Methods of predetermining the contour of a resected bone surface and assessing the fit of a prosthesis on the bone

Abstract

Methods for predetermining a contour of a resected bone surface and assessing a fit of a prosthesis on the resected bone surface, for designing prostheses to fit discrete patient populations, and for designing customized prostheses.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system for virtually assessing the fit of a prosthesis for placement on a resected bone surface, the system comprising:
 a computer including at least one processor and a memory device, the memory device including instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer to:
 create a two-dimensional outline of the resected bone surface; 
 create a plurality of two-dimensional outlines of a plurality of prostheses, each one of the two-dimensional outlines corresponding to one of the plurality of prostheses, each one of two-dimensional outlines derived from a contour of a bone engaging surface of the one of the plurality of prostheses; 
 compare the two-dimensional outline of the resected bone surface with each two-dimensional outline of each the plurality of prostheses; and 
 determine which one of the two-dimensional outlines of the plurality of prostheses comprises an acceptable match for the two-dimensional outline of the resected bone surface. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processor identifies a vertex between a first planar surface of the resected bone surface and a second planar surface of the resected bone surface based on a three-dimensional contour of the resected bone surface, and wherein the computer is configured to manipulate the first planar surface to be coplanar with the second planar surface and to outline a perimeter of the first planar surface and the second planar surface to define the two-dimensional outline of the resected bone surface. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the computer is configured to repeat identifying and manipulating for each resected bone surface. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processor identifies a vertex between a first planar surface of the one of the plurality of prostheses and a second planar surface of the one of the plurality of prostheses based on a three-dimensional contour of the one of the plurality of prostheses, and wherein the computer is configured to manipulate the first planar surface to be coplanar with the second planar surface and to outline a perimeter of tile first planar surface and the second planar surface to define a two-dimensional outline of the one of the plurality of prostheses. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the computer is configured to repeat identifying and manipulating for each planar surface of the one of the plurality of prostheses. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein to compare the two-dimensional outline of the resected bone surface with each two-dimensional outline of each the plurality of prostheses the computer superimposes the two-dimensional outline of the resected bone surface on each two-dimensional outlines of the plurality of prostheses. 
     
     
         8 . A method of virtually assessing the fit of a prosthesis for implantation in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
 resecting a virtual three-dimensional contour of a bone surface generated based on images of a joint of tile patient to obtain a virtual two-dimensional outline of a resected bone surface for the patient, the resecting including:
 creating one or more planar surfaces by flattening the virtual three-dimensional contour, and 
 identifying a perimeter of the one or more planar surfaces; 
   referencing a profile of a first prosthesis to create a virtual two-dimensional outline of the first prosthesis; and   visually displaying the virtual two-dimensional outline of the resected bone surface with the virtual two-dimensional outline of the first prosthesis to allow for assessment of a fit of the first prosthesis with the resected bone surface.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein resecting includes:
 identifying a vertex between a first planar surface of the resected bone surface and a second planar surface of the resected bone surface,   manipulating the first planar surface to be coplanar with the second planar surface, and   outlining a perimeter of the first planar surface and the second planar surface to define the two-dimensional outline of the resected bone surface.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the resected bone surface is defined by a plurality of intersecting cut planes, wherein the virtual two-dimensional outline of the resected bone surface includes the step of outlining the plurality of intersecting cut planes to obtain a three-dimensional profile of the resected bone surface, the two-dimensional outline of the resected bone surface being based on the virtual three-dimensional contour of the bone surface. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein referencing a profile of the first prosthesis to create a virtual two-dimensional outline of the first prosthesis includes:
 identifying a vertex between a first planar surface of the first prosthesis and a second planar surface of the first prosthesis based on a three-dimensional contour of the one of the plurality of prostheses; and   wherein the computer is configured to manipulate the first planar surface to be coplanar with the second planar surface and to outline a perimeter of the first planar surface and the second planar surface to create the virtual two-dimensional outline of the first prosthesis.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , visually displaying includes superimposing the two-dimensional outline of the resected bone surface on the virtual two-dimensional outline of the first prosthesis. 
     
     
         13 . A method of virtually assessing the fit of a prosthesis for implantation in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
 imaging a bone surface of a patient to obtain a virtual three-dimensional contour of the bone surface;   obtaining a virtual two-dimensional outline of a resected bone surface for the patient, the obtaining including using a computer to flatten the virtual three dimensional contour to create one or more planar surfaces, and identify a perimeter of the one or more planar surfaces;   obtaining a virtual two-dimensional outline of a first prosthesis from a profile of the first prosthesis, the profile identified virtually and based on a three-dimensional contour of a surface of the first prosthesis; and   comparing the virtual two-dimensional outline of the resected bone surface with the virtual two-dimensional outline of the first prosthesis to access a fit of the first prosthesis with the resected bone surface.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein obtaining the virtual two-dimensional outline of a resected bone surface for the patient includes:
 identifying a vertex between a first planar surface of the resected bone surface and a second planar surface of the resected bone surface;   manipulating the first planar surface to be coplanar with the second planar surface; and   outlining a perimeter of the first planar surface and the second planar surface to define the two-dimensional outline of the resected bone surface.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the resected bone surface is defined by a plurality of intersecting cut planes, wherein the virtual two-dimensional outline of the resected bone surface includes the step of outlining the plurality of intersecting cut planes to obtain a three-dimensional profile of the resected bone surface, the two-dimensional outline of the resected bone surface being based on the virtual three-dimensional contour of the bone surface. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein obtaining the virtual two-dimensional outline of the first prosthesis from the profile of the first prosthesis includes:
 identifying a vertex between a first planar surface of the first prosthesis and a second planar surface of the first prosthesis based on a three-dimensional contour of the one of the plurality of prostheses; and   wherein the computer is configured to manipulate the first planar surface to be coplanar with the second planar surface and to outline a perimeter of the first planar surface and the second planar surface to create the virtual two-dimensional outline of the first prosthesis.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein comparing the virtual two-dimensional outline of the resected bone surface with the virtual two-dimensional outline of the first prosthesis includes superimposing the virtual two-dimensional outline of the resected bone surface on the virtual two-dimensional outline of the first prosthesis.