Anatomical concentric spheres tha

Abstract

Devices and methods for identifying and maintaining the concentric spherical centers of a femur and acetabulum during revision or joint replacement surgery so that post surgery the anatomical spherical centers are maintained. Also disclosed are novel techniques and devices to project images onto an anatomical feature, such as exposed bone, to virtually fit trial prosthetic components, establish bone cut markings, and establishing the anatomical spherical center of a joint.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A guide for establishing the spherical center of a femoral ball, the guide comprising:
 a plurality of plates repositionable with respect to one another to overly and collectively approximate to the circumferential curvature of a distal femoral head, wherein the plurality of plates are operative to retain this approximation of circumferential curvature after being dismounted from the distal femoral head.   
     
     
         10 . The guide of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plurality of plates is deformable. 
     
     
         11 . The guide of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of plates are interconnected with one another using at least one pin extending through orifices of the plurality of plates. 
     
     
         12 . The guide of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of plates comprise overlapping flights that fan out to circumscribe the distal femoral head. 
     
     
         13 . A guide set for use in a total arthroplasty procedure, the guide set comprising:
 a plurality of guides adapted to interpose a human acetabulum and a human proximal femur, each of the guides including an acetabular cup mounted to a partial femoral component, the partial femoral component including an endplate adapted to contact at least one of an exterior of the human proximal femur and a portion of the human proximal femur not exposed prior to a bone cut.   
     
     
         14 . The guide set of  claim 13 , wherein at least two of the plurality of guides each allows the partial femoral component to be repositioned with respect to the acetabular cup mounted thereto. 
     
     
         15 . The guide set of  claim 13 , wherein at least two of the plurality of guides each does not allow the partial femoral component to be repositioned with respect to the acetabular cup mounted thereto. 
     
     
         16 . The guide set of  claim 13 , wherein at least two of the plurality of guides each includes an endplate having a non-uniform thickness from medial to lateral. 
     
     
         17 . The guide set of  claim 13 , wherein at least two of the plurality of guides each includes an endplate having a non-uniform thickness from anterior to posterior. 
     
     
         18 . The guide set of  claim 13 , wherein at least two of the plurality of guides each includes an acetabular component having a plurality of tabs at least partially defining an orifice. 
     
     
         19 . The guide set of  claim 13 , wherein at least two of the plurality of guides each includes an endplate at least partially defining a plurality of orifices. 
     
     
         20 . The guide set of  claim 13 , wherein:
 at least two of the plurality of guides each includes a femoral ball as part of the partial femoral component;   each femoral ball is mounted to a respective endplate; and,   each respective endplate is contoured to approximate the exterior of the human proximal femur.   
     
     
         21 . The guide set of  claim 13 , wherein:
 at least two of the plurality of guides each includes a femoral ball as part of the partial femoral component;   each femoral ball is mounted to a respective endplate; and,   each respective endplate is free to rotate in four directions.   
     
     
         22 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The guide set of  claim 13 , wherein the endplate mimics an angle of an anatomical neck of the human proximal femur. 
     
     
         26 . The guide set of  claim 13 , wherein the endplates include differing tapers to determine a preferred shape of the femoral component. 
     
     
         27 - 80 . (canceled) 
     
     
         81 . A hip joint system comprising:
 a hip joint trial system comprising (i) a plurality of trial acetabular components configured to be selectively coupled to a patient's acetabulum, (ii) a plurality of trial femoral balls configured to be selectively inserted in the plurality of trial acetabular components, (iii) a plurality of trial endplates configured to be selectively coupled to the patient's proximal femur, and (iv) a plurality of trial necks, each trial neck being configured to be selectively coupled between a trial femoral ball and a trial endplate, and   a femoral component configured to be inserted into the intramedullary canal of the patient's femur, the femoral component including an endplate component configured to be positioned on a proximal surface of the patient's femur,   wherein each of the plurality of trial acetabular components includes a plurality of tabs that extend radially outward from an exterior surface of the trial acetabular component, each of the plurality of tabs including an aperture that extends through the tab and is configured to receive a pin to secure the corresponding trial acetabular component to the patient's acetabulum,   wherein a plurality of apertures extend through each trial endplate, each aperture being configured to guide a fixation pin into the patient's femur, and   wherein the endplate component of the femoral component includes a plurality of through-holes, each of the through-holes being located at a position corresponding to a position of a corresponding aperture of a corresponding trial endplate, each of the through-holes being configured to receive one of the fixation pins to secure the endplate component to the patient's femur.