Method and Apparatus for Aligning and Securing an Implant Relative to a Patient

A method of implanting a prosthetic member comprising:

• detecting an initial orientation of the prosthetic member;
• saving the initial orientation into a memory module as a result of receiving a user input;
• detecting an implanting orientation of the prosthetic member;
• and
• providing an orientation feedback signal when the implanting orientation of the prosthetic member is substantially equal to the initial orientation.

A prosthesis implantation system for implanting a prosthetic member comprising:

• a trial prosthetic acetabular cup defining a trial axis;
• a primary prosthetic acetabular cup defining a primary axis;
• an impactor tool that removably couples to the primary prosthetic acetabular cup and transfers a load along a load axis to implant the primary prosthetic acetabular cup;
• and
• a prosthesis implanting apparatus that includes:
• a housing defining a housing axis, the housing being removably coupled to the trial prosthetic acetabular cup to position the housing axis at a known orientation relative to the trial axis, the housing being alternatively and removably coupled to the impactor tool to position the housing axis at a known orientation relative to the primary axis;
• an orientation sensor that detects an initial orientation of the housing axis and an implanting orientation of the housing axis relative to a direction of gravity;
• a memory module;
• an input device that receives a user input to transfer the initial orientation detected by the orientation sensor into the memory module for storage;
• an orientation feedback device that selectively provides an orientation feedback signal;
• and
• a controller that causes the orientation feedback device to provide the orientation feedback signal when the prosthesis implanting apparatus is coupled to the impactor tool and when the implanting orientation is substantially equal to the initial orientation stored in the memory module.

A method of implanting a primary prosthetic acetabular cup comprising:

• removably coupling a prosthesis implanting apparatus with an orientation sensor to a trial prosthetic acetabular cup;
• detecting an initial orientation of the trial prosthetic acetabular cup with the orientation sensor;
• saving the initial orientation into a memory module as a result of receiving a user input;
• removing the prosthesis implanting apparatus from the trial prosthetic acetabular cup;
• removably coupling an impactor tool to the primary prosthetic acetabular cup;
• removably coupling the prosthesis implanting apparatus to the impactor tool;
• detecting an implanting orientation of the prosthesis implanting apparatus with the orientation sensor;
• providing an orientation feedback signal when the implanting orientation is substantially equal to the initial orientation;
• and
• implanting the primary prosthetic acetabular cup at the initial orientation.