Patient-specific shoulder guide

Abstract

An orthopedic device for a shoulder joint includes a patient-specific alignment guide. The alignment guide includes a cap having a three-dimensional engagement surface customized in a pre-operative plan by computer imaging to be complementary and closely mate and conform to a humeral head of a proximal humerus of a patient. The alignment guide includes a tubular element extending from the cap and defining a longitudinal guiding bore for guiding an alignment pin at a patient-specific position and orientation determined in the pre-operative plan, and an orientation feature on the cap. The orientation feature is designed to orient the cap relative to the humeral head when the orientation feature is aligned with a landmark of the proximal humerus.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An alignment guide comprising:
 a body having a three-dimensional shape, wherein the body defines at least one aperture therein to guide one or more of a fastener or pin into a bone; and   a projection extending from an outer periphery of the body, the projection designed to orient the body and the at least one aperture relative to the bone by alignment of the projection.   
     
     
         22 . The guide of  claim 21 , wherein the body includes an engagement surface customized in a pre-operative plan by computer imaging to be complementary and closely mate and conform to a portion of a head of the bone of a specific patient. 
     
     
         23 . The guide of  claim 21 , wherein the body includes an elongated tubular element extending from a remainder of the body, wherein the at least one aperture is a longitudinal guiding bore defined by the elongated tubular element. 
     
     
         24 . The guide of  claim 21 , wherein the body, the projection and the aperture are configured to mount the guide to a head of the bone via the one or more of the fastener or pin at a patient-specific position and an orientation determined in a pre-operative plan. 
     
     
         25 . The guide of  claim 21 , wherein the body, the projection and the aperture are configured to mount the guide to a head of the bone to guide a resection of the bone at a neck to remove the head. 
     
     
         26 . The guide of  claim 25 , wherein the resection is at a patient-specific position and an orientation determined in a pre-operative plan. 
     
     
         27 . The guide of  claim 21 , wherein the projection is configured to be aligned with a landmark of the bone, and wherein the landmark is a bicipital groove of a humeral head. 
     
     
         28 . The guide of  claim 27 , wherein the projection is sized and shaped to be received at least partially in the bicipital groove. 
     
     
         29 . The guide of  claim 21 , wherein the body further defines a slot therein, the slot extending along a portion of the outer periphery of the body. 
     
     
         30 . An alignment guide comprising:
 a body having a three-dimensional shape, wherein the body defines at least one aperture therein to guide one or more of a fastener or pin into a bone; and   an orientation feature on an outer periphery of the body, the orientation feature designed to orient the body and the at least one aperture relative to the bone by alignment of the orientation feature.   
     
     
         31 . The guide of  claim 30 , wherein the orientation feature comprises one of: an etching, a marking or a projection extending from the outer periphery of the body. 
     
     
         32 . The guide of  claim 30 , wherein the body includes an engagement surface customized in a pre-operative plan by computer imaging to be complementary and closely mate and conform to a portion of a head of the bone of a specific patient. 
     
     
         33 . The guide of  claim 30 , wherein the body includes an elongated tubular element extending from a remainder of the body, wherein the at least one aperture is a longitudinal guiding bore defined by the elongated tubular element. 
     
     
         34 . The guide of  claim 30 , wherein the body, the orientation feature and the aperture are configured to mount the guide to a head of the bone via the one or more of the fastener or pin at a patient-specific position and an orientation determined in a pre-operative plan. 
     
     
         35 . The guide of  claim 30 , wherein the body, the orientation feature and the aperture are configured to mount the guide to a head of the bone to guide a resection of the bone at a neck to remove the head. 
     
     
         36 . The guide of  claim 30 , wherein the body further defines a slot therein, the slot extending along a portion of the outer periphery of the body. 
     
     
         37 . An alignment guide comprising:
 a body having a tubular shape, wherein the body defines at least one aperture therein to guide one or more of a fastener or pin into a bone; and   a projection extending from an outer periphery of the body, the projection designed to orient the body and the at least one aperture relative to the bone by alignment of the projection.   
     
     
         38 . The guide of  claim 37 , wherein the body further defines a slot therein, the slot extending along a portion of the outer periphery of the body. 
     
     
         39 . The guide of  claim 37 , wherein the projection is configured to be aligned with a landmark of the bone, and wherein the landmark is a bicipital groove of a humeral head. 
     
     
         40 . The guide of  claim 39 , wherein the projection is sized and shaped to be received at least partially in the bicipital groove.