Method for implanting a patellar prosthesis

Claim 1

A method of planting a patellar prosthesis in a human patella having an articular surface with an apex comprising: (a) providing a patellar prosthesis having a body portion including an upper dome and a lower stem on the opposite side of said body portion from said dome; (b) drilling a passageway in said patella inwardly from the side having said articular surface; (c) providing elongated guide means in said passageway; (d) providing a reamer having a head with upper and lower sides, cutting means depending from said lower side and a central cannulation extending through said cutting means and said head, said cannulation having a size to fit over said guide wire, said head having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough from said lower to said upper side; (e) positioning said reamer over said elongated guide means and reaming a cavity in said patella having a size and configuration to receive said patellar prosthesis while using said guide means as a guide to determine the position of said cavity and expelling debris formed during said reaming through the apertures in said head; and (f) placing said patellar prosthesis in said cavity in bonded relationship with said patella.

Claim 2

A method of planting a patellar prosthesis in a human patella having an articular surface with an apex comprising: (a) providing a patellar prosthesis having a body portion including an upper dome and a lower stem on the opposite side of said body portion from said dome; (b) drilling a passageway in said patella inwardly from the side having said articular surface; (c) providing elongated guide means in said passageway; (d) providing a reamer having a head with upper and lower sides, cutting means depending from said lower side and a central cannulation extending through said cutting means and said head, said cannulation having a size to fit over said guide wire, said head having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough from said lower to said upper side; (e) positioning said reamer over said elongated guide means and reaming a cavity in said patella having a size and configuration to receive said patellar prosthesis while using said guide means as a guide to determine the position of said cavity and expelling debris formed during said reaming through the apertures in said head; and (f) placing said patellar prosthesis in said cavity in bonded relationship with said patella.

Claim 7

A method of implanting a patellar prosthesis in a human patella having an articular surface with an apex comprising: (a) providing a patellar prosthesis having a body portion including an upper dome and a lower stem on the opposite side of said body portion from said dome; (b) engaging said patella with a clamp having an enlarged opening through which access to a central portion of said articular surface may be had; (c) drilling a passageway in said patella inwardly from the side having said articular surface; (d) providing elongated guide means in said passageway, said guide means extending through said clamp opening; (e) providing a reamer having a head smaller than the enlarged opening of said clamp, cutting means depending from said head and a central cannulation extending through said cutting means and said head, said cannulation having a size to fit over said guide wire; (f) positioning said reamer over said elongated guide means and reaming a cavity in said patella having a size and configuration to receive said patellar prosthesis while using said guide means as a guide to determine the position of said cavity, said reamer extending through said clamp enlarged opening throughout said step of reaming; and (g) placing said patellar prosthesis in said cavity in bonded relationship with said patella.

Claim 8

A method of implanting a patellar prosthesis in a human patella having an articular surface with an apex comprising: (a) providing a patellar prosthesis having a body portion including an upper dome and a lower stem on the opposite side of said body portion from said dome; (b) engaging said patella with a clamp having an enlarged opening through which access to a central portion of said articular surface may be had; (c) drilling a passageway in said patella inwardly from the side having said articular surface; (d) providing elongated guide means in said passageway, said guide means extending through said clamp opening; (e) providing a reamer having a head smaller than the enlarged opening of said clamp, cutting means depending from said head and a central cannulation extending through said cutting means and said head, said cannulation having a size to fit over said guide wire; (f) positioning said reamer over said elongated guide means and reaming a cavity in said patella having a size and configuration to receive said patellar prosthesis while using said guide means as a guide to determine the position of said cavity, said reamer extending through said clamp enlarged opening throughout said step of reaming; and (g) placing said patellar prosthesis in said cavity in bonded relationship with said patella.

Claim 9

A method of implanting a patellar prosthesis in a human patella having an articular surface with an apex comprising: (a) providing a patellar prosthesis having a body portion including an upper dome and a lower stem on the opposite side of said body portion from said dome; (b) drilling a passageway in said patella inwardly from the side having said articular surface; (c) providing elongated guide means in said passageway; (d) providing a reamer having a head, cutting means depending from said head and a central cannulation extending through said cutting means and said head, said cutting means including a first portion adjacent said head, a second portion extending from said first portion having a cutting edge tapering inwardly toward said cannulation and away from said head, and a third portion extending from said second portion having a cutting edge substantially parallel to said cannulation; said cannulation having a size to fit over said guide wire; (e) positioning said reamer over said elongated guide means and reaming a cavity in said patella having a cylindrical lower portion centered on said guide means and sized to receive said stem and an upper portion having a bottom wall tapering upwardly toward said articulating surface and outwardly from said guide means and sized to receive said body portion while using said guide means as a guide to determine the position of said cavity.

Claim 10

A method of implanting a patellar prosthesis in a human patella having an articular surface with an apex comprising: (a) providing a patellar prosthesis having a body portion including an upper dome and a lower stem on the opposite side of said body portion from said dome; (b) drilling a passageway in said patella inwardly from the side having said articular surface; (c) providing elongated guide means in said passageway; (d) providing a reamer having a head, cutting means depending from said head and a central cannulation extending through said cutting means and said head, said cutting means including a first portion adjacent said head, a second portion extending from said first portion having a cutting edge tapering inwardly toward said cannulation and away from said head, and a third portion extending from said second portion having a cutting edge substantially parallel to said cannulation; said cannulation having a size to fit over said guide wire; (e) positioning said reamer over said elongated guide means and reaming a cavity in said patella having a cylindrical lower portion centered on said guide means and sized to receive said stem and an upper portion having a bottom wall tapering upwardly toward said articulating surface and outwardly from said guide means and sized to receive said body portion while using said guide means as a guide to determine the position of said cavity.

Claim 13

A method of preparing a patella having an articular surface with an apex for a patellar prosthesis implant comprising: (a) forming an elongated passageway in said patella from said articular surface to a depth at least as deep as the depth intended for said patellar prosthesis; (b) positioning elongated guide means in said passageway; (c) positioning over said elongated guide means a cannulated reamer having a cannulation with the elongated guide means extending through said cannulation, said cannulated reamer having a head, cutting means depending from said head, said cutting means including a first portion adjacent said head, a second portion extending from said first portion having a cutting edge tapering inwardly toward said cannulation and away from said head, and a third portion extending from said second portion having a cutting edge substantially parallel to said cannulation; and (d) reaming a cavity in said patella having a cylindrical lower portion centered on said guide means and sized to receive said stem and an upper portion having a bottom wall tapering upwardly toward said articulating surface and outwardly from said guide means and sized to receive said body portion while using said guide means as a guide to determine the position of said cavity.

Claim 14

A method of preparing a patella having an articular surface with an apex for a patellar prosthesis implant comprising: (a) forming an elongated passageway in said patella from said articular surface to a depth at least as deep as the depth intended for said patellar prosthesis; (b) positioning elongated guide means in said passageway; (c) positioning over said elongated guide means a cannulated reamer having a cannulation with the elongated guide means extending through said cannulation, said cannulated reamer having a head, cutting means depending from said head, said cutting means including a first portion adjacent said head, a second portion extending from said first portion having a cutting edge tapering inwardly toward said cannulation and away from said head, and a third portion extending from said second portion having a cutting edge substantially parallel to said cannulation; and (d) reaming a cavity in said patella having a cylindrical lower portion centered on said guide means and sized to receive said stem and an upper portion having a bottom wall tapering upwardly toward said articulating surface and outwardly from said guide means and sized to receive said body portion while using said guide means as a guide to determine the position of said cavity.