Importance

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Abstract

A device is disclosed for cutting a portion of a patella during knee surgery in which the articular surface of the patella along with a portion of the bone of the patella is cut away for implantation of a prosthesis. The device disclosed provides a fixed clamping member and an adjustable clamping member which clamp the patella and space from the patella a support surface for an oscillating saw used in the cutting of the patella. The precise plane of cut is provided by the use of a placement aid which is used according to the method of the present invention. The placement aid positions the support surface a precise depth below the articular surface of the patella during the clamping procedure, which clamping procedure also horizontally levels the support surface and the device so that all cuts through the patella are made in a perfectly horizontal plane. Spacers are also provided which are mountable over the support surface and are used to allow for progressively deeper cuts to be made in the patella through parallel horizontal planes of cut by allowing interchange of one spacer for another of less thickness. Each spacer has its own flat surface that allows support of the oscillating saw thereon for cutting through the patella during that particular cut as defined by the thickness of the spacer used.

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First Claim