Abstract: An orthopedic implant includes a first portion including at least one feature modified to be patient-specific and match the anatomy of a specific patient from a three-dimensional digital image of a patient's joint using computer modeling. The orthopedic implant includes a non-custom inner bone-engaging surface including a plurality of planar surfaces configured for engagement with non-custom bone cuts.

Abstract: A system for orienting objects relative to an anatomical feature of a patient includes a guide with a reference guide surface. The system also includes a referencing object that is guided by the reference guide surface toward the anatomical feature to be fixed to the anatomical feature in a reference orientation relative to the anatomical feature. Moreover, the system includes an instrument with at least a portion that is transparent. The referencing object is viewable through the transparent portion of the instrument to align the referencing object with the instrument and to orient the instrument in the reference orientation relative to the anatomical feature.

Abstract: An orthopedic device for joint arthroplasty includes an alignment guide and a number of patient-specific anchoring elements. The alignment guide can be mounted on a bone of a patient during joint arthroplasty. The patient-specific anchoring elements extend from an inner surface of the alignment guide and have a patient-specific length relative to an outer bone surface of the bone of the patient.

Abstract: A method for preparing a femoral neck for receiving a neck implant includes obtaining image data of a proximal femoral bone and femoral neck of a patient by a medical imaging method and constructing a three-dimensional image model of the proximal femoral bone and neck of the patient using the image data. The method further includes identifying a three-dimensional cortical boundary surface at an interface between cortical and cancellous bone of the patient using the image model. A patient-specific broach having a three-dimensional cutting surface closely matching and complementary to the cortical boundary surface of the patient using the image model is designed and manufactured.

Abstract: A medical device for preparing an elongated bone, such as a proximal femoral bone, for receiving an implant includes a patient-specific femoral guide and an elongated alignment element. The femoral guide has a patient-specific three-dimensional bone-engaging surface configured according to a preoperative plan based on a three-dimensional image model of the femoral bone to mate complementarily with the surface of the proximal femoral bone extending between the greater trochanter, the femoral neck and the femoral shaft of the proximal femur. The femoral guide includes a first guide end forming a planar guide configured for guiding a neck resection. The alignment member can be removably attached to the femoral guide and defines a reference axis for guiding a cutting tool into the femoral bone through a resected surface of the femoral neck.

Abstract: An orthopedic implant. The implant has a first portion including at least one patient-adjustable feature, and a second portion including at least one standard feature.

Abstract: A system locates a femoral cutting guide on a distal end of a femur. The femoral cutting guide establishes at least a first reference plane to perform a distal femoral planar cut. The system generally includes a mounting rod operable to insert into the distal end of the femur. An index member is operable to abut the distal end of the femur. A bridge member extends from the index member. A cutting guide member extends from the bridge member. The cutting guide member includes a first channel that establishes the first reference plane. A mounting mechanism releasably couples the cutting guide member to the bridge member. The mounting mechanism is operable to generate a sliding resistance between the bridge member and the cutting guide member that is generally overcome to position the cutting guide member relative to the femur.

Abstract: Various method and apparatuses may be used to perform a procedure, such as a resection of a portion of the anatomy for preparation of the implants of a prosthetic. Various resecting member, including saw blades having selected geometries and shapes, can be used to assist in the resection of an anatomy to provide for implantation of a prosthetic. In addition, a cutting block assembly may be used to guide the resecting member. The cutting block assembly may be moveably mounted relative to the portion to be resected.

Abstract: A patient-specific acetabular resection guide includes a dome-shaped surface bounded by a periphery. The dome-shaped surface is a three-dimensional patient-specific surface designed to anatomically match and be received into an acetabulum of the patient, based on a three-dimensional image of a hip joint of the patient reconstructed from a medical scan of the hip joint. The resection guide includes a plurality of guiding formations defined on the resection guide and having patient-specific shapes and orientations for guiding corresponding osteotomies relative to the acetabulum for correcting hip dysplasia.

Abstract: A method for pre-operative orthopedic planning includes obtaining only a high-resolution knee-joint scan of a patient, determining hip rotation center and ankle rotation center from anthropometric data based on personal data of the patient, and determining a mechanical axis of the knee joint based on the anthropometric data. The method also includes preparing at least a two-dimensional image model of the knee joint using the knee-joint scan and the determined mechanical axis, and preparing a pre-operative surgical plan based on the image of the knee joint.

Abstract: An orthopedic device includes a patient-specific alignment guide operable for preparing a bone of a patient for resection during joint arthroplasty. The alignment guide includes a patient-specific bone engagement surface complementary to a surface of the bone of the patient and imaged from a bone scan of the patient. The alignment guide includes a plurality of guiding bores, and a plurality of alignment pins received through corresponding guiding bores for attaching the alignment guide to the bone. The alignment pins are resorbable and can be cut off during a resection of the bone.

Abstract: An orthopedic device for a shoulder joint includes a patient-specific alignment guide. The alignment guide includes a cap having a three-dimensional engagement surface customized in a pre-operative plan by computer imaging to be complementary and closely mate and conform to a humeral head of a proximal humerus of a patient. The alignment guide includes a tubular element extending from the cap and defining a longitudinal guiding bore for guiding an alignment pin at a patient-specific position and orientation determined in the pre-operative plan, and an orientation feature on the cap. The orientation feature is designed to orient the cap relative to the humeral head when the orientation feature is aligned with a landmark of the proximal humerus.

Abstract: An endoprosthetic device includes a monolithic meniscal implant having a three-dimensional patient-specific tibial engagement surface nesting in and complementary to a proximal surface of the proximal tibia of a patient and a femoral articulating surface opposite to the tibial engagement surface for articulating with a femoral condyle of the patient. The meniscal implant includes a first portion and a second remainder portion, wherein the first portion is compressible relative to the second remainder portion.

Abstract: A stereoscopic digital image projector includes (a) a plurality of light modulation assemblies, each comprising: (i) at least one solid-state light source energizable to provide illumination having a first polarization axis; (ii) a polarization rotator disposed in the path of the polarized illumination from the solid-state light source(s) and actuable to controllably rotate the polarization axis from the solid-state light source(s) to a second polarized axis; (iii) a micro-electromechanical spatial light modulator in the path of the polarized illumination and energizable to modulate the polarized illumination to form a first modulated light from illumination of the first polarization state and to form a second modulated light from illumination of the second polarization state; and (b) a synchronizing means to temporally control the polarization rotation to match the appropriate image data on the spatial light modulator; and (c) projection optics for directing the first and second modulated light toward a disp

Abstract: Various method and apparatuses may be used to perform a procedure, such as a resection of a portion of the anatomy for preparation of the implants of a prosthetic. Various resecting member, including saw blades having selected geometries and shapes, can be used to assist in the resection of an anatomy to provide for implantation of a prosthetic. In addition, a cutting block assembly may be used to guide the resecting member. The cutting block assembly may be moveably mounted relative to the portion to be resected.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for implanting a prosthesis includes implanting a first component into a recess in a bone. The first component defines a main body defining a receiving portion and a locating bore. A second component is located into engagement with the first component, the second component defining a passage therethrough. A rod is inserted through the passage defined on the second component and into the locating bore of the first component. A handle associated with the rod is slidably actuated into contact with the second component to matingly lock the first component to the second component.

Abstract: An orthopedic device for correcting a femoral bone abnormality includes a patient-specific three-dimensional shell and a patient-specific guiding feature. The shell has an outer surface and an inner bone engagement surface customized in a pre-operating planning stage by computer imaging to closely mate and conform to and substantially cover a femoral head of a patient in only one position. The guiding feature is pre-operatively planned relative to the shell such that when the shell is fitted over the femoral head, the guiding feature can guide a removal tool for removing an abnormality portion of the proximal femur of the patient.

Abstract: An orthopedic prosthetic device having at least one pyrocarbon insert is provided. The prosthetic device can include a prosthetic component having an articulating surface and a bone engagement surface. The articulating surface can be formed of a material that is distinct from pyrocarbon and is arranged to receive the at least one pyrocarbon insert so as to position a pyrocarbon articulating surface of the at least one pyrocarbon insert relative to the prosthetic component articulating surface.

Abstract: A patient-specific alignment guide includes a three-dimensional engagement surface customized in a pre-operating planning stage by computer imaging to closely mate and conform to a corresponding bone portion of a patient's elbow joint. The patient-specific alignment guide defines a first longitudinal guiding bore aligned with a reference axis associated with the elbow joint of patient when the alignment guide is mounted onto the corresponding bone portion.

Abstract: A laser projection system comprising a laser source system configured to emit coherent light, an optical integrating system configured to uniformize coherent light it receives, a randomizing optical element configured to spatially move over time in order to temporally randomize the phase, angle or spatial location of coherent light it receives, an image forming system configured to interact with laser light that has been both uniformized by the optical integrating system and randomized by the randomizing optical element, thereby forming a laser light image, and a projection system configured to project the laser light image onto a viewing screen.