Positioning device for ankle joint replacement surgery

1. A positioning device for ankle joint replacement surgery, comprising:

a base frame;

a tibial support assembly that:

extends from and is slidably connected to the base frame; and

is sized, shaped, and positionable to support a lower leg;

a footplate assembly that:

extends from and is slidably connected to the base frame; and

is sized, shaped, and positionable to support a foot; and

a cutter pivot assembly that:

extends from and is slidably connected to the base frame;

is positioned between the tibial support assembly and the footplate assembly; and

is sized, shaped and positioned to receive a surgical cutting tool and to constrain the cutting tool to swing in an arc that would make an arc cut in a bone of an ankle joint when a lower leg is positioned in the device.

2. The positioning device of claim 1 , wherein the base frame comprises:

two side rails on which slide the tibial support assembly, the footplate assembly, and the cutter pivot assembly; and

two end pieces spanning the side rails at opposing ends of the wide rails.

3. The positioning device of claim 2 , wherein the two end pieces each define a plurality of holes arranged in opposition to each other such that they are capable of receiving a radiographic alignment rod.

4. The positioning device of claim 1 , wherein the tibial support assembly comprises:

at least one rail mount clamp slidably connected to the base frame; and

a lower leg support cradle sized, shaped, and positionable to support a lower leg.

5. The positioning device of claim 4 , wherein the at least one lower leg support cradle is substantially semi-circular in shape.

6. The positioning device of claim 4 , wherein the tibial support assembly further comprises at least one tibial fixation pin adjustably connected to the lower leg support cradle and sized, shaped, and positioned to be fixed to a tibia when a lower leg is positioned in the device.

7. The positioning device of claim 1 , wherein the footplate assembly comprises:

at least one rail mount clamp slidably connected to the base frame;

a footplate connected to the at least one rail mount clamp; and

at least one heel support cradle connected to and extending from the footplate and sized, shaped, and positionable to support a heel.

8. The positioning device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one heel support cradle is substantially semi-circular in shape.

9. The positioning device of claim 7 , wherein the footplate assembly further comprises at least one talar fixation pin adjustably connected to the footplate and sized, shaped, and positioned to be fixed to a talus when a lower leg is positioned in the device.

10. The positioning device of claim 7 , wherein the footplate assembly further comprises at least one foot strap adjustably connected to the footplate and positionable to secure a foot to the footplate.

11. The positioning device of claim 7 , wherein the footplate is translucent.

12. The positioning device of claim 7 , wherein the footplate is clear.

13. The positioning device of claim 1 , wherein the cutter pivot assembly further comprises at least one rail mount clamp slidably connected to the base frame.

14. The positioning device of claim 1 , wherein the cutter pivot assembly comprises:

a pivot; and

a pivot guide that is rotatable on the pivot and that is sized, shaped, and positioned to receive a surgical cutting tool.

15. The positioning device of claim 14 , wherein the pivot comprises a rod extending from the cutter pivot assembly.

16. The positioning device of claim 15 , wherein the pivot guide comprises a pivot rod receptacle on which the pivot guide rotates, and a cutting tool receptacle by which a surgical cutting tool is receivable.

17. The positioning device of claim 16 , further comprising a surgical cutting tool received by the pivot guide.

18. The positioning device of claim 13 , wherein the cutter pivot assembly further comprises controls allowing for horizontal and vertical movement of the cutter pivot assembly in relation to the base frame.

19. The positioning device of claim 13 , wherein the cutter pivot assembly further comprises a surgical drill received by the cutter pivot guide and fitted with an oscillating curved saw blade capable of making an arc cut in an ankle bone.

20. The positioning device of claim 13 , wherein the cutter pivot assembly further comprises a stop that limits an extent of the arc in which the surgical cutting tool swings.