Acquiring and Utilizing Kinematic Information for Patient-Adapted Implants, Tools and Surgical Procedures

Abstract

Various embodiments of methods for obtaining kinematic information regarding a joint, including information regarding the joint in a weight-bearing position, are disclosed, as well as methods of designing implants, instruments, and surgical repair systems based on the kinematic information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of designing an implant component for replacing or repairing a knee joint of a patient, comprising:
 obtaining an anatomical model related to the knee joint, wherein the anatomical model is a patient-specific model obtained with electronic image data of the knee joint of the patient, or a normalized model based on a database of knee joint measurements or models;   obtaining real-time image data of the knee joint during flexion and/or extension movements;   collecting muscle data regarding muscle activity of one or more muscles associated with the knee joint during the flexion and/or extension movements;   obtaining at least one patient-specific kinematic parameter using the real-time image data and/or the muscle data, and   modifying the anatomical model with the at least one patient-specific kinematic parameter.