Knee instruments and methods

Abstract

An Achilles tendon alignment system may include an Achilles tendon referencing feature and a target fixed in a target position relative to the Achilles tendon referencing feature. When the Achilles tendon referencing feature references an Achilles tendon of a patient, the target may be aligned with a mechanical axis of a tibia of the patient in the vicinity of an ankle joint of the patient in an anterior view. Another Achilles tendon alignment system may include an Achilles receiver and a target configured to couple with the Achilles receiver. The Achilles receiver may include a notch configured to receive an Achilles tendon of a patient. When the Achilles receiver is coupled with the target, the target is located at a target position anterior to the notch.

1 . An Achilles tendon alignment system comprising:
 a foot holder sub-assembly comprising a foot receiver;   a target sub-assembly configured to couple with the foot receiver, wherein the target sub-assembly comprises a target; and   an Achilles tendon alignment guide sub-assembly, comprising a base configured to couple with the foot receiver, and an Achilles receiver configured to couple with the base, the Achilles receiver comprising a notch configured to receive an Achilles tendon of a patient,   wherein when the base is coupled with the foot receiver, the Achilles receiver is coupled with the base, and the target sub-assembly is coupled with the foot receiver,   the target is located at a target position that is in line with the notch along an anterior-posterior direction, and aligned with a mechanical axis of a tibia of the patient in an anterior view.   
     
     
         2 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein the target is configured to couple with a tibial extension rod to align the tibial extension rod with the mechanical axis of the tibia. 
     
     
         3 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 2 , wherein the tibial extension rod comprises a target-engaging finial configured to couple with the target to align the tibial extension rod with the mechanical axis of the tibia. 
     
     
         4 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein the target is movable and lockable relative to the Achilles receiver to locate the target at the target position. 
     
     
         5 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bridge sub-assembly comprising:   a bar configured to couple with the foot receiver; and   a bridge configured to couple with the bar, wherein the target sub-assembly is configured to couple with the bridge.   
     
     
         6 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the target comprises a slide comprising a first T-rail, and a cup, wherein the cup is configured to couple with the slide; and   the target sub-assembly further comprises:   a dovetail lock comprising:   a threaded shaft configured to be received within a threaded hole of a thumbscrew; and   a first T-slot configured to slidably receive the first T-rail of the slide; and   a target mounting block comprising:   a second T-slot configured to slidably receive the first T-rail of the slide; and   a second T-rail configured to be slidably received within a slot formed in the bridge,   wherein:   the slide is configured to translate along an anterior-posterior direction by sliding the first T-rail relative to the first T-slot and the second T-slot; and   the slide is configured to translate along a medial-lateral direction by sliding the second T-rail relative to the slot formed in the bridge.   
     
     
         7 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein the foot receiver comprises a window formed in a distal portion of the foot receiver and extending through the foot receiver along an anterior-posterior direction. 
     
     
         8 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 7 , wherein the Achilles receiver is configured to movably couple with the base and move between an anterior state and a posterior state,
 wherein:   in the anterior state, the Achilles receiver protrudes anteriorly through the window, and   in the posterior state, the Achilles receiver is retracted posteriorly relative to the anterior state.   
     
     
         9 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the Achilles tendon alignment guide sub-assembly further comprises a thumbscrew configured to rotatably engage the Achilles receiver; and   the Achilles receiver further comprises:   a first arm;   a second arm opposite the first arm, wherein the notch is formed between the first arm and the second arm;   a first slot formed in the first arm along a superior-inferior direction and elongated along an anterior-posterior direction, the first slot configured to receive a first pin coupled with the base; and   a second slot formed in the second arm along a superior-inferior direction and elongated along an anterior-posterior direction, the second slot configured to receive a second pin coupled with the base,   wherein, when the first pin is coupled with the base and received in the first slot, and the second pin is coupled with the base and received in the second slot:   rotating the thumbscrew in a first direction translates the Achilles receiver toward the anterior state, wherein in the anterior state, the first and second pins are located in posterior portions of the first and second slots, respectively, and   rotating the thumbscrew in a second direction translates the Achilles receiver toward the posterior state, wherein in the posterior state, the first and second pins are located in anterior portions of the first and second slots, respectively.   
     
     
         10 . An Achilles tendon alignment system comprising:
 a foot receiver;   a bridge configured to couple with the foot receiver;   a target configured to couple with the bridge; and   an Achilles receiver configured to couple with the foot receiver, the Achilles receiver comprising a notch configured to receive an Achilles tendon of a patient,   wherein:   when the bridge is coupled with the foot receiver, the target is coupled to the bridge, and the Achilles receiver is coupled with the foot receiver,   the target is located at a target position that is in line with the notch along an anterior-posterior direction, and aligned with a mechanical axis of a tibia of the patient in an anterior view.   
     
     
         11 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 10 , wherein the target is configured to couple with a tibial extension rod to align the tibial extension rod with the mechanical axis of the tibia. 
     
     
         12 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 11 , wherein the tibial extension rod comprises a target-engaging finial configured to couple with the target to align the tibial extension rod with the mechanical axis of the tibia. 
     
     
         13 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 10 , wherein the target is movable and lockable relative to the Achilles receiver to locate the target at the target position. 
     
     
         14 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a bar configured to couple with the foot receiver, wherein the bridge is configured to couple with the bar; and   a base configured to couple with the foot receiver, wherein the Achilles receiver is configured to couple with the base.   
     
     
         15 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 10 , wherein the foot receiver comprises a window formed in a distal portion of the foot receiver and extending through the foot receiver along an anterior-posterior direction. 
     
     
         16 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 15 , wherein the Achilles receiver is configured to movably couple with the foot receiver and move between an anterior state and a posterior state,
 wherein:   in the anterior state, the Achilles receiver protrudes anteriorly through the window, and   in the posterior state, the Achilles receiver is retracted posteriorly relative to the anterior state.   
     
     
         17 . An Achilles tendon alignment system comprising:
 a target; and   an Achilles receiver configured to couple with the target, the Achilles receiver comprising a notch configured to receive an Achilles tendon of a patient,   wherein, when the Achilles receiver is coupled with the target, the target is located at a target position anterior to the notch.   
     
     
         18 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the target is located at a target position that is in line with the notch along an anterior-posterior direction and aligned with a mechanical axis of a tibia of the patient in an anterior view; and   the target is configured to couple with a tibial extension rod to align the tibial extension rod with the mechanical axis of the tibia.   
     
     
         19 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 18 , wherein the tibial extension rod comprises a target-engaging finial configured to couple with the target to align the tibial extension rod with the mechanical axis of the tibia. 
     
     
         20 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 17 , wherein the target is movable and lockable relative to the Achilles receiver to locate the target at the target position. 
     
     
         21 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a foot receiver;   a base configured to couple with the foot receiver, wherein the Achilles receiver is configured to couple with the base;   a bar configured to couple with the foot receiver; and   a bridge configured to couple with the bar, wherein the target is configured to couple with the bridge.   
     
     
         22 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 21 , wherein the foot receiver comprises a window formed in a distal portion of the foot receiver and extending through the foot receiver along an anterior-posterior direction. 
     
     
         23 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 22 , wherein the Achilles receiver is configured to move relative to the foot receiver between an anterior state and a posterior state,
 wherein:   in the anterior state, the Achilles receiver protrudes anteriorly through the window, and   in the posterior state, the Achilles receiver is retracted posteriorly relative to the anterior state.   
     
     
         24 . An Achilles tendon alignment system comprising:
 an Achilles tendon referencing feature; and   a target fixed in a target position relative to the Achilles tendon referencing feature,   wherein, when the Achilles tendon referencing feature references an Achilles tendon of a patient, the target is aligned with a mechanical axis of a tibia of the patient in the vicinity of an ankle joint of the patient in an anterior view.   
     
     
         25 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 24 , wherein the Achilles tendon referencing feature comprises a notch of an Achilles receiver, wherein the notch is sized and shaped to receive the Achilles tendon of the patient. 
     
     
         26 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 25 , wherein the target position is in line with the notch along an anterior-posterior direction. 
     
     
         27 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 26 , wherein the target is configured to couple with a tibial extension rod to align the tibial extension rod with the mechanical axis of the tibia. 
     
     
         28 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 27 , wherein the tibial extension rod comprises a target-engaging finial configured to couple with the target to align the tibial extension rod with the mechanical axis of the tibia. 
     
     
         29 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 26 , wherein the target is movable and lockable relative to the Achilles receiver to locate the target at the target position and fix the target at the target position. 
     
     
         30 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 a foot receiver;   a base configured to couple with the foot receiver, wherein the Achilles receiver is configured to couple with the base;   a bar configured to couple with the foot receiver; and   a bridge configured to couple with the bar, wherein the target is configured to couple with the bridge.   
     
     
         31 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 30 , wherein the foot receiver comprises a window formed in a distal portion of the foot receiver and extending through the foot receiver along an anterior-posterior direction. 
     
     
         32 . The Achilles tendon alignment system of  claim 31 , wherein the Achilles receiver is configured to move relative to the foot receiver between an anterior state and a posterior state,
 wherein:   in the anterior state, the Achilles receiver protrudes anteriorly through the window, and   in the posterior state, the Achilles receiver is retracted posteriorly relative to the anterior state.