Guide assembly

摘要

A method for locating the mechanical axis of a long bone involves generating an image of the long bone and determining the angle between the mechanical axis of the bone and a reference axis, which contains at least two reference points towards one end of the bone. A reference arm is positioned relative to the at least two predetermined reference points, and the mechanical axis is located relative to the reference arm with reference to the previously determined angle.

主权项

1. A method for locating during a surgical procedure a mechanical axis of an uncut bone having an end with an external surface, comprising the steps of:
(a) generating an image of the uncut bone including the external surface; (b) defining the mechanical axis of the uncut bone on the image of the uncut bone; (c) measuring an angle between the mechanical axis of the uncut bone as defined in step (b) and a reference axis on the image of the uncut bone, the reference axis containing at least two reference points located on the image of the external surface of the uncut bone; (d) during surgery, contacting at least two points on the external surface of the uncut bone with a first plate, the first plate being fastened to an angle indicator, the angle indicator being pivotably fastened to an axis indicator, at least one of the axis indicator and the angle indicator including a scale to indicate an angle between the angle indicator and the axis indicator; and (e) positioning the axis indicator relative to the angle indicator such that the angle indicated on the scale has a predetermined relationship with the angle measured in step (c).