Method and Apparatus for Manufacturing an Implant

A method of preparing a pre-operative plan for an operative procedure regarding a patient, comprising:

• operating a handheld device to augment a preliminary pre-operative plan;
• viewing the pre-operative plan with a display as the handheld device;
• editing the preliminary pre-operative plan through the handheld device;
• and
• saving an edited pre-operative plan based on editing the preliminary pre-operative plan.

A method of preparing a pre-operative plan for an operative procedure regarding a patient, comprising:

• generating a preliminary pre-operative plan data file at a service provider based on at least one of a determined substantially anatomical orientation of the patient and selected resections and implants to achieve the determined substantially anatomical orientation of the patient;
• notifying a user that the preliminary pre-operative plan has been generated;
• formatting at least a portion of the preliminary pre-operative plan for display on a handheld device;
• delivering the formatted portion of the preliminary pre-operative plan;
• viewing the formatted portion of the pre-operative plan with a display on the handheld device;
• editing the preliminary pre-operative plan data file via inputs transmitted from the handheld device;
• and
• saving an edited pre-operative plan.