Patent ID: 9610092
Date: 2017-04-04
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61F

Claim:
1. A method for locating the optimal position for a portal incision in a minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty, comprising the steps of: making a main incision to access an acetabulum of a patient; determining a trajectory generally perpendicular to a plane defined by a face of the acetabulum; using a cutting member to cut a path through the patient's tissue along the trajectory generally perpendicular to the plane defined by the face of the acetabulum to a point just under the patient's skin thereby allowing a surgeon to avoid numerous blood vessels, muscles, tendons, and nerves, wherein the cutting member is inserted through the main incision and used to position the trajectory generally perpendicular to the plane defined by the face of the acetabulum; and making a portal incision at the point to provide access to the acetabulum at a location that is along the trajectory perpendicular to the plane defined by the face of the acetabulum.