# US 5,350,382 A · Surgical cutting guide > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,350,382 A - Document ID: US5350382A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/000,760 - Filed: 1993-01-05 - Granted: 1994-09-27 - Earliest claimed: 1993-01-05 - Inventors: Jerrold E. A. Armstrong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5350382A ## CPC - A61B 17/15: Guides therefor - A61F 2/2803: {for mandibular reconstruction (temporo-mandibular joints A61F2/3099; bone plates for the jaw A61B17/8071)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract A cutting guide is provided for use in human maxillofacial surgery. The cutting guide has a bowed body portion adapted to substantially surround the interior surface of the mandible. The body portion has a substantially planar bottom surface to guide a saw blade to cut the mandible in a straight line, one or more elongated pins adapted for insertion into holes created in the mandible to locate the guide in a desired position on the mandible, and a gripper adapted to be gripped by the surgeon to stabilize the guide means while the cut is performed. The body portion is adapted for placement beneath a neurovascular bundle protruding from the surface of the mandible to avoid contact between the saw blade and the neurovascular bundle while the cut is being made. The body portion also includes retracting means to retract the neurovascular bundle to avoid contact with the saw blade. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cutting guide for use in human maxillofacial surgery comprising a bowed body portion adapted to substantially surround the anterior surface of the mandible, said body portion having: (i) a means for guiding a saw blade to cut said mandible in a straight line comprising a substantially planar bottom surface on said body portion; (ii) a means to locate the guide in a desired position on said mandible comprising one or more elongate pins adapted for insertion into holes created in the mandible; (iii) a gripper adapted to be gripped by a user to stabilize said guide means while said cut is performed; (iv) a bowed inner periphery adapted for placement adjacent the anterior surface of the mandible; and (v) a retracting means to retract a neurovascular bundle protruding from the surface of the mandible to avoid contact with said saw while making said cut, said retracting means comprising a part of said inner periphery closely spaced to said mandible and located beneath said bundle while said cut is being made. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cutting guide of claim 1 wherein said body portion is adapted for placement beneath a neurovascular bundle protruding from the surface of the mandible and to avoid contact between said saw blade and said neurovascular bundle while making said cut. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cutting guide of claim 2 wherein a first edge of said bottom surface is defined by said bowed inner periphery and a second edge of said bottom surface is defined by an outer periphery of said body portion spaced from said inner periphery away from said mandible, wherein a minimum distance is provided between said first and second edges to avoid rocking of said saw blade while making said cut. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The cutting guide of claim 3 wherein said minimum distance is at least the width of said saw blade. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cutting guide of claim 1 wherein said retracting means includes a portion of a top surface of said body portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cutting guide of claim 1 wherein said inner periphery has smooth, rounded edges to avoid cutting the neurovascular bundle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cutting guide of claim 1 wherein said pins comprise two pins equally spaced on either side of said gripper. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cutting guide of claim 7 wherein said pins are spaced apart about 1 cm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The cutting guide of claim 7 wherein each of said pins forms a smooth, slender, tubular shape which is tapered at its end furthest from said gripper to facilitate insertion of said pin into said hole. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cutting guide of claim 1 wherein said gripper comprises a loop engageable by the user's thumb. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cutting guide of claim 10 wherein said gripper is located at the apex of said bowed body portion on a top surface thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The cutting guide of claim 1 wherein said body portion has a substantially planar top surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The cutting guide of claim 1 wherein said body portion has a bowed inner periphery adapted for placement adjacent the anterior surface of the mandible, said inner periphery having smooth, rounded edges to avoid cutting the neurovascular bundle. ### Claim 14 A cutting guide for use in human maxillofacial surgery comprising a bowed body portion adapted to substantially surround the anterior surface of the mandible, said body portion having: (i) a means for guiding a saw blade to cut said mandible in a straight line comprising a substantially planar bottom surface on said body portion; (ii) a means to locate the guide in a desired position on said mandible comprising one or more elongate pins adapted for insertion into holes created in the mandible; and (iii) a gripper adapted to be gripped by a user to stabilize said guide means while said cut is performed comprising a loop engageable by the user's thumb. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The cutting guide of claim 14 wherein said body portion is adapted for placement beneath a neurovascular bundle protruding from the surface of the mandible and to avoid contact between said saw blade and said neurovascular bundle while making said cut. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The cutting guide of claim 15 wherein a first edge of said bottom surface is defined by a bowed inner periphery of said body portion adapted for placement adjacent the anterior surface of the mandible, and a second edge of said bottom surface is defined by an outer periphery of said body portion spaced from said inner periphery away from said mandible, wherein a minimum distance is provided between said first and second edges to avoid rocking of said saw blade while making said cut. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The cutting guide of claim 16 wherein said minimum distance is at least the width of said saw blade. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The cutting guide of claim 14 wherein said body portion includes retracting means to retract a neurovascular bundle protruding from the surface of the mandible, to avoid contact with said saw while making said cut. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The cutting guide of claim 18 wherein said retracting means comprises an obstruction between said neurovascular bundle and said guiding means. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The cutting guide of claim 19 wherein said body portion has a bowed inner periphery adapted for placement adjacent the anterior surface of the mandible, and said obstruction comprises a part of said inner periphery adapted to be closely spaced to said mandible and to be located beneath said bundle while said cut is being made, and a portion of a top surface of said body portion. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The cutting guide of claim 14 wherein said pins comprise two pins equally spaced on either side of said gripper. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The cutting guide of claim 21 wherein said pins are spaced apart about 1 cm. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The cutting guide of claim 21 wherein each of said pins forms a smooth, slender, tubular shape which is tapered at its end furthest from said gripper to facilitate insertion of said pin into said hole. ### Claim 24 (depends on 14) The cutting guide of claim 14 wherein said gripper is located at the apex of said bowed body portion on a top surface thereof. ### Claim 25 (depends on 14) The cutting guide of claim 14 wherein said body portion has a substantially planar top surface. ### Claim 26 A cutting guide for use in human maxillofacial surgery comprising a bowed body portion adapted to substantially surround the anterior surface of the mandible, said body portion having: (i) a means for guiding a saw blade to cut said mandible in a straight line; (ii) a means to locate the guide in a desired position on said mandible; and (iii) a gripper adapted to be gripped by a user to stabilize said guide means while said cut is performed comprising a loop engageable by the user's thumb. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The cutting guide of claim 26 wherein said locating means includes one or more elongate pins adapted for insertion into holes created in the mandible. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The cutting guide of claim 27 wherein said guiding means comprises a substantially planar bottom surface on said body portion. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The cutting guide of claim 28 wherein said body portion is adapted for placement beneath a neurovascular bundle protruding from the surface of the mandible and to avoid contact between said saw blade and said neurovascular bundle while making said cut. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The cutting guide of claim 29 wherein a first edge of said bottom surface is defined by a bowed inner periphery of said body portion adapted for placement adjacent the anterior surface of the mandible, and a second edge of said bottom surface is defined by an outer periphery of said body portion spaced from said inner periphery away from said mandible, wherein a minimum distance is provided between said first and second edges to avoid rocking of said saw blade while making said cut. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The cutting guide of claim 30 wherein said minimum distance is at least the width of said saw blade. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The cutting guide of claim 28 wherein said body portion has a substantially planar top surface. ### Claim 33 (depends on 26) The cutting guide of claim 26 wherein said body portion includes retracting means to retract a neurovascular bundle protruding from the surface of the mandible to avoid contact with said saw while making said cut. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The cutting guide of claim 33 wherein said retracting means comprises an obstruction between said neurovascular bundle and said guiding means. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The cutting guide of claim 34 wherein said body portion has a bowed inner periphery adapted for placement adjacent the anterior surface of the mandible and said obstruction comprises a part of said inner periphery adapted to be closely spaced to said mandible and to be located beneath said bundle while said cut is being made. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The cutting guide of claim 35 wherein said obstruction further includes a portion of a top surface of said body portion. ### Claim 37 (depends on 26) The cutting guide of claim 26 wherein said body portion has a bowed inner periphery adapted for placement adjacent the anterior surface of the mandible, said inner periphery having smooth, rounded edges to avoid cutting a neurovascular bundle protruding from the surface of the mandible. ### Claim 38 (depends on 27) The cutting guide of claim 27 wherein said pins comprise two pins equally spaced on either side of said gripper. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The cutting guide of claim 38 wherein said pins are spaced apart about 1 cm. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The cutting guide of claim 38 wherein each of said pins forms a smooth, slender, tubular shape which is tapered at its end furthest from said gripper to facilitate insertion of said pin into said hole. ### Claim 41 (depends on 26) The cutting guide of claim 26 wherein said gripper is located at the base of said bowed body portion on a top surface thereof.