Patent ID: 8668700
Filing Date: 2014-03-11
Classification: A61B,B33Y

Abstract:
1. A convertible patient-specific guide for use in a knee of a patient during either a partial knee arthroplasty or a total knee arthroplasty comprising: a body having a patient-specific three-dimensional undersurface designed preoperatively based on images of the patient's knee, the patient-specific three dimensional-undersurface closely mateable in only one position relative to the knee and positively mating with a corresponding joint surface of the knee such that the patient-specific three dimensional-undersurface nestingly fits about and within surface portions of the knee; patient-specific guiding formations extending from the body and configured for guiding surgical tools during either a total arthroplasty of the knee and a partial arthroplasty of the knee such that the arthroplasty to be performed is intraoperatively selectable; and wherein the body includes a patient-specific severable portion comprising a portion of reduced thickness relative to the body, the severable portion in the form of a score line connecting first and second patient-specific portions of the body, the patient-specific severable portion designed preoperatively from images to correlate to structure of the patient's knee to permit use of the guide for a total knee arthroplasty when the body is not severed, and to permit intraoperatively severing the first portion and the second portion by breaking the guide on the severable portion such that the guide can be used to perform a partial knee arthroplasty after severing the first and second portion.