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  Method and apparatus for performing a computer-assisted orthopaedic procedureUSPTO Application #: 20060069324Title: Method and apparatus for performing a computer-assisted orthopaedic procedure Abstract: A method of performing a computer-assisted orthopaedic procedure includes securing a sensor support instrument to the patient's bone. A number of sensors are secured to the support instrument. A computer-assisted orthopaedic surgical instrument is also disclosed. (end of abstract) Agent: Barnes & Thornburg - Indianapolis, IN, US Inventors: D. Steven Block, Thorsten M. Burger, Francois Urvoy, Magnus E. Flett, Michal Slomczykowski, Marcellino Maheson, Roger Oakeshott, Alec Birkbeck USPTO Applicaton #: 20060069324 - Class: 600595000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Surgery, Diagnostic Testing, Measuring Anatomical Characteristic Or Force Applied To Or Exerted By Body, Body Movement (e.g., Head Or Hand Tremor, Motility Of Limb, Etc.) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060069324. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. PATENT APPLICATION [0001] This application is a Continuation-in-Part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/956,181 filed Sep. 30, 2004, and titled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING A COMPUTER-ASSISTED ORTHOPAEDIC PROCEDURE, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE [0002] The present disclosure relates generally to a computer-assisted surgical instrument for use in the performance of an orthopaedic procedure. BACKGROUND [0003] Many computer guided orthopaedic surgical procedures are based on determining the position of bones, and relating this position to the computer via some type of ultrasonic, magnetic resonance, or optical sensor. In such cases, a first sensor may be secured to the patient's bone, with a second sensor being secured to the surgical instrument so that the instrument may be subsequently guided via a computer into the desired position within the patient's bone. U.S. Patents and Patent Publications relating to computer guided surgery include U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,694 and U.S. patent application Publication Nos. 2003/0153978 A1 and 2003/01538829 A1, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Similar computer-assisted navigation systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,514,259; 6,434,507; 6,428,547; 6,424,856; 6,351,659; 6,223,067; 6,187,018; 6,178,345; 5,889,834; 5,769,861; 5,702,406; 5,643,268; and 5,628,315, along with U.S. patent application Publication No. 2002/0038118 A1, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. SUMMARY [0004] According to one aspect of the disclosure, a method of performing a computer-assisted orthopaedic hip procedure includes securing a sensor support instrument to the lesser trochanter of the patient's femur. The sensor support instrument has a number of sensors secured thereto. [0005] In one exemplary implementation, the sensor support instrument includes a screw that is screwed into the lesser trochanter. The screw may be a Shanz screw. The screw may be cannulated. The screw may be a cannulated Shanz screw. [0006] The sensor support instrument may also include a sensor support having a number of support arms. Each of the support arms may have a sensor secured thereto. [0007] The sensor support instrument may also include a support sleeve through which the screw extends. [0008] According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method of performing a computer-assisted orthopaedic procedure includes securing a cannulated screw to a patient's bone. A sensor may be secured to the cannulated screw. [0009] The tip of the cannulated screw may be positioned in the medullary canal of the patient's bone. The other end of the cannulated screw is positioned outside of the patient's body. [0010] The cannulated screw may be coupled to a negative pressure source via a suction tube thereby placing the medullary canal of the patient's bone in fluid communication with the negative pressure source. [0011] According to another aspect of the disclosure, a computer-assisted orthopaedic surgical instrument includes a cannulated screw having a sensor support coupled thereto. A number of sensors may be secured to the sensor support. [0012] The sensor support may be configured with a number of support arms. Each of the support arms may have a sensor secured thereto. [0013] The surgical instrument may also include a support sleeve through which the cannulated screw extends. [0014] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of performing computer-assisted hip surgery includes securing a sensor support instrument to a proximal, posterior region of a patient's femur, and securing a sensor to the sensor support instrument. Illustratively, the proximal, posterior region includes the lesser trochanter, the greater trochanter, the intertrochanteric crest and any portions of the patient's femur therebetween. [0015] The step of securing the sensor support instrument to the proximal, posterior region may comprise screwing a screw into the proximal, posterior of the patient's femur. [0016] Further, the step of securing the sensor to the sensor support instrument comprises (i) coupling a sensor support to the screw, and (ii) coupling the sensor to the sensor support. Alternatively, the step of securing the sensor to the sensor support instrument may comprise (i) coupling a sensor support having three support arms to the screw, and (ii) coupling a sensor to each of the three support arms. [0017] The method may further include the step of securing a support sleeve to the patient's femur such that a portion of the screw is positioned in the support sleeve. Illustratively, the step of securing the sensor to the sensor support instrument may include securing the sensor to the support sleeve. Further, securing the sensor to the support sleeve may include (i) coupling a sensor support to the support sleeve, and (ii) coupling the sensor to the sensor support. [0018] According to one aspect of this disclosure, the step of securing the sensor support instrument to the proximal, posterior region may include screwing a screw into the proximal, posterior region of the patient's femur such that a tip of the screw is positioned in the medullary canal of the patient's femur. Further illustratively, screwing a screw into the proximal, posterior region comprises screwing a cannulated screw into the proximal, posterior region of the patient's femur. The method may further include the step of coupling the cannulated screw to a negative pressure source thereby placing the medullary canal of the patient's femur in fluid communication with the negative pressure source. [0019] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of performing computer-assisted hip surgery includes locating one or more of the greater trochanter, the lesser trochanter, and the intertrochanteric crest of a patient's femur, measuring a pre-determined distance from one or more of the greater trochanter, the lesser trochanter, and the intertrochanteric crest to a second location, securing a sensor support instrument to the second location, and securing a sensor to the sensor support instrument. [0020] The above and other features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description and the attached drawings. Continue reading... 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