Patient-specific acetabular guides and associated instruments

Abstract

A patient-specific acetabular guide can be used for preparing an acetabulum of a patient to receive an acetabular implant. The acetabular guide includes a patient-specific engagement surface designed to be complementary and mateable with a corresponding surface of the patient's pelvic anatomy. The acetabular guide is designed during a pre-operative plan for the patient by a three-dimensional reconstruction of the anatomy of the patient using two-dimensional medical images. The patient-specific engagement surface has a first portion mateable with a portion of the acetabulum of the patient. The acetabular guide includes a guiding element that extends from the acetabular guide opposite to the first portion of engagement surface. The guiding element defines a bore designed to be oriented along an alignment axis for an acetabular implant when the acetabular guide is engaged to the acetabulum.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for reaming and preparing an acetabulum of a patient for an acetabular implant, the method comprising:
 engaging an acetabular area of the patient with a complementary surface of a patient-specific acetabular guide;   supporting an alignment rod on a support device attached to the patient's pelvis;   orienting the alignment rod to be parallel to an alignment axis for inserting the acetabular implant, the alignment axis determined during a preoperative plan of the patient and coinciding with a center axis of a guiding element of the acetabular guide;   drilling a pilot hole in the acetabulum through a bore of the guiding element along the center axis;   removing the acetabular guide;   guiding an alignment pin of a reamer in the pilot hole such that the alignment pin is parallel to the alignment rod; and   reaming the acetabulum.