Shoulder guides

Abstract

The application provides patient-specific surgical guides for positioning onto a glenoid of a patient, comprising two or more patient-specific positioning elements, each comprising a patient-specific surface which conforms with at least part of one or more features of the bone on or around the glenoid, and wherein the combination of these patient-specific positioning elements ensures a secure fit of the device when positioned onto the bone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A patient-specific surgical guide for positioning onto a glenoid of a patient, comprising:
 a support structure;   a guiding element; and   at least two patient-specific positioning elements linked to or forming an integral part of the support structure, each comprising a patient-specific surface which conforms with at least part of at least one feature of the bone on or around the glenoid, at least one of the patient-specific surfaces conforming with a part of the bone other than the glenoid, and wherein a combination of the two or more patient-specific positioning elements ensures a restriction of movement of the patient-specific surgical guide in a translational direction when positioned onto the bone.   
     
     
         2 . The patient-specific surgical device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one feature of the bone on or around the glenoid include at least one of the glenoid neck, the coracoid process, the glenoid surface, and the glenoid rim. 
     
     
         3 . The patient-specific surgical device of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure includes a patient-specific surface which conforms with at least part of the glenoid surface and at least part of the glenoid rim. 
     
     
         4 . The patient-specific surgical device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two patient-specific positioning elements comprise three patient-specific positioning elements, and wherein the three patient-specific positioning elements include an anterior glenoid neck support, an inferior coracoid base support, and a support at the anterior and posterior of at least one of the glenoid surface and glenoid rim. 
     
     
         5 . The patient-specific surgical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a visual aid matching a contour of the glenoid. 
     
     
         6 . The patient-specific surgical device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one dedicated functional feature, wherein the at least one dedicated functional feature includes at least one of a wire, a pin, a screw, and a drill. 
     
     
         7 . The patient-specific surgical device of  claim 1 , wherein the guiding element comprises a drill cylinder. 
     
     
         8 . The patient-specific surgical device of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a handle bar. 
     
     
         9 . The patient-specific surgical device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two patient-specific positioning elements are reversibly connected to the support structure. 
     
     
         10 . The patient-specific surgical device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two patient-specific positioning elements comprises a hinge. 
     
     
         11 . The patient-specific surgical device of  claim 1 , wherein the patient-specific surgical device is manufactured at least in part via additive manufacturing. 
     
     
         12 . A method for providing a patient-specific surgical guide configured for positioning onto a glenoid of a patient, comprising:
 identifying and selecting, based on volume information of the glenoid from a patient, features of the bone on or surrounding the glenoid which are configured for fitting patient-specific positioning elements; and   designing, based on the an installation direction of the surgical device and the volume information, a surgical device, comprising:
 a support structure; 
 a guiding element; and 
 at least two patient-specific positioning elements linked to or forming an integral part of the support structure, each comprising a patient-specific surface which conforms with at least part of at least one of the features of the bone on or around the glenoid, such that the combination of the at least two patient-specific positioning elements ensures a secure fit of the device when positioned onto the bone.