Joint resection guide

#Over time and through repeated use, bones and joints can become damaged or worn. For example, repetitive strain on bones and joints (e.g., through athletic activity), traumatic events, and certain diseases (e.g., arthritis) can cause cartilage in joint areas, for example, which normally provides a cushioning effect, to wear down. When the cartilage wears down, fluid can accumulate in the joint areas, resulting in pain, stiffness, and decreased mobility. The same can happen in the case where tendons in a joint become lax or soft tissues in or adjacent the joint tear become damaged or worn.

#Arthroplasty procedures can be used to repair damaged joints. During a typical arthroplasty procedure, an arthritic or otherwise dysfunctional joint can be remodeled or realigned, or an implant or implants can be implanted into the damaged region. Arthroplasty procedures may take place in any of a number of different regions of the body, such as a knee, a hip, a shoulder, or an elbow.

#One type of arthroplasty procedure is a shoulder arthroplasty, in which a damaged shoulder joint is replaced with prosthetic implants. The shoulder joint may have been damaged by, for example, arthritis (e.g., severe osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis), trauma, or a rare destructive joint disease.

#FIG. 1 is an oblique perspective view of a resection guide coupled to a humerus according to an aspect of the disclosure.

#FIGS. 2A-2F are oblique perspective views of various links of the resection guide of FIG. 1.

#FIGS. 3A and 3B are elevation views of a keyed portion of an alignment rod according to an arrangement.

#As used herein, the term “proximal,” when used in connection with a surgical tool or device, or components of a device, refers to the end of the device closer to the user of the device when the device is being used as intended. On the other hand, the term “distal,” when used in connection with a surgical tool or device, or components of a device, refers to the end of the device farther away from the user when the device is being used as intended. As used herein, the terms “substantially,” “generally,” “approximately,” and “about” are intended to mean that slight deviations from absolute are included within the scope of the term so modified.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a resection guide 10 mounted to a humeral head 12 of a humerus 14. Resection guide 10 includes a linkage 16 linking an anchor 18 to a cutting guide or cutting block 20. Anchor 18 is fixed to humeral head 12 with pins 22. Cutting block 20 is also fixed to humerus 14 near an anatomical neck of humerus 14 with pins 22. It should be understood that, although resection guide 10 is illustrated and described for use with a resection to the head 12 of a humerus 14, it may be used, with or without modifications, for resecting portions of other joints, such as the head of a femur.

#Linkage 16 may include a plurality of interconnected rigid links of various types. The links of the illustrated arrangement include a slider link 24, two barbell links 26, a double socket link 28, and a cutting block link 30. Anchor 18 is slidably connected to slider link 24; a first barbell link 26 connects slider link 24 to a double socket link 28; a second barbell link 26 connects double socket link 28 to cutting block link 30; and cutting block link 30 connects to cutting block 20. Though linkage 16 of the illustrated arrangement includes various types of individual links, it is contemplated that linkage 16 according to other embodiments may be constructed from only a single type of link, such as a link including a ball and a socket connected by a bar.