Patent ID: 8608749
Filing Date: 2013-12-17
Classification: A61B,A61F,B33Y

Abstract:
1. A method for preparing an acetabulum of a patient for an acetabular implant, the method comprising: removably engaging an acetabular area of the patient to a complementary surface of a patient-specific acetabular guide, the complementary surface of the patient-specific acetabular guide constructed as a mirror surface of the acetabular area from medical images of the patient obtained preoperatively, the acetabular guide having a guiding element oriented along a patient-specific alignment axis, the alignment axis determined during a preoperative plan of the patient for implant alignment; removably coupling a shaft of a guiding tool to the guiding element of the acetabular guide such that the shaft of the guiding tool is oriented along the alignment axis; removably attaching a three dimensional orientation device to the shaft of the guiding tool; calibrating the orientation device to indicate the alignment axis orientation by marking with a mark a position of a bubble inside the orientation device, the bubble viewable through an outer transparent surface of the orientation device; removing the acetabular guide and guiding tool; removing the orientation device from the guiding tool; removably attaching the orientation device to a shaft of an instrument; and determining the alignment axis by changing the orientation of the shaft such that the bubble of the orientation device is centered around the mark; guiding the shaft of the instrument along the alignment axis using the orientation device.