Patent ID: 8435270

Claim:
A method of customizing a pre-shaped implant configured to fix at least a first mandibular bone part relative to a second mandibular bone part that is separated from the first mandibular bone part by a bone gap, the method comprising: obtaining a pre-operative 3-D model of a patient's mandible in a computer, so as to define a first modeled part of the mandible and a second modeled part of the mandible that define a first position relative to each other; manipulating the pre-operative 3-D model of the mandible into a planned post-operative shape whereby the first modeled part of the mandible and the second modeled part of the mandible define a second position relative to each other; and custom constructing a bone fixation implant to match the planned post-operative shape of the mandible such that the bone fixation implant is configured to attach to the first and second mandibular bone parts when the first and second mandibular bone parts define the second position relative to each other, the implant including a plate member and at least one guide coupled to the plate member, the custom constructing step comprising: prior to segmenting the second mandibular bone part from the first mandibular bone part, bending the plate member so as to attach to the first and second mandibular bone parts after the second mandibular bone part has been segmented from the first mandibular bone part; and prior to segmenting the second mandibular bone part from the first mandibular bone part, configuring the at least one guide to align the plate member with the mandible when the implant is positioned against the mandible after the second mandibular bone part has been separated from the first mandibular bone part.