The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 05, 1997
Filed:
Feb. 22, 1996
Terry L Dietz, Columbia City, IN (US);
Richard D Vanlaningham, Milford, IN (US);
Zimmer, Inc., Warsaw, IN (US);
Abstract
The guide of this invention provides an alternative to a system requiring a plurality of guides or for a guide with a plurality of slots by providing a single guide which slides along the distal femur and which articulates to accommodate a variety of angles. The guide includes a base portion defining a pair of parallel rails having a dove-tail shaped groove formed therein. The base is fixed to the distal end of the femur after an initial cut has been made to flatten the distal end. The device further includes an upper frame which is carried by the base and slides along the rails. The upper frame pivotally supports a carriage assembly in a plurality of discrete angles as determined by detents. The carriage includes a pair of parallel rods which extend in a direction transverse to the parallel rails of the base portion. In the preferred embodiment, the parallel rods support a milling guide which is slidable along the rods. The milling guide is configured to accommodate an elongated milling burr extending therethrough for removal of a portion of the patient's bone.