Spring-Fit Surgical Guides
Various embodiments of devices, systems, and methods for surgical procedures, including spring-fit guides for improved guidance of surgical instruments, are disclosed.
1 . A guide for a surgical instrument for use in treating a joint of a patient, the guide comprising:
a body having a guide slot extending through at least a portion of the body from a first side of the body to a second side of the body,
wherein the guide slot is dimensioned to receive the surgical instrument through an entrance opening and guide the surgical instrument along a path extending from an exit opening in a direction substantially opposite the entrance opening and substantially along a predetermined cutting plane,
wherein the entrance opening is located on the first side of the body and the exit opening is located on the second side of the body,
wherein a cutting-plane side wall of the guide slot includes at least a portion substantially located within the cutting plane, and
wherein an opposing side wall of the guide slot is positioned substantially opposite the cutting-plane side wall and includes at least one spring-fit structure, the at least one spring-fit structure comprising:
a guide surface substantially facing the cutting-plane side wall; and
a flexing portion connected to the body and supporting at least a portion of the guide surface, the flexing portion configured to allow at least a portion of the guide surface to move in a direction substantially away from the cutting plane when the surgical instrument is inserted into the guide slot and contacts at least a portion of the guide surface.
2 . The guide of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the guide surface is substantially convex.
3 . The guide of claim 1 , wherein the opposing side wall includes a substantially concave portion.
4 . The guide of claim 1 , wherein the opposing side wall includes a substantially concave portion and wherein the concave portion is positioned substantially opposite the spring-fit structure.
5 . The guide of claim 1 , wherein the spring-fit structure is positioned adjacent to the entrance opening.
6 . The guide of claim 1 , wherein the body, the guide slot, and the spring-fit structure comprise a single, unitary structure.
7 . The guide of claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the cutting-plane side wall located within the cutting plane and the spring-fit structure are formed of a polymer material.
8 . The guide of claim 1 , wherein the surgical instrument comprises an instrument selected from the group consisting of a saw, a drill, and a pin.
9 . A system for treatment of a joint of a patient, the system comprising:
a first guide for a surgical instrument; and
an implant component to be implanted in the joint,
wherein the first guide comprises:
a body having a guide slot extending through at least a portion of the body from a first side of the body to a second side of the body,
wherein the guide slot is configured to receive the surgical instrument through an entrance opening and guide the surgical instrument along a path extending from an exit opening in a direction substantially opposite the entrance opening and substantially along a predetermined cutting plane,
wherein the entrance opening is located on the first side of the body and the exit opening is located on the second side of the body,
wherein a cutting-plane side wall of the guide slot includes at least a portion substantially located within the cutting plane, and
wherein an opposing side wall of the guide slot is positioned substantially opposite the cutting-plane side wall and includes at least one spring-fit structure, the at least one spring-fit structure comprising:
a guide surface substantially facing the cutting-plane side wall; and
a flexing portion connected to the body and supporting at least a portion of the guide surface, the flexing portion configured to allow at least a portion of the guide surface to move in a direction away from the cutting plane when the surgical instrument is inserted into the guide slot and contacts at least a portion of the guide surface.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the implant includes at least one bone-facing surface and wherein the guide slot is configured to guide a saw along the predetermined cutting plane such that a resected surface of the joint is formed and configured to support the at least one bone-facing surface of the implant.
11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the implant includes at least one bone-facing surface and wherein the guide slot is configured to guide a saw along the predetermined cutting plane such that a resected surface of the joint is formed that substantially negatively matches the at least one bone-facing surface of the implant.
12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the guide surface is substantially convex.
13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the opposing side wall includes a substantially concave portion.
14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the opposing side wall includes a substantially concave portion and wherein the concave portion is positioned substantially opposite the spring-fit structure.
15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the spring-fit structure is positioned adjacent to the entrance opening.
16 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the body, the guide slot, and the spring-fit structure comprise a single, unitary structure.
17 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least a portion of the cutting-plane side wall located within the cutting plane and the spring-fit structure are formed of a polymer material.
18 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the surgical instrument comprises an instrument selected from the group consisting of a saw, a drill, and a pin.