Method and apparatus for shaping a distal femoral surface
US4474177A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 9, 1983 |
| Grant date | Oct 2, 1984 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 9, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B17/1764
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for preparing the distal surface of a femur to receive a distal femoral prosthesis employing an intramedullary reamer which is used to internally locate the central long axis of the femur, an intramedullary alignment guide which is inserted into the space left in the intramedullary canal upon removal of the reamer and at least one femoral surface modifying instrument which cooperatively engages with a guide handle attached to the intramedullary alignment guide to accomplish the shaping of the distal femoral surface. The intramedullary alignment guide has a rod portion extending into the femoral intramedullary canal whose central long axis corresponds with the central long axis of the femur. The guide handle is attached to that rod portion at a preselected angle such that the shaping instruments fixed thereto assume the proper alignment with respect to the central long axis of the femur such that the distal femoral surface is shaped relative to that axis in a simple and accurate manner.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.