Surgical templates

Abstract

A surgical template system for use in working on a bone comprises: a tool guide block comprising at least one guide aperture for receiving and guiding a tool to work on a bone; locating means comprising a plurality of locating members, each member having a respective end surface for positioning against a surface of the bone; and attachment means for non-adjustably attaching the tool guide block to the locating means such that, when attached, the member end surfaces are secured in fixed position with, respect to each other, for engaging different respective portions of the surface of the bone, and the at least one guide aperture is secured in a fixed position with respect to the end surfaces. Corresponding methods of manufacturing a surgical template system, methods of manufacturing locating means for a surgical template system, methods of fitting a prosthesis to a bone, surgical methods, and surgical apparatus are described.

1 . An orienting component for use in an orthopedic surgical template system for preparing a femur to receive a femoral component of a prosthetic knee, the orienting component comprising:
 a polymeric patient-specific locating body having a plurality of polymeric locating members extending therefrom, each locating member having a respective bone-engaging surface that is adapted to conform to a corresponding portion of a predetermined surface of the femur;   the locating body adapted to non-adjustably attach to a non-patient specific saw guide of a material that is harder than the polymeric locating body and having a slot therethrough adapted to receive and guide a saw;   wherein at least one locating member of the plurality of locating members is patient-specific,   wherein each locating member has a bore extending therethrough, and   wherein each locating member is adapted to conform against the corresponding surface of the femur to correspondingly place the metal saw guide in a fixed position relative to the femur.   
     
     
         2 . The orienting component of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of metal sleeves, each sleeve lining a respective bore of each locating member. 
     
     
         3 . The orienting component of  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of pins adapted to extend through the plurality of metal sleeves and into the femur. 
     
     
         4 . The orienting component of  claim 1 , wherein at least two locating members of the plurality of locating members are spaced apart from each other. 
     
     
         5 . The orienting component of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one alignment element adapted for engagement with at least one respective alignment element of the saw guide. 
     
     
         6 . The orienting component of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one alignment element of the orienting component comprises a countersunk hole adapted for alignment with the at least one respective alignment element of a threaded hole in the saw guide, and wherein the at least one countersunk hole is adapted to receive a bolt for screwing into the threaded hole. 
     
     
         7 . The orienting component of  claim 5 , when the at least one alignment element of the orienting component comprises at least one mounting post for alignment with the at least one respective alignment element of a receiving element in the saw guide. 
     
     
         8 . The orienting component of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the locating members of the plurality of locating members is adapted to engage a non-articular surface of the femur. 
     
     
         9 . The orienting component of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the locating members of the plurality of locating members is adapted to engage an articular surface of the femur. 
     
     
         10 . A component for use in an orthopedic surgical template system for preparing a femur to receive a femoral component of a prosthetic knee, the component comprising:
 a plastic locating body having a plurality of plastic locating members extending therefrom, each locating member having a respective bone-engaging surface that is adapted to conform to a corresponding portion of a predetermined surface of the femur;   the locating body adapted to non-adjustably attach to a non-patient specific saw guide of a material that is harder than the plastic locating body and having a slot therethrough adapted to receive and guide a saw;   wherein at least one locating member of the plurality of locating members is patient-specific,   wherein each locating member has a bore extending therethrough, and   wherein each locating member is adapted to conform against the corresponding surface of the femur to correspondingly place the saw guide in a fixed position relative to the femur.   
     
     
         11 . The component of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of metal sleeves, each sleeve lining a respective bore of each plastic locating member. 
     
     
         12 . The component of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of pins adapted to extend through the plurality of metal sleeves and into the femur. 
     
     
         13 . The component of  claim 10 , wherein at least two locating members of the plurality of plastic locating members are spaced apart from each other. 
     
     
         14 . The component of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one alignment element adapted for engagement with at least one respective alignment element of the saw guide. 
     
     
         15 . The component of  claim 14 , when the at least one alignment element of the component comprises a countersunk hole adapted for alignment with the at least one respective alignment element of a threaded hole in the saw guide, and wherein the at least one countersunk hole is adapted to receive a bolt for screwing into the threaded hole. 
     
     
         16 . The component of  claim 14 , when the at least one alignment element of the component comprises at least one mounting post for alignment with the at least one respective alignment element of a receiving element in the saw guide. 
     
     
         17 . The component of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the locating members of the plurality of plastic locating members is adapted to engage a non-articular surface of the femur. 
     
     
         18 . The component of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plastic locating members of the plurality of plastic locating members is adapted to engage an articular surface of the femur.