Systems and Methods for Selecting Artificial Femoral Components

Abstract

A method of determining a size of a femoral component to be implanted in a patient, includes positioning a distal cutting block on a distal end of a patient's femur, the distal cutting block having a first saw blade slot associated therewith. A saw blade is positioned in the first saw blade slot and an axial cut surface is formed on the distal end of the patient's femur. At least a portion of the axial cut surface extends through the medial condyle. A maximum distance of the axial cut surface is measured across the medial condyle. A femoral component is selected based on the maximum distance measured.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of determining a size of a femoral component to be implanted in a patient, comprising:
 positioning a distal cutting block on a distal end of a patient's femur, the distal cutting block having a first saw blade slot associated therewith;   positioning a saw blade in the first saw blade slot and forming an axial cut surface on the distal end of the patient's femur, at least a portion of the axial cut surface extending through the medial condyle; and   measuring a maximum distance of the axial cut surface across the medial condyle;   selecting a femoral component based on the maximum distance measured.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein measuring the maximum distance includes measuring using nominal sizing indicia carried by the saw blade used to form the axial cut surface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the nominal sizing indicia carried by the saw blade increments negatively from an anterior top of concavity of the medial condyle to a posterior top of concavity of the medial condyle, when the saw blade is positioned on the axial cut surface of the patient's femur. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the nominal sizing indicia carried by the saw blade includes incremental indicia correlating to nominal sizes of femoral components. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the nominal sizing indicia is carried on a first side of the saw blade, and further comprising confirming an initial measurement using secondary indicia carried by a second side of the saw blade. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein measuring the maximum distance includes measuring using an image of the axial cut surface. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting a femoral component includes comparing the maximum distance measured to a set of femoral implants having varying nominal sizes. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising positioning an A/P chamfer cutting block on the axial cut surface, the A/P chamfer cutting block carrying at least one rotational guide; and
 positioning the at least one rotational guide on a posterior surface of at least one of the medial condyle or the lateral condyle to thereby rotationally orient the A/P chamfer cutting block relative to the patient's femur.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising attaching one or more rotational guides to the A/P chamfer cutting block at a fixed orientation. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the A/P chamfer cutting block includes second and third saw blade slots, the second and third saw blade slots being angled relative to one another at an angle between 0 degrees and 180 degrees.