Reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligaments

Abstract

Apparatus for locating an attachment position for a reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament on an attachment surface of a bone comprises locating means 51, 61 arranged to locate at least one reference surface 4 of the bone and guide means 53, 54 arranged to define the attachment position in two dimensions on the attachment surface relative to the reference surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 instructing, by a navigation system, movement of a tip of a probe to a plurality of points on a bone to which a reconstructed ACL is to be attached;   monitoring, by the navigation system, a plurality of positions associated with the plurality of points to which the tip of the probe is moved;   building, by the navigation system, a model of the surface of the bone based on the plurality of positions; and   instructing, by the navigation system, movement of a drilling guide to a position for an ACL attachment based on the model of the surface of the bone.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising, prior to instructing movement of the drilling guide, selecting, by the navigation system, the position for the ACL attachment. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2  wherein selecting the position for ACL attachment further comprises selecting based on data stored in the navigation system regarding positions of ACL attachment of multiple bone samples. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein instructing movement of the tip of the probe further comprises conveying instructions by way of an instruction conveying device. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4  wherein the instruction conveying device further comprises a video display. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein instructing movement of the tip of the probe further comprises instructing movement of the tip of the probe to the plurality of points that are identifiable points on the bone. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein instructing movement of the tip of the probe further comprises instructing movement of the tip of the probe over a surface of the bone. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein instructing movement of the tip of the probe further comprises instructing movement of the tip of the probe to two or more of the following: one or both spinous processes, interspinous fossa, interspinous ridge, one or both condyles, inter-condylar notch, and transverse ridge. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein monitoring the plurality of positions further comprises tracking a drilling guide locating marker with a locating system of the navigation system. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein building the model of the surface of the bone further comprises selecting a model from data related to bone sizes and shapes of multiple bone samples stored in the navigation system. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein instructing movement of the drilling guide further comprises instructing movement of the drilling guide to an orientation with respect to the bone. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11  wherein instructing movement of the drilling guide further comprises communicating instructions by way of a video display.