Multi-point fit for patient specific guide

Abstract

A bone preparation system including a guide body and a plurality of bone locators. The guide body is configured to mate with a patient-specific module having a patient-specific module surface customized based on image data of a specific patient to correspond to the patient's specific bone geometry. The plurality of bone locators are coupled to the guide body and positioned by the patient-specific module surface to define a patient-specific bone engaging surface of the guide corresponding to the patient's specific bone geometry.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bone preparation system comprising:
 a guide body configured to mate with a patient-specific module having a patient-specific module surface customized based on image data of a specific patient to correspond to the patient's specific bone geometry; and   a plurality of bone locators coupled to the guide body and positioned by the patient-specific module surface to define a patient-specific bone engaging surface of the guide corresponding to the patient's specific bone geometry.   
     
     
         2 . The bone preparation system of  claim 1 , wherein the guide body defines a compartment configured to receive the patient-specific module therein, the patient-specific module is a patient-specific insert. 
     
     
         3 . The bone preparation system of  claim 1 , wherein the bone locators include a plurality of pins movable in response to direct contact with the patient-specific module surface. 
     
     
         4 . The bone preparation system of  claim 1 , wherein the patient-specific bone engaging surface is defined by distal tips of the plurality of bone locators. 
     
     
         5 . The bone preparation system of  claim 1 , further comprising the patient-specific module, the patient-specific module surface of the patient-specific module includes a three-dimensional surface. 
     
     
         6 . The bone preparation system of  claim 1 , wherein the guide body defines a guide surface configured to receive a cutting instrument and direct the cutting instrument to the patient's bone. 
     
     
         7 . The bone preparation system of  claim 1 , wherein the guide body defines a plurality of guide bores configured to direct guides to the patient's bone at a location and orientation specific to the patient's bone geometry. 
     
     
         8 . A system for preparing a specific patient's bone with a bone preparation guide, the system comprising:
 a guide body including a plurality of bone locators movable into and out of the guide body; and   a patient-specific insert configured to be received by the guide body, the patient-specific insert including a patient-specific insert surface customized based on image data of a specific patient to correspond to the patient's specific bone geometry;   wherein cooperation between the patient-specific insert and the guide body positions the bone locators to define a patient-specific bone engaging surface at distal tips of the plurality of bone locators, the patient-specific bone engaging surface corresponding to the patient's specific bone geometry.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the guide body defines a receptacle for receipt of the insert therein, cooperation between the patient-specific insert surface and the bone locators positions the bone locators to define the patient-specific bone engaging surface. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the bone locators are slidable pins. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the patient-specific insert surface includes a three-dimensional bone mating surface. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the guide body defines a cutting slot configured to direct a cutting instrument to the bone. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the guide body defines a plurality of guide bores configured to direct guides to the patient's bone at a location and orientation specific to the patient's bone geometry. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the patient-specific bone engaging surface can be modified to correspond to different bone surfaces of different patients. 
     
     
         15 . A method of customizing a bone preparation guide to correspond to a specific bone geometry of each one of a plurality of different patients, the method comprising:
 analyzing a first patient's specific bone geometry;   developing a first pre-operative plan based on the first patient's specific bone geometry, a first patient-specific surface of a first patient-specific guide insert is designed based on the first pre-operative plan;   coupling the first patient-specific guide insert to a guide body, the guide body including a plurality of bone locators connected thereto that are configured to be positioned by the first patient-specific surface of the guide insert to define a first patient-specific bone engaging surface of the guide corresponding to the first patient's specific bone geometry;   positioning the guide body against the first patient's bone at a predetermined location corresponding to the first patient-specific bone engaging surface defined by the plurality of bone locators as positioned by the first guide insert; and   guiding at least one of a first cutting instrument or a first guide to the first patient's bone using the guide.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 analyzing a second patient's specific bone geometry;   developing a second pre-operative plan based on the second patient's specific bone geometry, a second patient-specific surface of a second patient-specific guide insert is designed based on the second pre-operative plan;   coupling the second patient-specific guide insert to the guide body, the guide body including a plurality of bone locators connected thereto that are configured to be positioned by the second patient-specific surface of the guide insert to define a second patient-specific bone engaging surface of the guide corresponding to the second patient's specific bone geometry;   positioning the guide body against the second patient's bone at a predetermined location corresponding to the second patient-specific bone engaging surface defined by the plurality of bone locators as positioned by the second guide insert; and   guiding at least one of a second cutting instrument or a second guide to the second patient's bone using the guide.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising guiding at least one of the first cutting instrument or the first guide through bores defined in the first patient-specific guide insert. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising coupling the first patient-specific guide insert to the guide body by inserting the first patient-specific guide insert into a compartment defined by the guide body. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising coupling a second patient-specific guide insert to the guide body after the first patient-specific guide insert has been removed, the second patient-specific surface of the second patient-specific guide is based on a second patient's specific bone geometry. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising moving the bone locators into contact with the first patient-specific surface of the first patient-specific guide insert by placing the bone locators into contact with the first patient's bone.