The present invention relates to a method of designing an orthopedic
implant in which a plurality of samples of the bone are selected and a CT
scan of each of the samples of the bone is taken so that the data from
the CT scan can be used to generate a 3D graphical solid body model of
each of the sample of the bone. The 3D graphical models are placed into a
category of one or more of average, small, and large, and the center of
mass and an X, Y and Z plane for each model is determined. The 3D
graphical models for one category is assembled and aligned at the center
of mass to create a categorized composite 3D graphical solid body model
of the bone. The categorized composite 3D graphical model is sectioned at
a specified interval to create a lofted contoured surface of a selected
thickness which is cut to create a categorized implant profile. The
categorized implant profile is graphically fit on the categorized
composite 3D graphical model and on the 3D graphical model of each of the
sample of the bone in a category to check for conformity to the surface
of the bone. The categorized implant profile is used to create a design
of the implant.