Abstract: A fabrication system and method for prosthetic appliances employs imaging of a contralateral skeletal structure for designing a matched, patient specific replacement appliance based on the patient's own skeletal structure. Many skeletal structures are disposed on opposed sides, i.e. left and right sides. A contralateral bone or skeletal member often accurately depicts the individual bone shape of a particular patient more accurately than a generalized approximation. A scan such as a CT or MRI is segmented to apportion a skeletal member for replacement and reconstructed into a 3D (3 dimensional) model. The 3D model is inverted to define the contralateral side, and augmented for surgical connection features and comparison with an anatomic ideal to mitigate imperfections. 3D printing and/or additive manufacturing techniques are invoked with biocompatible materials to render the replacement prosthetic appliance based on the model.

Abstract: A surgical implant for total wrist replacement (TWR) includes a carpal portion and a radial portion to fully encompass both sides of the articulated joint defining wrist movement. The carpal portion is defined by a unitary structure that defines a fused form of the scaphoid, lunate and triquetrum, and bears against the radial portion for permitting articulated motion. The radial portion replaces a distal portion of the natural radius adjacent the wrist, and has the form of a “T” to combine a bearing surface with a stem adapted for implantation in the natural radius. The stem engages a receptacle or bore formed in a truncated end of the natural radius. Both the radial portion and the carpal portion patient-specific members are formed from image scans of the patient's own skeletal structures, and incorporate inverted, contralateral images of healthy structure based on an assessment of deformation in the replaced joint.

Abstract: A surgical implant for total wrist replacement (TWR) includes a carpal portion and a radial portion to fully encompass both sides of the articulated joint defining wrist movement. The carpal portion is defined by a unitary structure that defines a fused form of the scaphoid, lunate and triquetrum, and bears against the radial portion for permitting articulated motion. The radial portion replaces a distal portion of the natural radius adjacent the wrist, and has the form of a “T” to combine a bearing surface with a stem adapted for implantation in the natural radius. The stem engages a receptacle or bore formed in a truncated end of the natural radius. Both the radial portion and the carpal portion patient-specific members are formed from image scans of the patient's own skeletal structures, and incorporate inverted, contralateral images of healthy structure based on an assessment of deformation in the replaced joint.

Abstract: A surgical implant for a wrist bone fabricated on a patient-specific basis is based on a combination of the patient's own anatomy and an anatomical ideal from a database of scan data, and provides a patient-specific implant that minimizes spacing tolerance between adjacent bones to allow native cooperation between tightly spaced wrist bones. The three lower skeletal structures in the human wrist, including the trapezium, lunate and scaphoid bones, share a close, integrated geometry with the adjacent arm bones (radius, ulna) and remaining wrist bones. In contrast to conventional approaches that rely on reshaped connective tissue or generically shaped replacements, a patient-specific prosthetic restores the original geometry and spacing between wrist bones, allowing individual bone replacement without removal or fusing to adjacent bones, thus restoring a natural range of movement.

Abstract: A prosthetic implant surface cap adapted for securement to an interface region of the prosthetic defined by articulating prosthetic implants. 3D printing or additive manufacturing is employed to form the surface cap adapted for securement to an identified interface region, in which the interface region is defined by engaging contact with adjacent skeletal structures in response to patient movement. The surface cap is disposed on the implant surface to contact the adjacent skeletal structures during articulated movement, and is adhered to the interface region of the prosthetic implant for absorbing and distributing the contact and frictional forces of the articulating skeletal members.

Abstract: Defects and disease in human cartilage may arise from osteoarthritis, aging and joint injury, and are a major cause of joint pain and chronic instability. A soft tissue implant defined from anatomical scans of unhealthy tissue provides a shape and contour for replacing only unhealthy tissue while leaving healthy tissue intact. Patient specific scans identify the region occupied by soft tissue such as articular cartilage, and image an implant shaped to fit only the compromised regions. Surgical excision of the compromised region provides a shaped region for receiving the shaped implant, thereby leaving as much native healthy tissue as possible while completely replacing the volume of excised tissue.

Abstract: A surgical implant for a wrist bone fabricated on a patient-specific basis is based on a combination of the patient's own anatomy and an anatomical ideal from a database of scan data, and provides a patient-specific implant that minimizes spacing tolerance between adjacent bones to allow native cooperation between tightly spaced wrist bones. The three lower skeletal structures in the human wrist, including the trapezium, lunate and scaphoid bones, share a close, integrated geometry with the adjacent arm bones (radius, ulna) and remaining wrist bones. In contrast to conventional approaches that rely on reshaped connective tissue or generically shaped replacements, a patient-specific prosthetic restores the original geometry and spacing between wrist bones, allowing individual bone replacement without removal or fusing to adjacent bones, thus restoring a natural range of movement.

Abstract: A prosthetic implant surface cap adapted for securement to an interface region of the prosthetic defined by articulating prosthetic implants. 3D printing or additive manufacturing is employed to form the surface cap adapted for securement to an identified interface region, in which the interface region is defined by engaging contact with adjacent skeletal structures in response to patient movement. The surface cap is disposed on the implant surface to contact the adjacent skeletal structures during articulated movement, and is adhered to the interface region of the prosthetic implant for absorbing and distributing the contact and frictional forces of the articulating skeletal members.

Abstract: A surgical implant for total wrist replacement (TWR) includes a carpal portion and a radial portion to fully encompass both sides of the articulated joint defining wrist movement. The carpal portion is defined by a unitary structure that defines a fused form of the scaphoid, lunate and triquetrum, and bears against the radial portion for permitting articulated motion. The radial portion replaces a distal portion of the natural radius adjacent the wrist, and has the form of a “T” to combine a bearing surface with a stem adapted for implantation in the natural radius. The stem engages a receptacle or bore formed in a truncated end of the natural radius. Both the radial portion and the carpal portion patient-specific members are formed from image scans of the patient's own skeletal structures, and incorporate inverted, contralateral images of healthy structure based on an assessment of deformation in the replaced joint.