Total knee arthroplasty systems and processes

Abstract

Systems and processes for tracking anatomy, instrumentation, trial implants, implants, and references, and rendering images and data related to them in connection with surgical operations, for example total knee arthroplasties (“TKA”). These systems and processes are accomplished by using a computer to intraoperatively obtain images of body parts and to register, navigate, and track surgical instruments.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer system for facilitating a joint arthroplasty procedure on a patient's joint, the patient's joint including at least one bone, the computer system comprising:
 (a) an input that receives image data about a structure of the at least one bone;   (b) a memory that at least temporarily stores:
 (i) the image data about the structure of the at least one bone; 
 (ii) reference data about at least one reference related to the structure of the at least one bone; 
 (iii) device data about a first surgical device, wherein the first surgical device is an orthopaedic implant; and 
 (iv) device data about a second surgical device, wherein the second surgical device is a surgical instrument; 
   (c) a processor that accesses the image, reference and device data about the first and second surgical devices at least temporarily stored in the memory and identifies a desired position and orientation of the surgical instrument relative to the at least one bone of the patient based at least in part on the image, reference and device data about the first and second surgical devices; and   (d) an output that outputs information about the desired position and orientation of the surgical instrument relative to the at least one bone.   
     
     
         22 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor identifies the desired position and orientation of the surgical instrument relative to the at least one bone of the patient's joint based at least in part on the image, reference and device data as well as a surgeon's input. 
     
     
         23 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the input also receives the reference data. 
     
     
         24 . The computer system of  claim 23 , wherein the reference data is at least one reference point on the structure of the at least one bone. 
     
     
         25 . The computer system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one reference point is at least one point on a femoral condyle or a trochlear groove. 
     
     
         26 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the reference data is a center of rotation of the at least one bone. 
     
     
         27 . The computer system of  claim 26 , wherein the processor determines an axis of the at least one bone using the reference data. 
     
     
         28 . The computer system of  claim 27 , wherein the axis is a mechanical axis, an anterior/posterior axis, or a medial/lateral axis of the at least one bone. 
     
     
         29 . The computer system of  claim 21 , further comprising a position sensor for tracking the position of the at least one bone and the first and second surgical devices. 
     
     
         30 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the joint arthroplasty procedure is a knee arthroplasty procedure, wherein the at least one bone is a femur of the patient and a tibia of the patient, and wherein the image data is about the patient's femur and tibia, including at least portions of an upper and a lower extremity of the femur and an upper and lower extremity of the tibia. 
     
     
         31 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the device data about the surgical instrument is data about a surgical cutting block. 
     
     
         32 . The computer system of  claim 31 , wherein the data about the surgical cutting block is wire frame data. 
     
     
         33 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the desired position and orientation of the surgical instrument determines an actual position and orientation of the surgical device. 
     
     
         34 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the desired position and orientation of the surgical instrument determines an actual position and orientation of the orthopaedic implant. 
     
     
         35 . The computer system of  claim 21 , further comprising a display that displays a representation of the structure of the at least one bone. 
     
     
         36 . The computer system of  claim 35 , wherein the display displays a representation of the at least one reference relative to the representation of the structure of the at least one bone. 
     
     
         37 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the desired position and orientation of the surgical instrument relative to the at least one bone includes at least one of a desired varus/valgus orientation of the surgical instrument relative to the at least one bone, a desired internal/external rotation of the surgical device relative to the at least one bone, and a desired flexion/extension of the surgical device relative to the at least one bone. 
     
     
         38 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the image data is X-ray image data, CT image data, MRI image data, or fluoroscopic image data. 
     
     
         39 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the computer system is a networked computer system. 
     
     
         40 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the joint arthroplasty procedure is a total joint arthroplasty procedure or a partial joint arthroplasty procedure. 
     
     
         41 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the joint arthroplasty procedure is a knee arthroplasty, a hip arthroplasty, a shoulder arthroplasty, an elbow arthroplasty or an ankle arthroplasty. 
     
     
         42 . The computer system of  claim 21 , wherein the surgical instrument is a knee arthroplasty cutting guide that includes an interior surface for contacting the at least one bone. 
     
     
         43 . The computer system of  claim 42 , wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the knee arthroplasty cutting guide is concave. 
     
     
         44 . A computer system for facilitating a joint arthroplasty procedure on a patient's joint, the patient's joint including at least one bone, the computer system comprising:
 (a) an input that receives image data about a structure of the at least one bone;   (b) a memory that at least temporarily stores:
 (i) the image data about the structure of the at least one bone; 
 (ii) reference data about at least one reference related to the structure of the at least one bone; 
 (iii) device data about a first surgical device, wherein the first surgical device is an orthopaedic implant; and 
 (iv) device data about a second surgical device, wherein the second surgical device is a surgical instrument; 
   (c) a processor that: (1) accesses the image, reference and device data about the first and second surgical devices at least temporarily stored in the memory and identifies a desired position and orientation of the surgical instrument relative to the at least one bone of the patient based at least in part on the image, reference and device data about the first and second surgical devices, and (2) determines a mechanical axis or an anatomic axis of the at least one bone using the reference data; and   (d) an output that outputs information about the desired position and orientation of the surgical instrument relative to the at least one bone.   
     
     
         45 . The computer system of  claim 44 , wherein the processor identifies the desired position and orientation of the surgical instrument relative to the at least one bone of the patient based at least in part on the image, reference and device data as well as a surgeon's input. 
     
     
         46 . The computer system of  claim 44 , wherein the desired position and orientation of the surgical instrument determines an actual position and orientation of the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         47 . The computer system of  claim 44 , wherein the desired position and orientation of the surgical instrument determines an actual position and orientation of the orthopaedic implant. 
     
     
         48 . The computer system of  claim 44 , further comprising a display that displays a representation of the structure of the at least one bone. 
     
     
         49 . The computer system of  claim 44 , wherein the anatomic axis is an anterior/posterior axis or a medial/lateral axis of the at least one bone.