Abstract: An instrument system for setting the internal-external rotation of a prosthetic femoral component with respect to a proximal tibia has a bone resection instrument having a planar surface for engaging a planar surface of a resected distal femur. The bone resection instrument system has a cutting guide for guiding a tool for resecting a posterior surface of the distal femur and forming a cylindrical surface on the posterior condyle intersecting the planar surface. The cylindrical surface defined by an axis extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the resected planar surface. The system includes a trial component having a planar surface for engaging the planar surface of the resected distal femur and having posterior condyles having a cylindrical anteriorly facing surface engagable with the resected cylindrical surface on the posterior condyle.

Abstract: A method for setting the internal-external rotational position of a prosthetic femoral component with respect to the tibial comprises: forming a cylindrical surface on the posterior femoral condyles. The cylindrical surface is formed about an axis extending in a proximal distal direction with respect to the femur. A template is placed on the distal femur which has a cylindrical guide surface for engaging the posterior femoral condyles. When placed against a planar resected surface of the distal femur the guide surfaces contact the cylindrically shaped posterior condyles. The template is rotated on the cylindrical guide surface as the knee joint is moved from flexion to extension until the template cylindrical guide surfaces are in a position with respect to the tibial condyle surfaces to properly balance the knee ligaments.

Abstract: A cutting block having a base, and a top connected to the base via four walls is disclosed. Each wall has an outwardly facing surface to guide a cutting tool. Each wall also has an attachment hole where a tracker may be attached. The cutting block is floated on the bone using the navigation system to position it at correct locations for the bone resection. After correctly locating the cutting block for each required cut, cutting block is fixed to the bone using pins and the bone resected. Same cutting block is suitable for resection of bone for installation of any size prosthetic device. For certain resections, the rotation angle may be mechanically set and need not be navigated.

Abstract: A cutting block for resecting a bone, particularly the distal femur, has a body with a first generally planar bone contacting surface to contact the resected distal surface of the femur. The body has a second surface spaced from the bone contacting surface along an axis perpendicular to said generally planar bone contacting surface. The body has a perimeter surface extending between the first and second surfaces, wherein the perimeter surface is at least partially curved with respect to the axis in both a direction generally perpendicular thereto and generally parallel thereto. The perimeter surface may be polished.

Abstract: Tools for resecting the femur include an anchoring device, a three-way alignment guide and a six way alignment guide attachable to the anchoring device, a resection guide attachable to the three-way alignment guide and equipped with couplings for trackers, an A-P sizer, a femoral sizing block bushing attachable to the six-way alignment guide, a 4-in-i femoral cutting block, a 5-in-i positional alignment guide attachable to the six-way alignment guide, a pair of diodes, and a 5-in-one cutting block. Methods of utilizing the apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: Where a prosthetic joint component part has a relatively sharp edge which potentially can contact and thereby irritate or injure soft tissue juxtaposed with the component part at an implant site during articulation of the prosthetic joint, such as a posterior cruciate ligament juxtaposed with a component part of a prosthetic knee, the component part is provided with a deflector located, configured, dimensioned and directed for deflecting the soft tissue away from contact with the sharp edge during articulation of the prosthetic joint.

Abstract: Tools for resecting the femur include an anchoring device, a three-way alignment guide and a six way alignment guide attachable to the anchoring device, a resection guide attachable to the three-way alignment guide and equipped with couplings for trackers, an A-P sizer, a femoral sizing block bushing attachable to the six-way alignment guide, a 4-in-1 femoral cutting block, a 5-in-1 positional alignment guide attachable to the six-way alignment guide, a pair of diodes, and a 5-in-one cutting block. Methods of utilizing the apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for virtually planning a size and position of a prosthetic implant for a bone on a patient includes a database containing pre-defined form factor information for a plurality of different implants and a circuit for obtaining surface shape information of the bone. The system further includes a circuit for defining baseline location parameters for an implant location in relation to a virtual representation of the bone based on the surface shape information and a circuit for assessing a fit calculation of each implant in relation to the virtual representation of the bone based on the form factor in formation and a plurality of fit factors at each of a plurality of incremental positions in relation to the bone. Still further, the system includes a circuit for selecting a best fit implant size and position from all of the fit calculations.

Abstract: The tissue augment sheet delivery system includes a tube funnel adapter and a tissue augment sheet delivery instrument. The tube funnel adapter includes a oval/conical shaped funnel. The tissue augment sheet delivery instrument includes a handle. A cylindrical tube is connected to the handle. A wire is inserted in the tube. The wire is formed in a large loop with small loops formed in the large loop. A tissue augment sheet is attached to one side of the large loop using a monofilament. In use, the tube funnel adapter is inserted in body. The tissue augment sheet is placed in mouth of the oval/conical shaped funnel and gently moved down. While moving down, the tissue augment sheet conforms to the internal diameter of the tube funnel adapter. The handle is withdrawn to remove the large loop from the body leaving the tissue augment sheet in body.

Abstract: A cutting block having a base, and a top connected to the base via four walls is disclosed. Each wall has an outwardly facing surface to guide a cutting tool. Each wall also has an attachment hole where a tracker may be attached. The cutting block is floated on the bone using the navigation system to position it at correct locations for the bone resection. After correctly locating the cutting block for each required cut, cutting block is fixed to the bone using pins and the bone resected. Same cutting block is suitable for resection of bone for installation of any size prosthetic device. For certain resections, the rotation angle may be mechanically set and need not be navigated.

Abstract: A method for setting the internal-external rotational position of a prosthetic femoral component with respect to the tibial comprising: forming a cylindrical surface on the posterior femoral condyles, said cylindrical surface formed about an axis extending in a proximal distal direction with respect to the femur; placing a template having a cylindrical guide surface for engaging said posterior femoral condyles against a planar resected surface of the distal femur with said guide surfaces in contact with said cylindrically shaped posterior condyles; and rotating said template on said cylindrical guide surface as the knee joint is moved from flexion to extension until the template cylindrical guide surfaces are in a position with respect to the tibial condyle surfaces to properly balance the knee ligaments.

Abstract: A knee prosthesis and method for emulating movements, during flexion, of a natural knee joint replaced by the knee prosthesis, by enabling engagement and relative movement between the femoral component and the tibial component of the knee prosthesis along arcuate tracks, including rotational movement about a longitudinal axis of rotation, during flexion about a transverse axis of rotation, and maintaining the transverse axis of rotation essentially in a generally medial-lateral longitudinal plane maintained in close proximity with a generally coronal plane passing through the centers of curvature of the arcuate tracks during flexion within at least a prescribed range of flexion extending from about 0° of flexion to a predetermined degree of flexion, preferably about 60° of flexion.

Abstract: A knee prosthesis and method for emulating movements, during flexion, of a natural knee joint replaced by the knee prosthesis, by enabling engagement and relative movement between the femoral component and the tibial component of the knee prosthesis along arcuate tracks, including rotational movement about a longitudinal axis of rotation, during flexion about a transverse axis of rotation, and maintaining the transverse axis of rotation essentially in a generally medial-lateral longitudinal plane maintained in close proximity with a generally coronal plane passing through the centers of curvature of the arcuate tracks during flexion within at least a prescribed range of flexion extending from about 0° of flexion to a predetermined degree of flexion, preferably about 60° of flexion.

Abstract: IM revision tools include reamers with depth markings or stops, an impactor-extractor with a coupling for attaching to tools which are inserted into and removed from the IM canal, a resection guide tower to which a cutting block is attached and which includes a notch which serves as both a witness mark and a holder for a femoral collar, a reversible clean-up cutting block with a quick-connect clamp attachable to the guide tower for resecting the distal femur, a selection of spacer blocks for measuring the space between the femur to determine the size of the components to be installed, a multiple cut cutting guide for preparing the femur, a set of 5 and 10 mm trial wedges, a trial stem valgus adapter, femoral sizing indicators which include indications of anterior/posterior offset, a stabilizer box cutting template which is attachable to the multiple cut cutting guide, and anterior/posterior offset adapters for attaching the femoral component to the IM stem.

Abstract: Tools for resecting tibia and femur include anchoring devices, a three-way alignment guide attachable to the anchoring devices, two embodiments of a resection guide attachable to the alignment guide and equipped with couplings for trackers, a plane probe for examining the resected plane, and apparatus for EM alignment of the resection guide in the event of a computer failure. The methods of the invention include operating a computer aided navigation apparatus in the conventional manner including attaching one or more trackers to the bone to be resected; choosing a location for the anchoring device with or without guidance from the computer and installing the anchoring device; attaching the three-way alignment guide to the anchoring device; attaching a resection guide to the alignment guide; attaching one or two trackers to the resection guide; locating the resection guide with the aid of the alignment guide and the computer; fixing the resection guide to the bone with pins.

Abstract: IM tibia revision tools include a trial stem extender having multiple notches which serve both as depth witness marks and holders for a stop clip, a collection of different sized tibial templates, each template adapted to receive an angular offset positioning guide, a collection of offset bushings, each bushing each bushing having a different offset distance and each being adapted to cooperate with the trial stem extender and the angular offset positioning guide, a neutral bushing for locating the position of the implant boss relative to the tibia and for reaming the tibia to accept the boss of the implant, a fin punch guide and fin punch for preparing the tibia to receive the keel of the tibial component, and a tool for translating the angular offset measurement to the tibial component. Tibial components according to the invention have three parts: the baseplate portion, the offset portion, and the stem portion.

Abstract: A method for aligning a resection guide relative to a patient's bone has applications during arthroplasty. An alignment guide is coupled to a patient's bone, to which there is coupled a resection guide. The resection guide is positioned along a transactional path and a plurality of rotational paths by manipulation of the alignment guide, thereby providing three degrees of freedom of manipulation over infinitely adjustable ranges.

Abstract: Femoral resection tools of the present invention include a posterior condyle alignment guide, an IM rod with an adjustable valgus bushing assembly, left and right external rotation plates, an anterior sizing boom having a stylus and a pair of medial/lateral drill guide assemblies (in one embodiment of the invention the drill guide assemblies are the combination of medial/lateral extension arms and attached (detachable) proximal positioning fixtures; in another embodiment, the proximal positioning fixtures are not part of the drill guide assembly per se), a plurality of self-tapping screws, proximal positioning fixtures (apart from any positioning fixtures that may be integrated into a drill guide assembly), and different size cutting guide blocks, each adapted to fit over the proximal positioning fixtures. Methods for utilizing the aforementioned tools so that five resections can be performed are also described.

Abstract: Tools for resecting the femur include an anchoring device, a three-way alignment guide and a six way alignment guide attachable to the anchoring device, a resection guide attachable to the three-way alignment guide and equipped with couplings for trackers, an A-P sizer, a femoral sizing block bushing attachable to the six-way alignment guide, a 4-in-1 femoral cutting block, a 5-in-1 positional alignment guide attachable to the six-way alignment guide, a pair of diodes, and a 5-in-one cutting block.

Abstract: Femoral resection tools of the present invention include a posterior condyle alignment guide, an IM rod with an adjustable valgus bushing assembly, left and right external rotation plates, an anterior sizing boom having a stylus and a pair of medial/lateral drill guide assemblies (in one embodiment of the invention the drill guide assemblies are the combination of medial/lateral extension arms and attached (detachable) proximal positioning fixtures; in another embodiment, the proximal positioning fixtures are not part of the drill guide assembly per se), a plurality of self-tapping screws, proximal positioning fixtures (apart from any positioning fixtures that may be integrated into a drill guide assembly), and different size cutting guide blocks, each adapted to fit over the proximal positioning fixtures. According to the methods of the invention, the valgus bushing is attached to the appropriate external rotation guide plate and both are attached to the posterior alignment guide.