or more femur and/or acetabulum cavity implants or inserts useful in a partial or total hip replacement. In one particular embodiment, a jig mechanism for providing a scraper of the acetabulum cavity may be created with the information of the patient's anatomy. Further, the location of these features in the images may be determined by analyzing the gray scale value of one or more pixels around a selected point on the image. The pixel with the lowest gray scale value may then be assumed to be the edge of the cortical bone in the 2D image.

Abstract: A tibia cutting jig mechanism (TCJM) is provided having a number N1 of spaced apart TCJM contact points that correspond to a number N1 of spaced apart knee contact points on at least one of a tibia plateau surface and a tibia shaft surface. The TCJM contact points are positioned in contact with the tibia contact points, and a cut bar guide is positioned in contact with the TCJM to provide a location and an angular orientation of a cut bar plane that is to be used to resection and remove a selected portion of the patient's tibia. The TCJM is removed from the patient's knee, and a selected portion of the patent's tibia is resectioned and removed. The number N1 is at most about seven in some embodiments.

Abstract: Arthroplasty jigs and related methods are disclosed. Some of the arthroplasty jigs may comprise a jig body that is configured to align with a surface of a bone, and a positioning component. Certain of the methods may comprise providing such an arthroplasty jig, and aligning the jig body with a surface of a bone so that the positioning component provides at least one of a visible, audible, or tactile indication that such alignment has been achieved. Some of the arthroplasty jigs may comprise a jig body that is configured to align with a surface of a bone, and that is marked with identifying information. Certain of the methods may comprise providing an arthroplasty jig comprising a jig body that is configured to align with a surface of a bone, or providing an arthroplasty jig blank, and marking the arthroplasty jig or the arthroplasty jig blank with identifying information.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are unicompartmental femoral and tibial arthroplasty jigs for respectively assisting in the performance of unicompartmental femoral and tibial arthroplasty procedures on femoral and tibial arthroplasty target regions. The jigs each include a mating surface. The mating surface of the femoral jig is configured to matingly receive and contact a generally planar area of an anterior side of a femoral shaft generally proximal of the patellar facet border and generally distal an articularis genu. The mating surface of the tibial jig is configured to matingly receive and contact a generally planar area of an anterior side of a tibial shaft distal of the tibial plateau edge and generally proximal of the tibial tuberosity.

Abstract: A method and system for performing a total joint arthroplasty procedure on a patient's damaged bone region. A CT image or other suitable image is formed of the damaged bone surfaces, and location coordinate values (xn,yn,zn) are determined for a selected sequence of bone surface locations using the CT image data. A mathematical model z=f(x,y) of a surface that accurately matches the bone surface coordinates at the selected bone splice locations, or matches surface normal vector components at selected bone surface locations, is determined. The model provides a production file from which a cutting jig and an implant device (optional), each patient-specific and having controllable alignment, are fabricated for the damaged bone by automated processing.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, computer program products, and the like, for utilizing a series of images of a patient's anatomy to determine a cut plane for use during a knee procedure. To determine a cut plane for use during a knee replacement procedure, the 2D images may be analyzed by a computer program to determine a best fit plane through one or more points along the proximal surface of the tibia and to determine one or more features of depressions within the proximal surface. With these landmarks identified in the images, a cut plane through the tibia for use during a TKA procedure may be determined. Further, the location of these features in the images may be determined by analyzing the gray scale value of one or more pixels around a selected point on the image. The pixel with the lowest gray scale value may then be assumed to be the edge of the cortical bone in the 2D image.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of defining a mating surface in a first side of an arthroplasty jig. The mating surface is configured to matingly receive and contact a corresponding patient surface including at least one of a bone surface and a cartilage surface. The first side is oriented towards the patient surface when the mating surface matingly receives and contacts the patient surface. The method may include: a) identifying a contour line associated with the patient surface as represented in a medical image; b) evaluating via an algorithm the adequacy of the contour line for defining a portion of the mating surface associated with the contour line; c) modifying the contour line if the contour line is deemed inadequate; and d) employing the modified contour line to define the portion of the mating surface associated with the contour line.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an arthroplasty jig is disclosed herein. The method may include the following: generate two dimensional image data of a patient joint to undergo arthroplasty, identify in the two dimensional image data a first point corresponding to an articular surface of a bone forming the joint, identify a second point corresponding to an articular surface of an implant, identify a location of a resection plane when the first point is correlated with the second point, and create the arthroplasty jig with a resection guide located according to the identified location of the resection plane.

Abstract: Arthroplasty jigs and related methods are disclosed. Some of the arthroplasty jigs may comprise a jig body that is configured to align with a surface of a bone, and a positioning component. Certain of the methods may comprise providing such an arthroplasty jig, and aligning the jig body with a surface of a bone so that the positioning component provides at least one of a visible, audible, or tactile indication that such alignment has been achieved. Some of the arthroplasty jigs may comprise a jig body that is configured to align with a surface of a bone, and that is marked with identifying information. Certain of the methods may comprise providing an arthroplasty jig comprising a jig body that is configured to align with a surface of a bone, or providing an arthroplasty jig blank, and marking the arthroplasty jig or the arthroplasty jig blank with identifying information.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are unicompartmental femoral and tibial arthroplasty jigs for respectively assisting in the performance of unicompartmental femoral and tibial arthroplasty procedures on femoral and tibial arthroplasty target regions. The jigs each include a mating surface. The mating surface of the femoral jig is configured to matingly receive and contact a generally planar area of an anterior side of a femoral shaft generally proximal of the patellar facet border and generally distal an articularis genu. The mating surface of the tibial jig is configured to matingly receive and contact a generally planar area of an anterior side of a tibial shaft distal of the tibial plateau edge and generally proximal of the tibial tuberosity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are unicompartmental femoral and tibial arthroplasty jigs for respectively assisting in the performance of unicompartmental femoral and tibial arthroplasty procedures on femoral and tibial arthroplasty target regions. The femoral and tibial unicompartmental arthroplasty jigs each include a first side, a second side and a mating surface. Each second side is generally opposite its respective first side. For the femoral jig, the mating surface is in the first side of the femoral jig and configured to matingly receive and contact a generally planar area of an anterior side of a femoral shaft generally proximal of the patellar facet border and generally distal an articularis genu. The first side of the femoral jig is configured to be oriented towards the femoral arthroplasty target region surface when the mating surface of the femoral jig matingly receives and contacts the planar area.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a custom arthroplasty resection guide or jig are disclosed herein. For example, one method may include: generating MRI knee coil two dimensional images, wherein the knee coil images include a knee region of a patient; generating MRI body coil two dimensional images, wherein the body coil images include a hip region of the patient, the knee region of the patient and an ankle region of the patient; in the knee coil images, identifying first locations of knee landmarks; in the body coil images, identifying second locations of the knee landmarks; run a transformation with the first and second locations, causing the knee coil images and body coil images to generally correspond with each other with respect to location and orientation.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an arthroplasty jig is disclosed herein. The method may include the following: generate two dimensional image data of a patient joint to undergo arthroplasty, identify in the two dimensional image data a first point corresponding to an articular surface of a bone forming the joint, identify a second point corresponding to an articular surface of an implant, identify a location of a resection plane when the first point is correlated with the second point, and create the arthroplasty jig with a resection guide located according to the identified location of the resection plane.