Patient-customizable device and system for performing an orthopaedic surgical procedure

1. A customized patient-specific orthopaedic instrument, comprising:

a customized patient-specific cutting block having (i) a body with a cutting guide extending therethrough, and (ii) a plurality of guide pins each of which includes a bone-contacting end that extends out of the body of the cutting block, wherein each of the plurality of guide pins is movable relative to the body of the cutting block such that the bone-contacting ends of the plurality of guide pins collectively create a customized patient-specific negative contour configured to receive a portion of a bone of a patient that has a corresponding contour, and

an electronic programming device having (i) a housing having an aperture formed therein, the aperture being configured to receive the customized patient-specific cutting block therein, (ii) and one or more electrically-operated actuators operable to position each of the plurality of guide pins in a desired position so as to create the customized patient-specific negative contour.

2. The customized patient-specific orthopaedic instrument of claim 1 , wherein:

the customized patient-specific cutting block further includes a securing device operable to lock each of the plurality of guide pins in the desired position, and

the electronic programming device further includes a coupler configured to operate the securing device of the customized patient-specific cutting block.

3. The customized patient-specific orthopaedic instrument of claim 1 , wherein:

the electronic programming device further includes a plurality of holes each of which is configured to receive one of the plurality of guide pins of the customized patient-specific cutting block,

one of a plurality of push rods is located in each of the holes, and

the one or more electrically-operated actuators is operable to position the plurality of push rods in a respective position so as to position each of the plurality of guide pins in the desired position.

4. The customized patient-specific orthopaedic instrument of claim 1 , wherein:

the electronic programming device further includes (i) a processor, and (ii) a memory device electrically coupled to the processor, the memory device having stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate the one or more electrically-operated actuators to position each of the plurality of guide pins in the desired position.

5. The customized patient-specific orthopaedic instrument of claim 4 , wherein the electronic programming device further includes an input port electrically coupled to the memory device.

6. The customized patient-specific orthopaedic instrument of claim 1 , wherein the customized patient-specific cutting block comprises a customized patient-specific femoral cutting block.

7. The customized patient-specific orthopaedic instrument of claim 1 , wherein the customized patient-specific cutting block comprises a customized patient-specific tibial cutting block.

8. The customized patient-specific orthopaedic instrument of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of guide pins is independently movable relative to each other.

9. The customized patient-specific orthopaedic instrument of claim 1 , wherein the body of the customized patient-specific cutting block further comprises (i) a bone-facing surface, (ii) an outer surface opposite the bone-facing surface, and (iii) a plurality of guide pin passageways, each passageway having a first opening defined on the bone-facing surface,

wherein each of the plurality of guide pins is positioned in a corresponding guide pin passageway such that the bone-contacting end of each guide pin extends from the corresponding first opening of the respective passageway.

10. The customized patient-specific orthopaedic instrument of claim 9 , wherein each passageway further has a second opening defined on the outer surface such that a distal end of each guide pin, opposite the bone-contacting end, extends from the second opening of the respective passageway when the bone-contacting end is moved toward the bone-facing surface.

11. A customized patient-specific orthopaedic instrument, comprising:

a customized patient-specific cutting block comprising (i) a cutting block body having a bone-facing surface, an outer surface opposite the bone-facing surface, and a plurality of guide pin passageways formed through the cutting block body, each guide pin passageway having a first opening defined on the bone-facing surface and a second opening on the outer surface and (ii) a plurality of guide pins, each guide pin being located in a corresponding passageway and movable within the passageway, each guide pin having a bone-contacting end extending from the first opening defined on the bone-facing surface such that the plurality of guide pins collectively create a customized patient-specific negative contour configured to receive a portion of a bone of a patient that has a corresponding contour, and

an electronic programming device comprising (i) a housing having a plurality of inner sidewalls and a bottom wall that collectively define an aperture formed in a top surface of the housing, the aperture being shaped to receive the customized patient-specific cutting block therein, (ii) a plurality of push rod passageways, each push rod passageway having a hole located on the bottom wall of the housing and positioned so as to receive a corresponding one of the plurality of guide pins of the customized patient-specific cutting block when the customized patient-specific cutting block is received within the aperture, (iii) a push rod located in each of the push rod passageways, each push rod being movable within the push rod passageway, and (iv) one or more electrically-operated actuators operable to independently move each push rod into contact with a corresponding guide pin of the customized patient-specific cutting block to position the corresponding guide pin to a desired position.

12. The customized patient-specific orthopaedic instrument of claim 11 , wherein:

the customized patient-specific cutting block further includes a securing device operable to lock each of the plurality of guide pins in the desired position, and

the electronic programming device further includes a coupler configured to operate the securing device of the customized patient-specific cutting block.

13. The customized patient-specific orthopaedic instrument of claim 11 , wherein:

the electronic programming device further includes (i) a processor, and (ii) a memory device electrically coupled to the processor, the memory device having stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate the one or more electrically-operated actuators to position each of the plurality of guide pins in the desired position.

14. The customized patient-specific orthopaedic instrument of claim 13 , wherein the electronic programming device further includes an input port electrically coupled to the memory device.

15. The customized patient-specific orthopaedic instrument of claim 1 , wherein the customized patient-specific cutting block comprises a customized patient-specific femoral cutting block.

16. The customized patient-specific orthopaedic instrument of claim 11 , wherein the customized patient-specific cutting block comprises a customized patient-specific tibial cutting block.