# US 7,744,601 B2 · Instrumentation for minimally invasive unicompartmental knee replacement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,601 B2 - Document ID: US7744601B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/423,600 - Filed: 2006-06-12 - Published: 2006-10-19 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2006-06-12 - Assignees: Wright Medical Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Richard A. Rosa; Vernon R. Hartdegen; Eric A. Stookey; Brian R. Harris, Jr.; Robert M Fencl - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744601B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/155: {Cutting femur} - A61B 17/157: {Cutting tibia} - A61B 17/1675: {for the knee} - A61B 17/1604: {Chisels; Rongeurs; Punches; Stamps} - A61B 17/1659: {Surgical rasps, files, planes, or scrapers} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Instrumentation for surgically resurfacing a femoral condyle to receive a prosthetic femoral component in minimally invasive unicompartmental knee replacement surgery. The instrumentation includes a resurfacing guide for attachment to a femur and a rail member externally delineating an area of a femoral condyle of the femur that is to be surgically resurfaced to receive a prosthetic femoral component. The resurfacing guide has an abutment wall. The instrumentation includes a resurfacing instrument having a tissue removing surface for removing anatomical tissue from the delineated area of the femoral condyle, the tissue removing surface being movable along the delineated area to remove anatomical tissue therefrom. The resurfacing instrument has a engagement wall for contacting the abutment wall to limit the depth to which anatomical tissue is removed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Instrumentation for surgically resurfacing a femoral condyle to receive a unicompartmental prosthetic femoral component in minimally invasive unicompartmental knee replacement surgery, said instrumentation comprising a resurfacing guide for attachment to a femur and comprising a rail member externally delineating an area of a femoral condyle of the femur that is to be surgically resurfaced to receive a unicompartmental prosthetic femoral component, said resurfacing guide having an abutment wall, said rail member of said resurfacing guide including a pair of legs, said legs curving posteriorly, posterior ends of said legs integrally connected by a transverse connecting pad, said connecting pad having a recessed surface configured for supporting a posterior resection block; and a resurfacing instrument having a tissue removing surface for removing anatomical tissue from the delineated area of the femoral condyle, said tissue removing surface being movable along the delineated area to remove anatomical tissue therefrom, said resurfacing instrument having an engagement wall for contacting said abutment wall to limit the depth to which anatomical tissue is removed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The instrumentation recited in claim 1 wherein said abutment wall is defined by a front surface of said rail member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The instrumentation recited in claim 1 and further including a slide carried by and movable relative to said rail member along the delineated area, said slide having a window communicating with the delineated area and through which said tissue removing surface is introduced to access the delineated area, said slide moving along said rail member as said tissue removing surface is moved along the delineated area. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The instrumentation recited in claim 3 wherein said abutment wall is defined by a surface of said slide. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The instrumentation recited in claim 1 wherein said resurfacing instrument includes a ledge spaced from said tissue removing surface and said engagement wall is defined by said ledge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The instrumentation recited in claim 1 wherein said resurfacing instrument comprises a tissue removing member defining said tissue removing surface and having a side wall extending from said tissue removing surface to said ledge, said side wall forming an abutment engageable with an inside surface of said rail member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The instrumentation recited in claim 1 wherein said tissue removing surface is planar. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The instrumentation recited in claim 1 wherein said rail member has a surface for positioning adjacent the femoral condyle and said tissue removing surface protrudes beyond said surface of said rail member a predetermined distance when said engagement wall is in contact with said abutment wall. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The instrumentation recited in claim 8 wherein said predetermined distance corresponds to a predetermined depth to which the anatomical tissue is removed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The instrumentation recited in claim 1 wherein said resurfacing instrument is adapted to move said tissue removing surface via a powered surgical handpiece. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The instrumentation recited in claim 1 wherein said resurfacing instrument is adapted to move said tissue removing surface manually. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The instrumentation recited in claim 1 wherein said resurfacing instrument comprises a rasp. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The instrumentation recited in claim 1 wherein said resurfacing instrument comprises an end mill cutter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The instrumentation recited in claim 1 wherein said resurfacing instrument comprises a reamer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The instrumentation recited in claim 1 wherein said resurfacing instrument comprises a burr. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The instrumentation recited in claim 1 wherein said recessed surface on said connecting pad is formed on an upper surface of said connecting pad. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The instrumentation recited in claim 16 wherein said recessed surface on said connecting pad includes a pair of upright planar opposing side walls. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The instrumentation recited in claim 16 wherein said connecting pad is angled downwardly relative to said legs. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The instrumentation recited in claim 1 wherein said resurfacing guide is adapted to externally delineate at least an area of a distal aspect of the femoral condyle.