Methods and systems for implanting a joint implant

Inventors

Janna, Sied W. • Rose, John

Assignees

Smith and Nephew Orthopaedics AG • Smith and Nephew Asia Pacific Pte Ltd • Smith and Nephew Inc

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for treating osteochondral defects (OCDs) are disclosed. The disclosed methods and systems include collecting joint surface data using image-free methods, generating a three-dimensional (3D) healthy bone model based on the joint surface data and a database of healthy bone anatomies, defining the OCD boundary on the joint, generating a 3D implant model based on the 3D healthy bone model and the OCD boundary, manufacturing an implant based on the 3D implant model, generating an implantation plan, the resected cavity on the joint. The implant includes a 3D-printed titanium alloy substrate having a first and second porous layer separated by a nonporous layer. A polymer material is over-molded onto the second porous layer and treated to exhibit properties that mimic cartilage, while the first porous layer allows the implant to fuse to patient bone.

Core Innovation

The invention is a method of placing an implant to treat a defect associated with an articular surface of a joint of a patient. The method receives first data associated with the articular surface indicating surface geometry, generates a bone model corresponding to bone tissue associated with the articular surface, and defines a geometry of the defect. Using the bone model and the defect geometry, the method generates an implant model configured to treat the defect.

The method receives an implant corresponding to the implant model and generates an implantation plan that comprises at least one of a size, a shape, a location, or an orientation of a cavity at the articular surface configured to receive the implant. The method then creates the cavity by creating an incision at the joint and resecting the articular surface to create the cavity, and places the implant into the cavity.

Before closing the incision, the method uses an instrumented probe to map a post-implantation articular surface formed at least partially by the implant, to create a post-implantation surface map comprising post-implantation surface geometry. The method receives healthy bone anatomy data from a database, compares the post-implantation surface map with the healthy bone anatomy data to assess congruency of the implant with a portion of the articular surface surrounding the implant, and determines whether modification to the implant is needed.

When modification is needed, the method determines shaving or planing of an implant articular surface so that the implant is congruent with the articular surface of the joint. The approach further includes comparing a post-implantation surface map with healthy bone anatomy data to assess congruency and, when appropriate, modifying the implant articular surface to achieve congruence.

Claims Coverage

The independent claim is clm-00001, covering an end-to-end workflow from receiving articular surface data through implant modeling, implantation planning and execution, post-implantation mapping, and congruency-based implant modification. The inventive features are: patient-specific bone/implant modeling, defect geometry definition, cavity planning with implant model size, shape, location, orientation, instrumented-probe post-implantation surface mapping, healthy-anatomy congruency assessment, and conditional implant modification by shaving or planing.

Overall claim coverage centers on creating a patient-specific implant by generating a bone model and implant model from articular surface data and defect geometry, planning a cavity using implant model parameters, performing implantation, and then using instrumented-probe post-implantation surface mapping compared with healthy bone anatomy data to decide whether shaving or planing is needed to achieve implant congruency.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications

No documented applications found