Patent ID: 8070752

Claim:
A method of preparing a joint for a prosthesis in a patient, the method comprising: securing a patient-specific alignment guide to a joint surface of the patient, the patient-specific alignment guide having an inner three-dimensional surface configured to conform and mate in nesting relationship with the joint surface of the patient according to a preoperative surgical plan for the patient; attaching a guide element through the alignment guide to the joint surface; removing the alignment guide without removing the guide element; supporting an adjustable cutting block having a body and an adjustable cutting guide on the guide element; intraoperatively modifying the preoperative surgical plan of the patient by adjusting an orientation of the cutting guide relative to the body of the cutting block by rotating a rotational member, the rotational member pivotably coupled to the body of the adjustable cutting block at a first end and releasably connected to the body of the adjustable cutting block at a second end; and resecting the joint surface using the adjustable cutting block.