Orthopaedic implants

Abstract

A method for making an orthopaedic implant, the method comprising: characterizing at least a portion of a bone corresponding to the bone to be replaced, said corresponding bone being on the contralateral side of the patient; providing a model of the orthopaedic implant based on a mirror image of the contralateral bone; and forming the orthopaedic implant based on the model.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates generally to orthopaedic implants, methods of making the orthopaedic implants, methods of implanting the orthopaedic implants, devices for implanting the orthopaedic implants and devices for assisting cutting bone.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Damaged or diseased bones and joints in human and animal patients give rise to pain and decreased joint mobility. It is known to totally or partially replace these bones and joints with artificial implants to alleviate the painful symptoms and restore some degree of mobility.[0003]The replacement of bones in the wrist has had limited success because of the complexity and multitude of bones, tendons and ligaments in the wrist. As can be seen in FIG. 1, there is a first row of wrist bones, known as a first carpal row or proximal carpal row, adjacent a radius bone and an ulnar bone. The proximal carpal row includes a scaphoid bone, a lunate bone, a triquetrum bone and a pisiform bone. A second ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The present invention reduces the difficulties and disadvantages of the aforesaid designs and treatments.

Problems solved by technology

Damaged or diseased bones and joints in human and animal patients give rise to pain and decreased joint mobility.

The replacement of bones in the wrist has had limited success because of the complexity and multitude of bones, tendons and ligaments in the wrist.

Arthritis more commonly affects elderly patients and results in painful joints, and may be so severe that the pain cannot be managed with pain medication and the arthritic hand cannot be used to lift weight.

Damage or degeneration to the scaphoid bone can also occur through conditions other than fracture.

The scaphoid bone is particularly difficult to heal since blood supply to the scaphoid bone is provided only by vessels on the distal side.

If not treated properly or detected early, a scaphoid bone fracture can lead to bone necrosis.

These types of replacements can also loosen through trauma or injury sustained through a fall, for example, or through wear, and therefore require replacement.

Clearly, this can restrict the range of movement of the patient's wrist and is not ideal.

The bones of the human or animal foot can suffer from similar damage or diseases as the wrist.

As for the wrist, there is a lack of effective treatment for damaged or diseased foot bones and ligaments.

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