Patent ID: 8343218
Filing Date: 2013-01-01
Classification: A61B,A61F,B33Y,G06F,G06K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of fitting an articular implant to a knee joint of a patient, the method comprising: deriving a model from anatomical image data including articular anatomy of the patient's knee joint; selecting an articular implant from a catalog of existing articular implants having a range of sizes, wherein the articular implant includes a planar surface for abutting a resected bone surface; adapting the shape of the selected articular implant to fit the articular implant to the articular anatomy of the patient's knee joint; and designing a surgical cutting or drilling tool having a surface that substantially conforms to a surface of the knee joint and having one or more guides defining a cutting or drilling path with a predetermined position relative to the surface of the knee joint, wherein the tool facilitates the placement of the implant in a preferred position.