Abstract
A scaphoid prosthesis comprises a body bounded by an outer surface, wherein the outer surface is substantially corresponding to a patient's scaphoid. The body of the scaphoid prosthesis comprises a tubular base element including a first end portion and a second end portion and a plurality of protruding portions. A passage is provided in the tubular base element for a fixation means for fixing the scaphoid prosthesis in its position. The passage is configured as a curved passage.
Claims
1. A scaphoid prosthesis comprising a body bounded by an outer surface, wherein the outer surface is substantially corresponding to a patient's scaphoid, wherein the body of the scaphoid prosthesis comprises a tubular base element including a first end portion and a second end portion and a plurality of protruding portions wherein a single passage is provided in the tubular base element configured to engage a fixation means for fixing the scaphoid prosthesis in its position, wherein the passage is configured as a curved passage.
2. The scaphoid prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the passage is positioned in the body in such a way that the distance between a passage wall and the body surface measured along any line intersecting with a longitudinal axis is substantially uniform in any cross-sectional area arranged normally to the longitudinal axis of the passage.
3. The scaphoid prosthesis of claim 2, wherein the passage extends from the first end portion to the second end portion.
4. The scaphoid prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the passage comprises an attachment portion.
5. The scaphoid prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the passage comprises first hole and a second hole, wherein the first hole comprises a first longitudinal axis and the second hole comprises a second longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second longitudinal axes are arranged in an angle to each other.
6. The scaphoid prosthesis according to claim 1, the body comprising a contralateral side, wherein the body is anatomically contoured based on data of the contralateral side or from a database.
7. The scaphoid prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portions have a substantially spherical or ellipsoid shape twisted about a longitudinal axis, wherein the twisting angle of the first end portion relative to the second end portion is about 90 degrees.
8. The scaphoid prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the scaphoid prosthesis is created utilizing a scaphoid model, wherein the scaphoid model is generated utilizing patient scaphoid data, wherein the shape of the scaphoid model represents the shape of the scaphoid prosthesis.
9. The scaphoid prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the scaphoid prosthesis is made from a biocompatible material.
10. The scaphoid prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the scaphoid prosthesis is made from a material which comprises at least one element from the group consisting of titanium, a plastic and a ceramic material.
11. The scaphoid prosthesis according to claim 10, wherein the plastic comprises a biocompatible plastic.
12. The scaphoid prosthesis according to claim 11, wherein the biocompatible plastic comprises a polymer.
13. The scaphoid prosthesis according to claim 12, wherein the polymer comprises a polyetheretherketone.
14. The scaphoid prosthesis according to claim 10, wherein the ceramic material comprises a ceramic material containing zirconia.
15. The scaphoid prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the scaphoid prosthesis comprises an attachment portion configured to engage a fixation element, wherein the fixation element is configured to fix the scaphoid prosthesis in a position.
16. The scaphoid prosthesis according to claim 15, wherein the fixation element is configured as a tendon strip.
17. The scaphoid prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the scaphoid prosthesis is obtained by an additive manufacturing method.
18. A method for manufacturing the scaphoid prosthesis of claim 1, the method comprising an additive manufacturing step.
19. The method according to claim 18, the method comprising, by a computing device, receiving data relating to the shape of a patient's scaphoid and generating a scaphoid model, wherein the shape of the scaphoid model corresponds to the shape of the patient's scaphoid.
20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the step of generating a scaphoid model comprises utilizing the data relating to the shape of the patient's scaphoid.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0043] The invention will be explained in more detail in the following with reference to the drawings obtained from [3]/[4].
[0044] FIG. 1 is a view of the carpal bones.
[0045] FIG. 2 is a view of the blood supply of the scaphoid.
[0046] FIG. 3a is an x-ray scan of a pseudoarthrosis of the scaphoid.
[0047] FIG. 3b is an MRI scan of a pseudoarthrosis of the scaphoid.
[0048] FIG. 4a is a view of the first stage of SNAC.
[0049] FIG. 4b is a view of the second stage of SNAC.
[0050] FIG. 4c is a view of the third stage of SNAC.
[0051] FIG. 5a is a view of a prior art treatment of pseudoarthrosis of the scaphoid involving the integration of a non-vascularized bone graft into the patient's scaphoid.
[0052] FIG. 5b is a view of the second stage of the treatment according to FIG. 5a.
[0053] FIG. 5c is a view of the third stage of the treatment according to FIG. 5a.
[0054] FIG. 5d is a view of the fourth stage of the treatment according to FIG. 5a.
[0055] FIG. 5e is a view of a prior art treatment of pseudoarthrosis of the scaphoid involving the integration of a local vascularized bone graft from the dorsal side of the distal radius into the patient's scaphoid.
[0056] FIG. 5f is a view of a second stage of the treatment according to FIG. 5.
[0057] FIG. 5g is a view of variant of the treatment according to FIG. 5a or FIG. 5b using a local vascularized bone graft from the palmar side of the distal radius.
[0058] FIG. 5h is a view of a prior art treatment of pseudoarthrosis of the scaphoid involving the integration of a free vascularized bone graft from the knee into the patient's scaphoid.
[0059] FIG. 6a is a view of a prior art treatment of pseudoarthrosis of the scaphoid involving a resection of the scaphoid.
[0060] FIG. 6b is a view of the prior art treatment of pseudoarthrosis of the scaphoid lo according to FIG. 6a involving a partial fusion of the carpal bones also referred to as a 4-corner fusion.
[0061] FIG. 6c is a view of an x-ray scanned image of a treatment according to FIG. 6a or FIG. 6b.
[0062] FIG. 7 is a view on the wrist bones after a proximal row carpectomy.
[0063] FIG. 8a is a first view of a scaphoid prosthesis according to a first embodiment of the invention.
[0064] FIG. 8b is a second view of the scaphoid prosthesis according to FIG. 8a.
[0065] FIG. 8c is a first view of a scaphoid prosthesis according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0066] FIG. 9a-9c is a view of a technique for attaching a scaphoid prosthesis to a carpal bone structure according to one variant.
[0067] FIG. 9d is a view of a technique for attaching a scaphoid prosthesis to a carpal bone structure according to one variant.
[0068] FIG. 9e is a view of a section of a scapholunate ligament.
[0069] FIG. 10 is a view of a technique for attaching a scaphoid prosthesis to a carpal bone structure according to one variant.
[0070] FIG. 11a-j is a view of a series of steps of a technique for attaching a scaphoid prosthesis to a carpal bone structure according to one variant.
[0071] FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a computing device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0072] FIG. 1 shows the position of the scaphoid 1 in a human wrist 10. FIG. 1 shows thus the bones of a left hand in a dorsal view. The scaphoid 1 is the most important carpal bone connecting the radius 2 and the ulna 3 with the capitate 4 and the lunate 5.
[0073] FIG. 2 shows a detail of the blood supply to the scaphoid 1 as depicted in FIG. 1. The sectional view of FIG. 2 shows a portion of a main blood vessel 11 and a branching blood vessel 12 alimenting the scaphoid 1. Because of the distally based blood supply healing of fractures is at risk because the proximal pole 13 has no blood supply and therefore only bad healing potential. The scaphoid is connected to the lunate with the scapho-lunate ligament 14. If a fracture of the scaphoid 1 does not heal, a pseudoarthrosis will develop. If untreated, the pseudoarthrosis will lead to destruction of the joint cartilage and an arthrosis develops together with an inflammation or arthritis resulting in pain, loss of range of motion and function.
[0074] FIG. 3a shows a pseudoarthrosis of the scaphoid 1 on a left hand in an image, which was obtained by conventional x-ray. The MRI-scan in FIG. 3b shows a decreased perfusion of the proximal pole 13. The area of decreased perfusion is shown as a dark colored Scaphoid bone compared to the other brighter carpal bones, e.g. the neighboring capitate 4 or lunate 5.
[0075] The development of the arthrosis follows a defined process and results finally in a collapse of the biomechanical important carpal alignment, which will finally lead to a complete arthrosis of the wrist. FIG. 4a-c show the stages of development of the arthrosis in case of scaphoid nonunion 1. In the first stage of the so-called Scaphoid Nonunion Advanced Collapse (=SNAC) arthrosis is shown in FIG. 4a and develops between the styloid of the radius 2 and the scaphoid 1 bone. The second stage, as shown in FIG. 4b, additionally affects the midcarpal joint between capitate 4 and the scaphoid 1 where arthrosis develops. During the third stage, as shown in FIG. 4c, the midcarpal joint between scaphoid and lunate 5 bone is also affected.
[0076] Surgical treatment of the scaphoid pseudoarthrosis according to the prior art consists of a resection of the pseudoarthrosis and reconstruction of the scaphoid using a non-vascularized bone graft (i.e. from the iliac crest).
[0077] FIG. 5a shows the normal positioned scaphoid. Angle 16 is the scapho-lunate angle (S-L angle) which is calculated between an orthogonal line 15 through the lunate and a line which lies exactly in the axis 18 of the scaphoid 1. Normal values range from 30 to 70 degrees.
[0078] FIG. 5b shows a scaphoid in a mal-united position. The scaphoid has like a humpback why this mal-united position is called a humpback-deformity. Angle 17 has a value greater than 70 degrees. A correct placed bone graft 20 leads to the results seen in FIG. 5c where the scaphoid 1 is in anatomical position and the S-L-angle 16 is normal. This bone graft 20 is then fixed using a compression screw 30 seen in FIG. 5d.
[0079] In cases of a vascularity of the proximal pole a local vascularized bone graft 25 is used (FIG. 5e, FIG. 5f or FIG. 5g). FIG. 5e shows the dorsal portion of the distal radius 2 containing a blood supply 26 after removal of the tissue layers 27. The treatment of pseudoarthrosis of the scaphoid 1 involves the integration of a local vascularized bone graft 20 from the dorsal side of the distal radius 2 into the patient's scaphoid 1. FIG. 5g shows a variant of a local vascularized bone graft 35 from the palmar side of the distal radius 2.
[0080] Alternatively a free vascularized bone graft 40 can be used taken from another location in the body, such as e.g. from the medial femoral condyle as shown in FIG. 5h. FIG. 5h also shows a model of the scaphoid 1 from which the avascular proximal segment has been removed by resection. The resected segment from the knee is attached to the scaphoid 1 shown in the model depicted on the left side of the resected scaphoid 1. A possible origin of the free vascularized bone graft 40 is shown by the curved arrow pointing to the location on the medial femoral condyle from which the osteo-cartilaginous graft is harvested to recreate the scaphoid proximal pole.
[0081] If these techniques do not lead to healing of the scaphoid bone, a partial fusion would be the next step as shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b. For this reason, the complete scaphoid is excised and a fusion of the capitate 4, hamate 6, lunate 5 and triquetrum 7 is performed, commonly referred to as a 4-corner fusion. The fusion element 45 connects in FIG. 6b the capitate 4, lunate 5, triquetrum 7 and hamate 6. FIG. 6c shows a partially fused wrist treated by 4-corner fusion in an x-ray scan.
[0082] If the capitate head and the lunate fossa of the distal radius is still in good condition and covered by cartilage, a proximal row carpectomy (PRC) can be performed alternatively as shown in FIG. 7. This procedure is only during SNAC stage 1 and early stage 2 possible whereas a 4-corner fusion is also possible in stage 3.
[0083] The surgical salvage procedure in the final stage of arthrosis, (complete radio- and midcarpal arthrosis) is the complete fusion of the wrist.
[0084] FIG. 8a shows a first view of a scaphoid prosthesis according to a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 8b shows a second view of the scaphoid prosthesis according to FIG. 8a. The scaphoid prosthesis 100 comprises a body 102 bounded by an outer surface, whereby the outer surface is substantially corresponding to a patient's scaphoid 1. The body 102 of the scaphoid prosthesis comprises a tubular base element 105 including a first end portion 104 and a second end portion 106 and a plurality of protruding portions. By way of example a protruding portion 107 and a protruding portion 108 are shown in FIG. 8a. A passage 110 is provided in the tubular base element for a fixation means for fixing the scaphoid prosthesis in its position.
[0085] The passage 110 is in FIG. 8a and also FIG. 8b only partially visible, therefore it is shown in dotted lines. The end portion 104 is configured as an opening of the passage 110 and is approximated by an ellipsoidical circumference. The shape of the circumference of the end portion 104 can deviate from the ellipsoidical structure depending on the patient's scaphoid forming the basis for the 3D model used for generating the scaphoid prosthesis.
[0086] In FIG. 8b it is also shown, that the shape of the end portion 106 may be approximated by an ellipsoidical circumference. The position of the protrusions 107, 108 in FIG. 8a and of the protrusions 108 and 109 of the FIG. 8b can be described in relation to the position of the passage 110 and the end portions 104, 106.
[0087] The tubular base element has a longitudinal axis substantially corresponding to the passage 110 in the body of the scaphoid prosthesis 100. The longitudinal axis substantially extends from the first end portion 104 to the second end portion 106. The protruding portions 107, 108, 109 have a roughly spherical or ellipsoid shape twisted about the longitudinal axis, whereby the twisting angle of the first end portion relative to the second end portion is about 90 degrees.
[0088] The scaphoid model is generated from patient data and corresponds in its shape substantially with the patient's scaphoid, whereby the scaphoid prosthesis is obtained from the scaphoid model.
[0089] The scaphoid model can be designed by a computer aided design software using the anonymized patient data for calculating a shape of a replacement scaphoid of the shape of the patient's scaphoid. The shape of the replacement scaphoid can have an outer surface forming the surface of the scaphoid prosthesis, which has substantially the same shape as the surface of the patient's scaphoid. In particular, the scaphoid prosthesis can be made from a biocompatible material. The scaphoid prosthesis can be made from one of titanium, a plastic or a ceramic material. The plastic can be a biocompatible plastic. The biocompatible plastic can be made of a polymer.
[0090] By way of an example, the manufacture of a scaphoid prosthesis will be explained in the subsequent paragraph. An average size of the prosthesis was evaluated by measuring 9 scaphoids of anonymized computed tomography patient data by making use of the Geomagic Freeform application resulting in the scaphoid prosthesis according to FIGS. 8a/b. The scaphoid prosthesis models obtained by the Geomagic Freeform application were segmented by making use of the Mimics 16.0 application. The prototype was then printed in titanium. The surface finishing was performed using vibratory grinding.
[0091] According to an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 8c, the scaphoid prosthesis is obtained from a tubular or multi-angular shape. The basis for the scaphoid prosthesis according to this embodiment can be a tubular element. This element is provided with a plurality of slits, such that a configuration is obtained, in which a plurality of striped or ribbon-shaped elements are generated. By moving the first end portion 104 towards the second end portion 106 a bulged structure is formed as the striped or ribbon-shaped elements are bent outwardly. By twisting the first bulged portion with respect the second bulged portion about the longitudinal axis, the bulged structure can be modified to correspond to the structure of a patient's scaphoid. Thus, a plurality of protrusions 108, 109 can be shaped in this manner. The thin-walled hollow structure can be reinforced by a web and/or can be covered or coated with a biocompatible material to obtain the final shape of the scaphoid prosthesis. Advantageously, the thin-walled hollow structure is also made from a biocompatible material, in particular from a biocompatible material, which is deformable, e.g. a biocompatible metal, such as titanium.
[0092] A passage 110 can be provided in the scaphoid prosthesis for a fixation means for fixing the scaphoid prosthesis 100 in its position. The passage 110 extends from the first end portion 104 to the second end portion 106.
[0093] FIG. 9a, 9b, 9c show the integration of the scaphoid prosthesis 100 in the carpal bone and ligament structure. The biomechanical and functional suspension of the prosthesis derives from known procedures for scapholunate ligament 120 reconstruction, which is the ligament between the scaphoid 1 and the lunate 5 bone and one of the main stabilizers of the carpus. Other ligaments for the stabilization of the carpal bone are so called secondary stabilizers and are ligaments between the scaphoid and the carpus other than the scapholunate ligament. FIG. 9a shows the position of a scaphoid prosthesis 100 according to a configuration as described for instance in any of the preceding embodiments. The scaphoid prosthesis 100 is placed into the space of the patient's scaphoid and precisely fits into the space bounded by the radius 2, the lunate 5 and the other carpal bones. The scaphoid prosthesis is disposed with a passing 110 comprising a first end portion 104 and a second end portion 106. The first end portion 104 is shown in FIG. 9b as it is not visible in FIG. 9a.
[0094] A tendon strip 125 is threaded through the passage 110 and connected to itself after being passed through a dorsal radio-carpal ligament 115 as shown in FIG. 9d in more detail. Alternatively, the tendon strip 125 can only be fixed to the lunate 5 or to the lunate 5 and the triquetrum 7 without being passed through a dorsal radio-carpal ligament 115.
[0095] FIG. 9e shows a section of the scapholunate ligament 120, which is arranged on the lower circumference of the scaphoid 1 or the scaphoid prosthesis 100. The scapholunate ligament comprises a dorsal portion 121, a proximal portion 122 and a palmar portion 123.
[0096] The suspension is carried out through the passage 110 in the prosthesis using a tendon strip of the Flexor Carpi Radialis tendon (FCR) 125. A modified scapholunate ligament reconstruction technique is shown in FIG. 9d.
[0097] Alternatively, a minimal invasive and modified technique is shown also in FIG. 10. According to this variant, the scaphoid prosthesis 100 is fixed to the lunate by directing a tendon strip of a FCR 135 around the lunate 5. The passage 110 in the scaphoid prosthesis 100 extends from the palmar surface of the scaphoid prosthesis to the dorsal surface of the scaphoid prosthesis 100. The palmar surface is located in FIG. 9f on the rear side of the drawing, the dorsal surface is visible and therefore also the opening corresponding to the first end portion 104. The second opening of the second end portion 106 is located on the palmar side. The scaphoid prosthesis is shown in a transparent mode to make the passage 110 visible, which connects the first end portion 104 to the second end portion 106.
[0098] FIG. 11a-j show an alternative technique to place and fix a scaphoid prosthesis 100 to lunate 5. FIG. 11a is a top view onto the scaphoid 1 in its biomechanically correct position with respect to the lunate 5 and the radius 2 shown behind the scaphoid and the ulna 3. The scapholunate ligament 120 connecting the scaphoid and the lunate is shown in their normal position. FIG. 11b shows a rupture of the scapholunate ligament. FIG. 11c shows the first step of a scapholunate ligament reconstruction from a lateral view, with the principal modification that the patient's scaphoid 1 is substituted by the scaphoid prosthesis 100 according to any of the preceding embodiments. The scaphoid prosthesis is disposed with a passage 110. A tendon strip 135 is threaded through the passage 110 from the first end portion 104 to the second end portion 106. The tendon strip 135 can be a portion of the FCR (flexor carpi radialis) tendon or another one. In FIG. 11d it is shown, that the scaphoid prosthesis 100 is placed in the biomechanically correct position by pulling the end of the tendon strip 135 extending from the second end portion 106. Thereby the scaphoid prosthesis is rotated and/or repositioned on the joint socket of the radius 2.
[0099] FIG. 11e shows a section of the scaphoid prosthesis 100 showing the passage 110. The tendon strip 135 extends through the passage 110. A portion of the tendon strip 135 is shown in section, which reveals the inner structure 136 of the tendon strip 135. The inner structure includes an interference screw 137, as an example of a fixation element, which is used for fixing the tendon strip 135 in its position in the passage 110. The passage 110 is at least on the location of the desired final position of the interference screw 138 is disposed with a thread corresponding to the thread of the interference screw 137. The diameter of the passage 110 may be greater than the outer diameter of the interference screw 137 in those locations, which the interference screw has to pass before reaching its final position. Alternatively, the passage may be composed of a first hole and a second hole, whereby the first hole comprises a longitudinal axis and the second hole comprises a longitudinal axis. The first and second longitudinal axes extend substantially parallel to each other. The first hole and the second hole advantageously include a common intersection plane, such that a portion of the first hole extends into the second hole and a portion of the second hole extends into the first hole. One of the first or second holes is advantageously disposed with a thread. According to an embodiment, the surface of the passage can include a roughened portion. The roughened portion may form an anchoring portion for an interference screw. A thread may be formed in the roughened portion by the interference screw when placing the interference screw in the roughened portion. The roughened portion advantageously comprises a material which softer or at most of the same hardness as the material of the interference screw. A softer material may ease the positioning of the interference screw in the roughened portion of the passage 110.
[0100] FIG. 11f shows the fixation of the tendon strip 135 onto the lunate bone 5 on the palmar side. The lunate bone 5 is disposed with a passage 150, which receives another portion of the tendon strip 135. Thereby the scaphoid prosthesis 100 can be connected to the lunate bone 5. FIG. 11f further shows a fixation element 140, which connects the scaphoid prosthesis 100 to the lunate 5 on the palmar side. The fixation element 140 is also tied to the first and second end 141, 142 of the ruptured scapholunate ligament 120 on its dorsal side by a thread 143 and to the FCR (or other tendon) tendon, such that in particular the tendon strip 135 taken from the FCR is united by a suture to the main body of the FCR tendon. Thereby the scapholunate ligament 120 can be reconstructed and the position of the scaphoid prosthesis 100 can be stabilized.
[0101] FIG. 11g shows a section of the tendon strip 135 in the scaphoid prosthesis 100.
[0102] FIG. 11h shows an adjustment of the position of the scaphoid prosthesis 100 with respect to the lunate 5 by pulling the tendon strip 135. The first end 141 and the second end 142 of the ruptured scapholunate ligament 120 are moved closer to each other. In a next step shown in FIG. 11i, the end of the tendon strip 135 is attached to the fixation element 140 by passing the two ends of the thread 143 through the end of the tendon strip 135.
[0103] FIG. 11j shows that the two ends of the thread 143 are tied together to a knot 144. Thereby the tendon strip 135 is fixed in its position and the scaphoid prosthesis as well as the two ends 141, 142 of the scapholunate ligament 120 are fixed in their respective positions.
[0104] An aspect of the disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a scaphoid prosthesis comprising a body bounded by an outer surface, wherein the outer surface is substantially corresponding to a patient's scaphoid, wherein the body of the scaphoid prosthesis comprises a tubular base element including a first end portion and a second end portion and a plurality of protruding portions wherein a single passage is provided in the tubular base element configured to engage a fixation means for fixing the scaphoid prosthesis in its position, wherein the passage is configured as a curved passage, the method comprising an additive manufacturing step.
[0105] In one embodiment, the method comprising, by a computing device 200 such as shown in FIG. 12, receiving data relating to the shape of a patient's scaphoid and generating a scaphoid model, wherein the shape of the scaphoid model corresponds to the shape of the patient's scaphoid.
[0106] In one embodiment, the method comprising, by a computing device 200, generating a scaphoid model utilizing data relating to the shape of a patient's scaphoid.
[0107] A method for manufacturing a scaphoid prosthesis according to any of the preceding embodiments comprises an additive manufacturing step. In one step of the method, data are obtained relating to the shape of a patient's scaphoid. In one step of the method, a scaphoid model can be generated by a computer aided design software. The scaphoid model can be generated from patient data. Advantageously, the scaphoid model can correspond in its shape substantially with the patient's scaphoid. In one step of the method, the scaphoid prosthesis can be obtained from the scaphoid model by the additive manufacturing method.
[0108] A method for manufacturing a scaphoid prosthesis according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the scaphoid prosthesis is formed from a tubular element comprising a plurality of ribbon-shaped elements, whereby the outer shape of the scaphoid prosthesis is shaped by moving the first end portion towards the second end portion such that a roughly spherical or ellipsoidical shape is obtained, whereby the first end portion is twisted relative to the second end portion such that a scaphoid shape is obtained which corresponds roughly to the surface of the patient's scaphoid.
[0109] The computing device 200 can be any device, such as a personal computer, lap top, an electronic reader, or the like, configured to receive data relating to the shape of a patient's scaphoid and/or configured to generate a scaphoid model. Data can be information related to a patient's scaphoid, such as size, dimensions, angles, protrusions, shape, or the like.
[0110] The computing device 200 as shown in FIG. 12, can have a processor 202 configured to generate a scaphoid model. The processor 202 can be used to run operating system applications, firmware applications, media playback applications, media editing applications, or any other application. In some embodiments, processor 202 can drive a display and process inputs received from an interface. The processor 202 can be an FPGA, ASIC, microchip, hardwired circuit, software controlled processor, DSP, or the like.
[0111] The computing device 200 can have storage 204, such as, one or more storage mediums including a hard-drive, solid state drive, flash memory, permanent memory such as ROM, any other suitable type of storage component, or any combination thereof. Storage 204 can store, for example, media data (e.g., audio or video files), application data (e.g., for implementing functions on the computing device 200), firmware, data relating to the shape of a patient's scaphoid and/or scaphoid model, and any other suitable data or any combination thereof.
[0112] The computing device 200 can have a memory 206, such as a cache memory, a semi-permanent memory, such as a RAM, and/or one or more different types of memory used for temporarily storing data. In some embodiments, the memory 206 can also be used for storing data used to operate computing device applications, or any other type of data that can be stored in the storage 204. In some embodiments, the memory 206 and the storage 204 can be combined as a single storage medium. In some embodiments, the memory 206 and the storage 204 are coupled to the processor 202.
[0113] The computing device 200 can have a user interface 208 configured to receive instructions, e.g. from a user, by way of a keyboard, keypad, touch pad, microphone, movement sensor, gesture sensor, camera, or the like. The user interface 208 can have a display/monitor of any type (LED, LCD, OLED, Plasma, CRT, or the like) and/or sound generators, such as speakers.
[0114] The computing device 200 can have communications circuitry 210, for example, any suitable communications circuitry 210 configured to connect to a communications network and to transmit communications (e.g., voice or data) from computing device 200 to other electronic devices. The communication circuitry 210 can have receivers and/or transmitters. The receivers can be configured to receive instructions from a device and thus allows a user to enter instructions into the computing device 200. The transmitters can be configured to transmit instructions from the computing device 200 and thus allow a user to send instructions from the computing device 200 to another device, such as a device used in an additive manufacturing method. The receivers and/or transmitters, and the computing device 200 corresponding thereto, can be configured to communicate over a wired connection or over a wireless connection, such as via Ethernet, LAN, WAN, Bluetooth, WiFi, IR communication, a cloud environment, or the like.
[0115] It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms comprises and comprising should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of an element or compound selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.
