Patent ID: 8603093

Claim:
A method of aligning an axis of an acetabular prosthetic cup with the acetabulum center axis of a patient, comprising the steps of: selecting a rim point (A) on the acetabulum crossing a line extending between the center of iliac tubercle and the transverse acetabulum ligament; selecting a second and a third rim point (B,C) on opposite sides of the acetabulum corresponding to the maximum diameter of the acetabulum; determining a first geometric point (D) substantially equidistant: from the three rim points (A, B, C); determining a second geometric point (E) displaced outwardly from the first geometric point (D) substantially equidistant from the three rim points (A, B, C); creating a line (D-E) intersecting the first geometric point (D) and the second geometric point (E) to provide a line indicative of the acetabulum center axis of a patient; and implanting the prosthetic cup by aligning the axis of the acetabular prosthetic cup with the line indicative of the acetabulum center axis of the patient.