Two-piece cut block for minimally invasive surgical procedure

• US 20030225413A1
• Filed: 06/04/2002
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zimmer Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hodorek, Robert A., Farling, Toby N., Sanford, Adam
• Granted Patent: US 6,962,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/87
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/155 Cutting femur

Abstract

A two-piece cut block for performing a minimally invasive partial or total knee arthroplasty. The present invention comprises a cut block that can be inserted into an incision in two parts then assembled in vivo. The two-piece design allows the relatively large surgical instrument to fit into a small, minimally invasive, surgical incision

Claims

1. An apparatus for guiding a resection device across a bone, the apparatus comprising:

a frame, the frame comprising at least one slot and at least one groove co-planer with the slot, the slot and the groove adapted to allow the insertion of the cutting portion of a resection device;

a cut block, the block comprising at least one block groove adapted to allow the insertion of the cutting portion of the resection device, and means for removably connecting the block to the frame such that at least one frame slot and at least one frame groove co-planar with at least one block groove.

2. The cutting guide apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises at least one cut out portion that allows an operator to see the bone there through.

3. The cutting guide apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for removably attaching the block to the frame comprises at least one screw.

4. The cutting guide apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus can be fit into an incision of about 1 cm to 6 cm in length.

5. The cutting guide apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus can be fit into an incision of about 2 cm to 4 cm in length.

6. The cutting guide apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for removably connecting the frame to the bone.

7. The cutting guide apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for removably connecting the block to the frame.