Operatively tuning implants for increased performance

Abstract

A method for preoperatively characterizing an individual patient's biomechanic function in preparation of implanting a prosthesis is provided. The method includes subjecting a patient to various activities, recording relative positions of anatomy during said various activities, measuring force environments responsive to said patient's anatomy and affected area during said various activities, characterizing the patient's biomechanic function from said relative positions and corresponding force environments, inputting the measured force environments, relative positions of knee anatomy, and patient's biomechanic function characterization into one or more computer simulation models, inputting a computer model of the prosthesis into said one or more computer simulation models, and manipulating the placement of the prosthesis in the computer simulation using said patient's biomechanic function characterization and said computer model of the prosthesis to approximate a preferred biomechanical fit of the prosthesis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A process for preoperatively selecting an implant optimized to a particular patient's biomechanical characterization, comprising:
 a. obtaining image data of a patient;   b. deriving at least one dimension from the image data, wherein the at least one dimension includes at least one of anatomic landmark data and soft tissue attachment data;   c. inputting the at least one dimension into a computing device, wherein the computing device is configured to access a database containing a correlation of anatomic data, biomechanical function and implant designs; and   d. using the database to calculate at least one of implant size, implant position, and suggestions for ligamentous releases.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the step of automatically identify at least one landmark. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the step of determining the mechanical axis. 
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 21 , wherein the method further includes the step of calculating at least one cutting plane for a patient's bone. 
     
     
         25 . A method for preoperatively selecting an implant optimized for a particular patient, the method comprising:
 a. receiving image data of a patient;   b. deriving at least one dimension from the image data, wherein the at least one dimension includes at least one of bone morphology data and soft tissue attachment data;   c. inputting the at least one dimension into a computing device, wherein the computing device is configured to access a database containing relationships between anatomic data, biomechanical function and implant designs; and   d. using the database to calculate at least one of implant size, implant position, implant configuration, and options for ligamentous releases.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of automatically identify at least one landmark. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of determining the mechanical axis. 
     
     
         28 . The process of  claim 25 , wherein the method further includes the step of calculating cutting planes for a patient's bone.