Patient-specific orthopedic instruments

Abstract

A method of preparing a distal femur for a knee joint implant includes mounting a patient-specific bone engagement surface of a femoral alignment guide on a complementary surface of a distal femur of a patient. A plurality of alignment pins is inserted through a corresponding plurality of guiding bores of the femoral alignment guide into the distal femur. A cutting guide is mounted on first and second alignment pins of the plurality of alignment pins, and a first resection of the distal femur is made using the cutting guide while cutting through the femoral alignment guide.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An orthopedic system comprising:
 a patient-specific alignment guide operable for preparing a bone of a patient during joint arthroplasty, the alignment guide including a patient-specific bone engagement surface configured to be complementary to a surface of the bone of the patient, the alignment guide including a plurality of guiding bores;   a plurality of alignment pins receivable through corresponding guiding bores for attaching the alignment guide to the bone, wherein the alignment pins are configured to be cut off during a first resection of the bone; and   a cutting block mountable to a portion of the one or more of the plurality of alignment pins that remain in the bone after being cut off, the cutting block configured to guide a second resection of the bone.   
     
     
         22 . The orthopedic system of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of alignment pins are cannulated and configured to receive mounting projections of the cutting block therein to mount the cutting block into a desired position relative to the bone. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first resection is to a distal portion of the bone, and wherein the second resection is to an anterior portion of the bone. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the alignment pins are configured to be cut off during both the first resection of the bone and the second resection of the bone. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the patient-specific alignment guide is configured with a slot to facilitate the first resection. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of alignment pins are resorbable. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the patient-specific alignment guide comprises a tibial alignment guide and the bone comprises a tibia, the tibial alignment guide including:
 a first portion engageable with a proximal surface of the tibia, the first portion defining a first and a second of the corresponding guiding bores and an opening between the first and the second of the corresponding guiding bores; and   a second portion engageable with an anterior surface of the tibia, the second portion defining a third and a fourth of the corresponding guiding bores.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of guiding bores includes a pair of oblique guiding bores oriented at an oblique angle relative to a surface of a distal femur. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the patient-specific alignment guide comprises a femoral alignment guide and the bone comprises a femur, the femoral alignment guide including:
 a first portion engageable with a distal surface of a femur, the first portion defining a first and a second of the corresponding guiding bores; and   a second portion engageable with an anterior surface of the femur, the second portion defining a third and a fourth of the corresponding guiding bores.   
     
     
         30 . An orthopedic system comprising:
 an alignment guide operable for preparing a bone of a patient during joint arthroplasty, the alignment guide including a plurality of guiding bores;   a plurality of alignment pins receivable through corresponding guiding bores for attaching the alignment guide to the bone, wherein the alignment pins are configured to be cut off during a first resection of the bone; and   a cutting block mountable to a portion of the one or more of the plurality of alignment pins that remain in the bone after being cut off.   
     
     
         31 . The orthopedic system of  claim 30 , wherein the plurality of alignment pins are cannulated and configured to receive mounting projections of the cutting block therein to mount the cutting block into a desired position relative to the bone. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the alignment guide includes a slot to facilitate a first resection to a distal portion of the bone, and wherein the cutting block includes a slot to facilitate a second resection to an anterior portion of the bone. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the alignment pins are configured to be cut off during both the first resection of the bone and the second resection of the bone. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the plurality of alignment pins are resorbable. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the alignment guide comprises a patient-specific guide having a patient-specific bone engagement surface configured to be complementary to a surface of the bone of the patient. 
     
     
         36 . An orthopedic system comprising:
 an alignment guide operable for preparing a bone of a patient during joint arthroplasty, the alignment guide including a plurality of guiding bores;   a plurality of alignment pins receivable through corresponding guiding bores for attaching the alignment guide to the bone, wherein the alignment pins are cannulated and configured to be cut off during a first resection of the bone; and   a cutting block mountable to a portion of the one or more of the plurality of alignment pins that remain in the bone after being cut off.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the alignment guide includes a slot to facilitate a first resection to a distal portion of the bone, and wherein the cutting block includes a slot to facilitate a second resection to an anterior portion of the bone. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the alignment pins are configured to be cut off during both the first resection of the bone and the second resection of the bone. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the alignment guide comprises a patient-specific guide having a patient-specific bone engagement surface configured to be complementary to a surface of the bone of the patient. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the plurality of guiding bores includes a pair of oblique guiding bores oriented at an oblique angle relative to a surface of a distal femur.