IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,251,164
Granted Patent B2
US 12,251,164 · App. 17/601,514 · Granted Mar 18, 2025

Methods and system for manufacturing a joint implant

Inventors: Sied W. Janna (Memphis, TN); John Rose (Collierville, TN); Darren J. Wilson (Hull, GB); Helen K. Brantley (Germantown, TN)
Assignees: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.; SMITH & NEPHEW ORTHOPAEDICS AG SMITH; NEPHEW ASIA PACIFIC PTE. LIMITED
A61B34/10A61B34/20A61B34/30G06N3/045G06N3/08G16H20/40G16H40/63G16H50/50A61B2017/00973A61B2034/105A61B2034/108A61B2034/2055A61B2034/2068A61B2034/252A61B2034/256A61B2034/258A61B34/76A61B90/03A61B2090/365A61B2090/372A61B2090/502G06N5/046
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,251,164
App. No.
17/601,514
Granted
Mar 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems for treating osteochondral defects (OCDs) are disclosed. The methods include collecting surface data of a joint using image-free methods, generating a three-dimensional (3D) healthy bone model based on the surface data and a database of healthy bone anatomies, defining a boundary of the OCD on the joint, and generating a 3D implant model based on the 3D healthy bone model and the boundary. The method may also include manufacturing an implant based on the 3D implant model, generating an implantation plan, resecting the joint according to the implantation plan, and placing the implant into the resected cavity. The 3D implant model may include a first and second porous layer separated by a nonporous layer. A polymer material is overmolded onto the second porous layer and treated to exhibit properties that mimic cartilage, while the first porous layer allows the implant to fuse to patient bone.

Claims (56)

1. A system for correcting an osteochondral defect, the system comprising:

a tracking system comprising:

a probe having one or more probe tracking arrays, and

one or more patient tracking arrays attached to a joint of a patient, wherein the tracking system is configured to detect a plurality of locations of the one or more probe tracking arrays and the one or more patient tracking arrays;

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:

receive the plurality of locations from the tracking system;

generate, based on the plurality of locations, surface data related to an articular surface of a bone of the joint;

define, based on the surface data, an outer boundary enclosing the osteochondral defect to designate a defect surface;

generate, based on at least the surface data, a 3D healthy bone model that does not include the osteochondral defect;

generate, based on at least the 3D healthy bone model and the outer boundary, a 3D implant model corresponding to the defect surface; and

output the 3D implant model to a secondary device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

receive library data from a library of healthy bone anatomies; and

apply the surface data and the library data to a statistical modeling equation to generate the 3D healthy bone model.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein a shape of an articular surface of the 3D implant model is based on at least a portion of the 3D healthy bone model corresponding to the defect surface.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the shape of the articular surface of the 3D implant model is further based on at least a portion of the surface data corresponding to the defect surface.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the shape of the articular surface of the 3D implant model is further based on at least a thickness of articular cartilage of the joint.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the secondary device comprises one or more of an implant manufacturing unit, a remote computer, a remote database, and a computer-readable data storage device.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the 3D implant model comprises:

a first porous layer configured for bone ingrowth;

a non-porous layer joined to the first porous layer;

a second porous layer joined to the non-porous layer opposite the first porous layer; and

a cartilage material interlocked within pores in the second porous layer.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein:

the first porous layer, the non-porous layer, and the second porous layer each comprise one or more of titanium, tantalum, and stainless steel; and

the cartilage material comprises an interpenetrating polymer network including one or more of porous polyurethane, polyurethane, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polylactic acid (PLA), polylactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), polyether urethane, chitosan, collagen, gelatin, polyacrylic acid (PAA), and polyglycolic acid (PGA).

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

generate, based on the 3D healthy bone model and the 3D implant model, an implantation plan comprising one or more characteristics of a cavity on the bone for receiving the implant.

10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a surgical system having a robotic arm configured to resect the bone to form the cavity based on the implantation plan.

11. A method of correcting an osteochondral defect comprising:

generating, by a processor, surface data related to an articular surface of a bone of a joint, the articular surface comprising the osteochondral defect, wherein the surface data is based on a plurality of locations of a tracked probe;

defining, using the tracked probe, an outer boundary enclosing the osteochondral defect to designate a defect surface;

generating, based on at least the surface data, a 3D healthy bone model that does not include the osteochondral defect;

generating, based on at least the 3D healthy bone model and the outer boundary, a 3D implant model corresponding to the defect surface; and

outputting the 3D implant model to a secondary device.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein generating the 3D healthy bone model is further based on library data from a library of healthy bone anatomies, and

wherein generating the 3D healthy bone model comprises applying the surface data and the library data to a statistical modeling equation.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein a shape of an articular surface of the 3D implant model is based on at least a portion of the 3D healthy bone model corresponding to the defect surface.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the shape of the articular surface of the 3D implant model is further based on at least a portion of the surface data corresponding to the defect surface.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the shape of the articular surface of the 3D implant model is further based on at least a thickness of articular cartilage of the joint.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the secondary device comprises one or more of an implant manufacturing unit, a remote computer, a remote database, and a computer-readable data storage device.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the 3D implant model comprises:

a first porous layer configured for bone ingrowth;

a non-porous layer joined to the first porous layer;

a second porous layer joined to the non-porous layer opposite the first porous layer; and

a cartilage material interlocking within pores in the second porous layer.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein:

the first porous layer, the non-porous layer, and the second porous layer each comprise one or more of titanium, tantalum, and stainless steel; and

the cartilage material comprises an interpenetrating polymer network including one or more of porous polyurethane, polyurethane, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polylactic acid (PLA), polylactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), polyether urethane, chitosan, collagen, gelatin, polyacrylic acid (PAA), and polyglycolic acid (PGA).

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

manufacturing an implant based on the 3D model;

generating, based on the 3D healthy bone model and the 3D implant model, an implantation plan comprising one or more characteristics of a cavity on the bone for receiving the implant;

resecting the bone to form the cavity based on the implantation plan; and

inserting the implant into the cavity based on the implantation plan.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising injecting a fluid material around an outer surface of the implant, wherein the fluid material comprises one or more of chondrocytes, morselized bone, blood platelet concentrate, bone marrow, stem cells, growth factors, and extracellular matrix.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2022
From: JANNA, SIED W.; ROSE, JOHN; BRANTLEY, HELEN KINCAID
To: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Reel/Frame 060698/0255 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2022
From: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
To: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.; SMITH & NEPHEW ORTHOPAEDICS AG; SMITH & NEPHEW ASIA PACIFIC PTE. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 060698/0623 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2022
From: T.J.SMITH AND NEPHEW,LIMITED
To: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
Reel/Frame 061054/0326 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2022
From: WILSON, DARREN J.
To: T.J.SMITH AND NEPHEW, LIMITED
Reel/Frame 061161/0481 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 62901404 · Sep 17, 2019
Provisional Application 62875888 · Jul 18, 2019
Provisional Application 62830078 · Apr 5, 2019
Related Publication 20220142710A1 · May 12, 2022
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