Method and apparatus for patella resection and guide handle

• US 6,056,754 A
• Filed: 09/17/1998
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hudson Surgical Design, Inc.
• Inventors: Haines, Timothy G., Goldstein, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): REIP, DAVID OWEN
• Application Number:
  US09/156,161
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 606/88, 606/87, 606/86, 606/96, 606/98, 606/79, 606/80, 606/81, 606/82
• US Class Current: 606/80
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/155 Cutting femur
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/157 Cutting tibia
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1675 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1764 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1767 for the patella
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1602 Mills
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3859 Femoral components

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for cutting bone. In one embodiment, a femur is resected by means of pattern plates having a cutting path with at least two continuous, non-coplanar guide surfaces. The cutting path has a similar profile to the interior profile of a femoral prosthesis. The cutting path guides a reciprocating, oscillating, or rotating cutting tool along a path for removing material from some or all of the distal femur to accept a distal femoral prosthesis. The cutting tool can be a cylindrical milling bit, and can even have a curvilinear profile to cut bone such that it has a three dimensional profile in cross section. Pattern plates can also be used to cut or remove material from other bones.

Claims

1. A method for resecting a patella comprising the steps of:

positioning pattern means along at least one side of a patella, the pattern means including a cutting path having a guide surface;

affixing the pattern means to a patella;

interconnecting a cutting means with the pattern means, the cutting means comprising a cylindrical milling bit; and

traversing the cutting means along the cutting path of the pattern means by manipulating the cutting means to continuously traverse the cutting path to resect a patella.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of traversing the cutting means along the cutting path comprises the steps of grasping a handle interconnected with the cutting means and guiding the cutting means along the cutting path by manipulating the handle.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising positioning pattern means along opposite sides of a patella.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the pattern means are formed on gripping surfaces of plier means and the step of affixing the pattern means to a patella comprises squeezing grip portions of the plier means.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of positioning the pattern means along a patella further comprises contacting a depth indicator against a patella.

6. A guide handle for guiding a milling bit to cut a bone, the guide handle comprising:

grip means for grasping the handle;

crossbar means interconnected with the handle;

sidebar means extending in facing relation from the crossbar means; and

retention means positioned on the sidebar means for receiving and retaining a milling bit.

7. The guide handle of claim 6 wherein the retention means further includes bushing means for positioning about spindles of a milling bit.

8. The guide handle of claim 7 wherein the bushing means are sized to be received in within a cutting path of a pattern plate.

9. The guide handle of claim 6 wherein the crossbar is adjustable in size.

10. The guide handle of claim 9 further including lock means for locking the size of the crossbar.

11. A method of using a guide handle to guide a milling bit to cut bone comprising the steps of:

attaching one or more pattern plates having a cutting path to a bone to be cut;

inserting a milling bit into the cutting path;

positioning a guide handle into alignment with the milling bit;

retracting a crossbar of the guide handle to move sidebars of the guide handle against the ends of the milling bit to position the ends of the milling bit within bushings on the sidebars;

positioning the bushings within the cutting path;

locking the crossbar;

actuating the milling bit; and

using a handle on the guide handle to manipulate the milling bit along the cutting path to cut a bone.

12. An apparatus for resecting a patella comprising:

grip handles for manipulating the apparatus;

cross-over members pivotally interconnected;

patella clamp members extending from the cross-over members in facing relation;

guide means associated with the clamp members for guiding a cutting means along a cutting path; and

bushings captured within the guide means for receiving the cutting the means and guiding the cutting means along the cutting path.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further including beveled edge members on the clamp members for contacting and supporting a patella.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a depth indicator for positioning the device with respect to a patella.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising pin means for interconnecting the cross-over members.