US 5,520,692 AGranted

Adjustable depth patella recessing guide and method

AssigneeWright Medical Technology, Inc.

InventorJoseph M. Ferrante

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Abstract

An adjustable depth patella recessing guide and method for guiding a cutting tool to recess the posterior surface of a patella. The guide includes a body having a first end for engaging the posterior surface of the patella, having a second end, and having a bore extending between the first and second ends for allowing the cutting tool to pass therethrough. A depth gauge is mounted within the bore of the body for movement in a direction between the first and second ends of the body. The depth gauge includes a stop for stopping the cutting tool. A lock mechanism is provided for locking the depth gauge to the body. The method includes the steps of clamping the body of the adjustable depth patella recessing guide to the posterior surface of the patella; placing the distal end of the cutting tool against the posterior surface of the body; then ascertaining the position of the cutting tool relative to the body; then locking the depth gauge to the body so that the depth gauge will stop the cutting tool a certain distance past the ascertained position of the cutting tool relative to the body; and then inserting the cutting tool into the posterior surface of the patella until stopped by the depth gauge.

Claims12

Dependent claims

In combination, a cutting tool for recessing a posterior surface of a patella, said cutting tool having a distal end;

and an adjustable depth patella recessing guide for guiding said cutting tool to recess said posterior surface of said patella;
said guide comprising:
(a) a body having a first end for engaging said posterior surface of said patella, having a second end, and having a bore extending therethrough between said first and second ends thereof;
said bore having a first mouth conterminous with said first end of said body and sized to allow at least a portion of said posterior surface of said patella to extend thereinto when said first end of said body engages said posterior surface of said patella;
said bore having a second mouth conterminous with said second end of said body and sized to allow said distal end of said cutting tool to extend thereinto;
said distal end of said cutting tool extending into said second mouth of said bore for engaging the portion of said posterior surface of said patella extending into said first mouth of said bore and for allowing the position of said cutting tool relative to said body when said distal end of said cutting tool engages said posterior surface of said patella to be noted;
(b) a depth gauge mounted within said bore of said body for movement in a direction between said first and second ends of said body, said depth gauge including stop means for stopping said cutting tool;
and
(c) lock means for locking said depth gauge to said body in a position so that said depth gauge will stop said cutting tool a predetermined distance past the noted position of said cutting tool relative to said body when said distal end of said cutting tool engages said posterior surface of said patella.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.