Method of designing orthopedic implants using in vivo data

1. A method of designing and selecting an orthopedic implant

design comprising: fabricating an orthopedic implant;

including sensors on an articulating surface of the orthopedic implant;

implanting the orthopedic implant into a patient;

taking the orthopedic implant through a range of motion to generate in vivo kinematic data; and

making adjustments to the design of the orthopedic implant in view of the in vivo kinematic data.

2. A method of designing and selecting an orthopedic implant design comprising:

implanting, in series, a plurality of orthopedic implants into a patient, where each orthopedic implant includes at least one sensor sensing on at least a portion of an articulating surface of each of the plurality of orthopedic implants;

taking each of the plurality of orthopedic implants through a range of motion to generate in vivo kinematic data from the at least one sensor; and

prioritizing the plurality of orthopedic implants in view of the in vivo kinematic data.

3. A method of designing and selecting an orthopedic implant design comprising;

implanting, in series, a plurality of orthopedic implants into a patient, where each orthopedic implant includes at least one kinematic sensor;

taking each of the plurality of orthopedic implants through a range of motion to generate in vivo kinematic data from the at least one sensor; and

modifying a design of at least one of the plurality of orthopedic implants in view of the in vivo kinematic data.

4. A method of designing and selecting an orthopedic implant design comprising:

implanting an orthopedic implant into a patient, where the orthopedic implant includes at least one kinematic sensor;

taking the orthopedic implant through a range of motion to generate in vivo kinematic data from the at least one kinematic sensor; and

modifying a design of the orthopedic implant in view of the in vivo kinematic data.

5. A method of designing and selecting an orthopedic implant design comprising:

implanting an orthopedic implant into a patient, where the orthopedic implant includes at least one kinematic sensor;

taking the orthopedic implant through a range of motion to generate in vivo kinematic data from the at least one sensor;

removing the orthopedic implant;

reconfiguring the orthopedic implant to change its shape;

implanting the reconfigured orthopedic implant into the patient, where the reconfigured orthopedic implant includes at least one kinematic sensor;

taking the reconfigured orthopedic implant through a range of motion to generate in vivo kinematic data from the at least one sensor; and

modifying a design of the orthopedic implant in view of the in vivo kinematic data.

6. A method of designing and selecting an orthopedic implant design comprising:

implanting an orthopedic implant into a patient, where the orthopedic implant includes at least one sensor sensing conditions on at least a portion of a bearing surface;

taking the orthopedic implant through a range of motion to generate in vivo sensor data from the at least one sensor indicative of kinematics;

removing the orthopedic implant;

reconfiguring the orthopedic implant to change its shape;

implanting the reconfigured orthopedic implant into the patient, where the reconfigured orthopedic implant includes at least one sensor sensing conditions on at least a portion of a bearing surface of the orthopedic implant;

taking the reconfigured orthopedic implant through a range of motion to generate in vivo sensor data from the at least one sensor indicative of kinematics; and

prioritizing, between the orthopedic implant and the reconfigured orthopedic implant in view of the in vivo sensor data.

7. A method of designing and selecting an orthopedic implant design comprising:

implanting a first orthopedic implant into a patient, where the first orthopedic implant includes at least one sensor detecting surface pressure on an articulating surface of the first orthopedic implant;

taking the first orthopedic implant through a range of motion to generate in vivo sensor data from the at least one sensor;

removing the orthopedic implant;

reconfiguring the first orthopedic implant to change its configuration;

implanting the reconfigured orthopedic implant into the patient, where the reconfigured orthopedic implant includes at least one sensor detecting surface pressure on an articulating surface of the reconfigured orthopedic implant;

taking the reconfigured orthopedic implant through a range of motion to generate in vivo sensor data from the at least one sensor; and

selecting a final orthopedic implant design in view of the in vivo sensor data.

8. A method of designing, selecting, and fabricating an orthopedic implant comprising:

implanting an orthopedic implant into a patient, where the orthopedic implant includes at least one kinematic sensor;

taking the orthopedic implant through a range of motion to generate in vivo kinematic data from the at least one kinematic sensor;

removing the orthopedic implant;

reconfiguring the orthopedic implant to change its shape;

implanting the reconfigured orthopedic implant into the patient, where the reconfigured orthopedic implant includes at least one kinematic sensor;

taking the reconfigured orthopedic implant through a range of motion to generate in vivo kinematic data from the at least one kinematic sensor;

selecting between the orthopedic implant and the reconfigured orthopedic implant in view of the in vivo kinematic data; and

rapid manufacturing a final orthopedic implant in view of the in vivo kinematic data.

9. A method of designing an orthopedic implant, comprising the steps of:

a. creating a 3D patient specific bone model using a computer running bone model software;

b. registering an actual patient bone with the bone model using a computer running registration software;

c. providing a database of orthopedic implant designs;

d. selecting an orthopedic implant from the database of implant designs;

e. providing a database of joint kinematics;

f. applying the selected implant to the patient specific bone model using a computer running, implant design software;

g. taking the orthopedic implant applied to the patient specific one model and the bone model through a virtual range of motion using the computer running the implant design software;

h. comparing the virtual range of motion to desired kinematic data; and

i. making adjustments to the design of the orthopedic implant using the computer running the implant design software in view of the desired kinematic data.

10. A method of designing an orthopedic implant, comprising the steps of:

a. creating a 3D patient specific bone model using a computer running bone model software;

b. registering an actual patient bone with the bone model using a computer running registration software;

c. providing a database of orthopedic implant designs;

d. selecting an orthopedic implant from a database of implant designs;

e. providing a database of joint kinematics;

f. applying the selected implant to the patient specific bone model;

g. taking the orthopedic implant applied to the patient specific bone model and the bone model through a virtual range of motion using a computer running implant design software;

h. comparing the virtual range of motion to desired kinematic data;

i. making adjustments to the design of the orthopedic implant using the computer running implant design software in view of the desired kinematic data; and

j. repeating steps a through h until achieving a desired result.

11. A method of selecting the optimal orthopedic implant for a specific patient, comprising the steps of:

a. creating a 3D patient specific boric model using a computer running bone model software;

b. registering an actual patient bone with the bone model using a computer running registration software;

c. tracking the motion of the patient's actual bone through a range of motion;

d. providing a database of orthopedic implant designs;

e. selecting an orthopedic implant from a database of implant designs;

f. providing a database of joint kinematics;

g. applying the selected implant to the patient specific bone model;

h. taking the orthopedic implant applied to the patient specific bone model through a virtual range of motion using a computer running implant design software;

i. comparing the virtual range of motion to desired kinematic data;

j. repeating, steps (a) through (i) a desired number of times; and

k. choosing the implant that provides the best kinematic result.

12. A method of designing an orthopedic implant, comprising the steps of:

a. creating a generic bone model;

b. registering an actual patient bone with the one model;

c. providing an orthopedic implant;

d. implanting the orthopedic implant onto the patient's bone;

e. providing a database of joint kinematics;

f. taking the orthopedic implant and the bone model through a range of motion;

g. tracking the motion of the implant and bone combination;

h. comparing the actual motion of the implant and bone in combination to the kinematic database; and

i. making adjustments to the design of the orthopedic implant in view of the desired kinematic data.

13. A method of selecting an orthopedic implant, comprising the steps of:

a. creating a 3D patient specific bone model;

b. registering an actual patient bone with the one model;

c. providing an orthopedic implant;

d. implanting the orthopedic implant onto the patient's bone;

e. providing, a database of joint kinematics;

f. taking the orthopedic implant and the patient's bone model through a range of motion;

g. tracking the motion of the implant and bone combination;

h. comparing the actual motion of the implant and bone in combination to the kinematic database; and

i. making patient specific adjustments to the orthopedic implant in view of the desired kinematic data.