Arthroplasty devices and related methods
View Patent ↗Methods and apparatuses for forming customized arthroplasty jigs are disclosed. Some of the apparatuses may comprise a plurality of rapid production machines and an automated mechanical system. The automated mechanical system may be configured to transport a first arthroplasty jig blank to a first rapid production machine and a second arthroplasty jig blank to a second rapid production machine. The first rapid production machine may be configured to form a first arthroplasty jig from the first arthroplasty jig blank, and the second rapid production machine may be configured to form a second arthroplasty jig from the second arthroplasty jig blank, the second arthroplasty jig having a different configuration from the first arthroplasty jig.
1. An apparatus configured for the production of a plurality of customized arthroplasty jigs, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of rapid production machines; and an automated mechanical system that is configured to transport a first arthroplasty jig blank to a first rapid production machine and a second arthroplasty jig blank to a second rapid production machine, wherein the first rapid production machine is configured to form a first arthroplasty jig from the first arthroplasty jig blank and the second rapid production machine is configured to form a second arthroplasty jig from the second arthroplasty jig blank, and the first and second arthroplasty jigs have different configurations.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the automated mechanical system comprises a robot.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second arthroplasty jig blanks is in the form of a block of material.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rapid production machines comprise computer numerical control machines.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises eight rapid production machines.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the automated mechanical system is in communication with a computer.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the computer is configured to provide the automated mechanical system with first machining instructions for forming the first arthroplasty jig.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the computer is configured to provide the automated mechanical system with second machining instructions for forming the second arthroplasty jig.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the automated mechanical system is configured to communicate the first machining instructions to the first rapid production machine.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the automated mechanical system is configured to communicate the second machining instructions to the second rapid production machine.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to produce at least 30 customized arthroplasty jigs per hour.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rapid production machines are arranged in rows.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rapid production machines are arranged in a circle.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the automated mechanical system is configured to remove the first arthroplasty jig from the first rapid production machine when formation of the first arthroplasty jig has been completed.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the automated mechanical system is configured to transport the first arthroplasty jig from the first rapid production machine to a station that is configured to clean arthroplasty jigs.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the station also is configured to package the arthroplasty jigs after they have been cleaned.
17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the automated mechanical system is configured to transport the second arthroplasty jig from the second rapid production machine when formation of the second arthroplasty jig has been completed.
18. An apparatus configured for the production of a plurality of customized arthroplasty jigs, the apparatus comprising: a rapid production machine comprising a first component and a second component; and an automated mechanical system that is configured to transport a first arthroplasty jig blank to the first component and a second arthroplasty jig blank to the second component, wherein the first component is configured to form a first arthroplasty jig from the first arthroplasty jig blank and the second component is configured to form a second arthroplasty jig from the second arthroplasty jig blank, and the first and second arthroplasty jigs have different configurations.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the automated mechanical system comprises a robot.
20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the rapid production machine comprises a computer numerical control machine.
21. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the automated mechanical system is in communication with a computer.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the computer is configured to provide the automated mechanical system with first machining instructions for forming the first arthroplasty jig.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the computer is configured to provide the automated mechanical system with second machining instructions for forming the second arthroplasty jig.
24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the automated mechanical system is configured to communicate the first machining instructions to the first component of the rapid production machine.
25. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the automated mechanical system is configured to communicate the second machining instructions to the second component of the rapid production machine.
26. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the apparatus is configured to produce at least 30 customized arthroplasty jigs per hour.