Method and apparatus for aligning and securing an implant relative to a patient

1. A surgical apparatus comprising:

an orientation sensor that detects an actual orientation of a surgical tool;

a plurality of orientation feedback devices, each of the plurality of orientation feedback devices providing an orientation feedback signal, the plurality of orientation feedback devices including at least two of a visual feedback device, an audible feedback device, and a tactile feedback device;

a controller that causes the plurality of orientation feedback devices to each provide the respective orientation feedback signal when the actual orientation of the surgical tool detected by the orientation sensor is substantially equal to a predetermined target orientation of the surgical tool; and

an impact sensor that detects an actual acoustic effect of impacting the surgical tool, an impact feedback device that selectively provides an impact feedback signal, and wherein the controller causes the impact feedback device to provide the impact feedback signal when the actual acoustic effect of impacting the surgical tool detected by the impact sensor substantially matches a predetermined target acoustic effect of impacting the surgical tool.

2. The surgical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the orientation sensor includes an accelerometer.

3. The surgical apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the orientation sensor includes an accelerometer that detects accelerations about three axes that are orthogonal to each other.

4. The surgical apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a housing, which encapsulates the orientation sensor, wherein the housing is removably coupled to the surgical tool.

5. The surgical apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the housing has a first portion and a second portion that are hingeably attached so as to have a clam shell construction, the housing being removeably coupled to the surgical tool, wherein the surgical tool includes a head operable to be impacted for driving the surgical tool in a direction, and wherein the orientation feedback device is oriented toward the head to be viewable by the user when impacting the head.

6. The surgical apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a housing, which encapsulates the orientation sensor, wherein the housing is integrally coupled to the surgical tool, such that the housing and the surgical tool are monolithic.

7. The surgical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the impact sensor includes a piezoelectric sensor.

8. The surgical apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an input device for changing the predetermined target orientation.

9. The surgical apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the input device is in wireless communication with the controller for changing the predetermined target orientation.

10. The surgical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the orientation sensor detects the actual orientation of a load axis of the surgical tool to thereby detect an actual inclination angle of the load axis relative to a median plane of the patient, and wherein the controller causes the plurality of orientation feedback devices to each provide the respective orientation feedback signal when the actual inclination angle of the load axis relative to the median plane is substantially equal to a predetermined target inclination angle of the load axis relative to the median plane.

11. The surgical apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined target inclination angle is between about 35 degrees to 55 degrees.

12. The surgical apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the predetermined target inclination angle is approximately 45 degrees.

13. The surgical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the orientation sensor detects the actual orientation of a load axis of the surgical tool to thereby detect an actual anteversion angle of the load axis relative to a coronal plane of the patient, and wherein the controller causes the plurality of orientation feedback devices to each provide the respective orientation feedback signal when the actual anteversion angle of the load axis relative to the coronal plane is substantially equal to a predetermined target anteversion angle of the load axis relative to the coronal plane.

14. The surgical apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined target anteversion angle is between about 10 degrees and 20 degrees.

15. The surgical apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the predetermined target anteversion angle is approximately 15 degrees.

16. The surgical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the orientation sensor detects an actual orientation of an impactor tool that transfers a load to a prosthetic implant for implanting the prosthetic implant in a patient.

17. The surgical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of orientation feedback devices include each of the audible feedback device and the tactile feedback device.

18. The surgical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the impact feedback device provides at least two of a visual feedback signal, an audible feedback signal, and a tactile feedback signal.

19. The surgical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the surgical tool is operable to be impacted to drive the surgical tool along a first direction, and

wherein the impact sensor detects an actual displacement of the surgical tool along a second direction due to impacting the surgical tool, wherein the second direction is different from the first direction.

20. The surgical apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the second direction is substantially opposite the first direction.

21. A method of implanting a prosthetic implant in a patient with an impactor tool comprising:

determining a target orientation of the impactor tool necessary for moving the prosthetic implant to a target location;

automatically detecting an actual orientation of the impactor tool;

automatically providing an orientation feedback signal when the actual orientation of the impactor tool is substantially equal to the target orientation of the impactor tool;

impacting the impactor tool while the actual orientation of the impactor tool is substantially equal to the target orientation of the impactor tool to move the prosthetic implant substantially toward the target location;

automatically detecting an actual acoustic impact effect of impacting the impactor tool; and

automatically providing an impact feedback signal when the actual acoustic impact effect substantially matches a predetermined target acoustic impact effect.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein automatically providing the impact feedback signal includes automatically providing at least two of a visual feedback signal, an audible feedback signal, and a tactile feedback signal.

23. An impactor assembly for implanting an acetabular cup of a prosthetic hip assembly in a patient, the impactor assembly comprising:

an impactor tool having an elongated shaft defining a load axis, a head at a first end, and a coupling mechanism at a second end for removably coupling to the acetabular cup, the impactor tool for transferring a load from impacting the impactor tool along the load axis to the acetabular cup; and

an implanting apparatus that is operatively coupled to the impactor tool, the implanting apparatus comprising:

an orientation sensor that detects an actual inclination angle of the load axis relative to a median plane of the patient and that detects an actual anteversion angle of the load axis relative to a coronal plane of the patient;

a plurality of orientation feedback devices, each of the plurality of orientation feedback devices providing an orientation feedback signal, the plurality of orientation feedback devices including a visual feedback device, an audible feedback device, and a tactile feedback device;

an impact sensor that detects an actual effect of impacting the impactor tool, the actual effect of impacting the impactor tool including an actual acoustic effect of impacting the impactor tool;

an impact feedback device that selectively provides an impact feedback signal; and

a controller that causes the plurality of orientation feedback devices to each provide the respective orientation feedback signal when the actual inclination angle is substantially equal to a predetermined target inclination angle and the actual anteversion angle is substantially equal to a predetermined target anteversion angle, the controller also causing the impact feedback device to provide the impact feedback signal when the actual acoustic effect of impacting the impactor tool detected by the impact sensor substantially matches a predetermined target acoustic effect of impacting the impactor tool.

24. The implanting assembly of claim 23 , wherein the controller simultaneously causes the plurality of orientation feedback devices to each provide the respective orientation feedback signal and the impact feedback device to provide the impact feedback signal.