Method and apparatus for positioning an implant

1. A method for using a jig to position an implant at an implantation site of a bone comprising:

tapping the implantation site using a tapping device;

axially threading the jig into the implantation site using an insertion tool;

adjusting the position of the jig at the implantation site as necessary by axially rotating the jig;

axially and substantially non-rotationally inserting the implant through the jig whereby the implant contacts a substantially smooth interior surface of the jig to support the implant at the implantation site such that the implant does not substantially contact an interior surface of the bone canal at the implantation site; and

securing the implant at the implantation site using bone cement.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the implantation site includes an intramedullary canal of a humerus; and

wherein inserting the implant through the jig substantially centers the implant in the intramedullary canal.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising inserting and securing the implant in the intramedullary canal such that a first reference mark on a stem of the implant is proximate to an exterior reference surface of the humerus;

wherein the first reference mark is at an intersection of a longitudinal axis of the stem of the implant and a reference line that extends from an inferior portion of a head of the implant to the longitudinal axis, the reference line intersects the longitudinal axis of the stem substantially at a right angle;

wherein the implantation site is tapped to a depth in the intramedullary canal such that a second reference mark on the tapping device is at the exterior reference surface of the humerus; and

wherein the jig is axially threaded, using the insertion tool, to a depth in the intramedullary canal such that a third reference mark on the insertion tool is at the exterior reference surface of the humerus.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second reference mark and the third reference mark identify substantially the same position on the tapping device and the insertion tool respectively.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein a plurality of the first reference marks, the second reference marks, and the third reference marks are arranged at substantially equal intervals.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting the implant from a plurality of implants of different sizes and selecting the jig from a plurality of jigs of different sizes.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the implant is inserted through an interior of the jig defined by a cylindrical sidewall that is tapered from a first end to a second end.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the implant is inserted through the jig such that the implant extends through a first end of the jig and a second end of the jig that is opposite to the first end.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the implant is inserted through the jig until a stop surface of the implant contacts a receiving surface of the jig that is substantially perpendicular to parallel sidewalls of the jig.

10. A method for using a jig to position an implant at an implantation site of a bone comprising:

analyzing the implantation site to determine the appropriate size and position of the implant, and selecting a reference surface of the bone at the implantation site for reference during positioning of the implant;

selecting a trial implant that is substantially the same size as the implant, the trial implant having a trial stem and a trial head;

referencing a position of an inferior portion of the trial head against one of a plurality of score marks on the trial stem, the trial stem is properly positioned at the implantation site when the score mark corresponding to the inferior portion of the trial head is proximate to the reference surface of the bone;

preparing the implantation site using a tapping device having a shank with a control surface operable to engage a control device, a cutting implement having a cutting surface, and an elongated shaft connecting the cutting implement to the shank, the elongated shaft having a series of tick marks that correspond to the score marks on the trial stem, preparation of the implantation site includes driving the tapping device into the implantation site to a depth such that a tick mark corresponding to the score mark referenced against the inferior portion of the trial head is proximate to the reference surface of the bone;

positioning a jig at the implantation site using an insertion tool, the insertion tool having a series of reference marks that correspond to the score marks and the tick marks and a head operable to mate with the jig, the jig is positioned at the implantation site to a depth such that a reference mark corresponding to the score mark referenced against the inferior portion of the trial head is proximate to the reference surface of the bone;

inserting the trial stem into the jig such that the score mark of the trial stem corresponding to the position of the inferior portion of the trial head is proximate to the reference surface of the bone, thereby positioning the trial stem at an optimum height at the implantation site;

adjusting the position of the trial stem as necessary by screwing the jig up or down in the implantation site using the insertion tool; and

inserting the implant into the jig and securing the implant in position.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the implantation site includes an intramedullary canal of a humerus; and

wherein inserting the implant through the jig substantially centers the implant in the intramedullary canal.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the implant is inserted through an interior of the jig defined by a cylindrical sidewall that is tapered from a first end to a second end.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the implant is inserted through the jig such that the implant extends through a first end of the jig and a second end of the jig that is opposite to the first end.

14. A method for using a jig to position an implant in an intramedullary canal of a humerus comprising:

selecting an exterior reference surface of the humerus for reference during positioning of the implant;

tapping the intramedullary canal using a tapping device;

axially threading the jig into the intramedullary canal using an insertion tool;

substantially centering the implant in the intramedullary canal by axially inserting the implant through both a first end of the jig having a first diameter and a second end of the jig that is opposite to the first end and has a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter, whereby the implant contacts a substantially smooth inner surface of the jig;

adjusting the position of the jig in the intramedullary canal as necessary so that a point on a stem of the implant aligned with an inferior portion of a head of the implant is proximate to the exterior reference surface of the humerus when the implant is seated in the jig; and

securing the implant in the intramedullary canal using bone cement.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the intramedullary canal is tapped to a depth such that a tick mark on the tapping device is at the exterior reference surface of the humerus, the tick mark corresponds to a score mark on the stem of the implant that is at the point on the stem that is aligned with the inferior portion of the head of the implant.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the jig is axially threaded into the intramedullary canal such that a reference mark of the insertion tool is at the exterior reference surface of the humerus, the reference mark corresponds to the score mark.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the jig is selected from a plurality of jigs having different sizes.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the implant is selected from a plurality of implants of different sizes.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising substantially centering a trial implant in the intramedullary canal by axially inserting the trial implant through both the first end of the jig and the second end of the jig; and

adjusting the position of the jig in the intramedullary canal as necessary so that a reference mark on a stem of the trial implant aligned with an inferior portion of a head of the trial implant is proximate to the exterior reference surface.