Method and apparatus for cutting joint surfaces

Claim 1

Surgical instrumentation for use in cutting bones to a pre-determined depth on one or both sides of a joint, comprising: (a) a rod adapted for insertion into, and rigid positioning within, the medullary canal of the bone to be cut; (b) a depth limiting means to control the extent to which the rod may be inserted into the medullary canal of the bone to be cut; (c) a first guide frame means adapted for connection to the rod and including a hole extending diametrically therethrough for guiding a drill to form a hole transversely of the bone to be cut; (d) a locking means including an elongated member adapted to extend through the hole in the bone and through a hole in the rod for locking the rod into a desired position within the bone; (e) a second guide frame means for positioning and guiding a bone cutting or drilling implement in a desired position relative to the bone; (f) the rod including a proximal end capable of sequentially and removably receiving the first and second guide frame means; (g) a guide frame rotational locking means capable of holding the first and second guide frame means against rotation relative to the rod at a fixed axial location; (h) a guide frame axial locking means capable of allowing the second guide frame means to rotate relative to the rod at a fixed axial location; and (i) means for connecting the first and second guide frame means to the proximal end of the rod.

Claim 7

A method of cutting, to a predetermined depth, the bone on one or both sides of a joint comprising the steps of: (1) Inserting a rod into the medullary canal of the bone to be out; (2) Locking the rod in the required position within the bone to be cut; (3) Mounting a guide means on the rod in a manner such that the guide means is free to rotate about the long axis of the rod, but unable to move along said axis; (4) Mounting a bone cutting implement on the guide means; and (5) Actuating the bone cutting implement and rotating the guide means about the long axis of the rod such that a substantially planar cut is produced in the bone transversely to the long axis of the rod.

Claim 8

A method of cutting, to a predetermined depth, the bone on one or both sides of a joint comprising the steps of: (1) Inserting a rod into the medullary canal of the bone to be out; (2) Locking the rod in the required position within the bone to be cut; (3) Mounting a guide means on the rod in a manner such that the guide means is free to rotate about the long axis of the rod, but unable to move along said axis; (4) Mounting a bone cutting implement on the guide means; and (5) Actuating the bone cutting implement and rotating the guide means about the long axis of the rod such that a substantially planar cut is produced in the bone transversely to the long axis of the rod.