Guides with pressure points

Abstract

The application provides methods for providing a surgical guide for placement on an anatomical part wherein the guide is provided with one or more dedicated push features that can be used as pressure points for applying force onto the surgical guide. The application further provides guides comprising one or more push features which can be used as a pressure point for applying force onto said guide.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing a surgical guide with one or more push features to ensure the stability of the surgical guide when placed on the patient, the method comprising:
 determining at least one predefined location on a patient's anatomical part;   designing a surgical guide with at least one contact surface for placement on the at least one predefined location; and   designing at least one push feature on the surgical guide to provide stability to the surgical guide when the at least one contact surface is placed on the at least one predefined location and a force is applied to the at least one push feature.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the push feature is a button, finger-pit, handle or grip. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the push feature is spring-loaded, which is reactive to a predetermined pressure applied thereto. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the surgical guide is provided with two or more push features. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the surgical guide is a patient-specific surgical guide. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising manufacturing the patient-specific guide or part thereof through additive manufacturing. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the push feature provides rotational stability to the surgical guide when the force is applied. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the push feature provides translational stability to the surgical guide when the force is applied. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one contact surface is patient-specific. 
     
     
         10 . A device comprising:
 a surgical guide comprising at least one contact surface for placement on at least one predefined location on a patient's anatomical part; and   at least one push feature fixed to the surgical guide which can be used as a mechanism for applying a force onto the surgical guide to provide stability to the body when the at least one contact surface is placed on the at least one predefined location.   
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one contact surface is patient-specific. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the push feature is a button, finger-pit, handle or grip. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the push feature is spring-loaded, which is reactive to a predetermined pressure applied thereto. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the surgical guide is provided with two or more push features. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the surgical guide is a patient-specific surgical guide. 
     
     
         16 . The patient-specific guide according to  claim 15 , wherein the patient-specific guide or part thereof is manufactured by additive manufacturing. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the push feature is configured to provide rotational stability to the patient-specific guide when the force is applied. 
     
     
         18 . The device guide according to  claim 10 , wherein the push feature is configured to provide translational stability to the patient-specific guide when the force is applied. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 17 , wherein the push feature is disposed on the surgical guide at a position at less than 25° perpendicular to the axis of least-constrained rotational direction of movement of the surgical guide. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein the push feature is disposed on the surgical guide at a position at less than 25° parallel to the axis of least-constrained translational direction of movement of the surgical guide.