Patient-Adapted and Improved Orthopedic Implants, Designs and Related Tools

Abstract

Methods and devices are disclosed relating improved articular models, implant components, and related guide tools and procedures. In addition, methods and devices are disclosed relating articular models, implant components, and/or related guide tools and procedures that include one or more features derived from patient-data, for example, images of the patient's joint. The data can be used to create a model for analyzing a patient's joint and to devise and evaluate a course of corrective action. The data also can be used to create patient-adapted implant components and related tools and procedures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tibial implant for repairing a knee joint of a patient, comprising:
 a tibial tray for placement on a prepared proximal surface of a tibia of the knee joint of the patient, and   an insert having a bottom surface for engaging the tibial tray and an articular surface generally opposite the bottom surface, wherein the articular surface has a shape derived from electronic image data of the knee joint of the patient and, includes a medial portion and a lateral portion, wherein the medial portion and the lateral portion have different shapes, wherein a medial thickness extending in a generally perpendicular direction between the bottom surface and the medial portion is different from a lateral thickness extending in a generally perpendicular direction between the bottom surface and the lateral portion;   wherein the tibial implant is configured to avoid interference with a ligament associated with the knee joint of the patient.