Importance

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Abstract

An oscillating surgical saw and instrumentation system has an oscillating surgical saw and instrumentation for guiding the saw. The oscillating saw has a body or handle having guide pin holders disposed on opposite sides thereof and extending longitudinally therealong. Retractable guide pins are mounted in the guide pin holders. Resilient means are disposed in each guide pin holder which force the respective guide pin mounted therein longitudinally outward. The system further includes instrumentation for guiding the saw. The instrumentation comprises at least one cutting block. The cutting block is affixed to the bone being cut and has holes, which are preferably slots, for receiving the guide pins. These slots lie in planes which are parallel to planes in wich resected surfaces of the bone lie after they have been formed by cuts made to the bone. When the saw is used to cut bone, the cutting block is secured to the bone and the guide pins inserted into the holes in the cutting block. The cutting block and guide pins cooperate to secure the saw, cutting block, and bone against movement in all planes except the plane in which the saw is cutting to reduce the transmission of vibration from the bone being cut through the saw. The associated guide pin holes guide the saw blade as it cuts bone. As the saw blade cuts progressively deeper into the bone, the guide pins are forced into their guide pin holders so as not to interfere with the advancement of the saw blade into the bone.

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First Claim