Surgical instrument and method of positioning an acetabular prosthetic component

1. A method of positioning an acetabular prosthetic component in a patient's surgically-prepared acetabulum, the method comprising:

moving a first linkage relative to a base attached to the patient's pelvis to align the first linkage with the patient's vertical axis such that a longitudinal axis of the first linkage extends parallel to the patient's vertical axis when the patient is in a standing position,

locking the first linkage in position relative to the base,

securing a second linkage to the first linkage when the patient is in a recumbent position, the second linkage having an alignment axis corresponding to a desired abduction angle and a desired anteversion angle of the acetabular axis of the acetabular prosthetic component,

attaching the acetabular prosthetic component to the second linkage such that the acetabular axis of the acetabular prosthetic component is parallel with the alignment axis of the second linkage, and

advancing the acetabular prosthetic component into the patient's surgically-prepared acetabulum to position the acetabular prosthetic component in the patient's surgically-prepared acetabulum at the desired abduction angle and the desired anteversion angle.

2. A method of positioning an acetabular prosthetic component in a patient's surgically-prepared acetabulum, the method comprising:

attaching a base to the patient's pelvis when the patient is in the standing position,

moving a first linkage relative to the base attached to the patient's pelvis to align the first linkage with the patient's vertical axis when the patient is in a standing position,

locking the first linkage in position relative to the base,

securing a second linkage to the first linkage when the patient is in a recumbent position, the second linkage having an alignment axis corresponding to a desired abduction angle and a desired anteversion angle of the acetabular axis of the acetabular prosthetic component,

attaching the acetabular prosthetic component to the second linkage such that the acetabular axis of the acetabular prosthetic component is parallel with the alignment axis of the second linkage, and

advancing the acetabular prosthetic component into the patient's surgically-prepared acetabulum to position the acetabular prosthetic component in the patient's surgically-prepared acetabulum at the desired abduction angle and the desired anteversion angle.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising (i) removing the base from the patient's pelvis after locking the first linkage in position relative to the base, and (ii) reattaching the base to the patient's pelvis when the patient is in the recumbent position.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein attaching the base to the patient's pelvis when the patient is in the standing position includes engaging the base with at least three locations on the patient's pelvis.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least three locations on the patient's pelvis include a point on the patient's superior anterior iliac spine and a point on the patient's pubic tubercle.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein attaching the base to the patient's pelvis when the patient is in the standing position includes applying a predetermined force to the base.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the predetermined force is approximately 10 lbs-force.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein moving the first linkage relative to the base includes moving a bubble to a position in a vial of a bubble level indicator corresponding to plumb.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

adjusting a first arm of the second linkage to change the abduction angle to the desired abduction angle, and

adjusting a second arm of the second linkage relative to the first arm to change the anteversion angle to the desired anteversion angle.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting the second linkage from a plurality of second linkages.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

advancing the acetabular prosthetic component into the patient's surgically-prepared acetabulum includes operating a parallelogram linkage of the second linkage, and

the acetabular axis of the acetabular prosthetic component remains parallel with the alignment axis of the second linkage while the acetabular prosthetic component is advanced into the patient's surgically-prepared acetabulum.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the recumbent position is the right lateral decubitus position.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the recumbent position is the left lateral decubitus position.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the recumbent position is the supine position.

15. The method of claim 2 , wherein moving the first linkage relative to the base includes moving a bubble to a position in a vial of a bubble level indicator corresponding to plumb.

16. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

adjusting a first arm of the second linkage to change the abduction angle to the desired abduction angle, and

adjusting a second arm of the second linkage relative to the first arm to change the anteversion angle to the desired anteversion angle.

17. The method of claim 2 , further comprising selecting the second linkage from a plurality of second linkages.

18. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

advancing the acetabular prosthetic component into the patient's surgically-prepared acetabulum includes operating a parallelogram linkage of the second linkage, and

the acetabular axis of the acetabular prosthetic component remains parallel with the alignment axis of the second linkage while the acetabular prosthetic component is advanced into the patient's surgically-prepared acetabulum.

19. The method of claim 2 , wherein the recumbent position is the right lateral decubitus position.

20. The method of claim 2 , wherein the recumbent position is the left lateral decubitus position.

21. The method of claim 2 , wherein the recumbent position is the supine position.