Patent ID: 11957364
Assignee: WRIGHT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 13:
14. A method of performing an osteotomy in a target bone using a guide assembly that comprises:
a body configured to be secured to a long bone;
a track component extending from a portion of the body including semicircular parallel rails, each rail having one end secured to the body and one end spaced-away from the body and unsecured to the long bone and a slot that extends along a substantial portion of the rail to form a track from the body to the spaced-away unsecured end; and
a guide component slidably attached to the track component, wherein the guide component comprises a guide hole extending through the guide component for receiving a cutting tool, the guide hole defining a longitudinal axis therethrough,
wherein the guide component is slidable along the track,
wherein the track defines a semicircular arc path for the guide component and the semicircular arc path defines a center of curvature, and
wherein the guide hole is oriented in the guide component so that the longitudinal axis intersects the center of curvature, whereby when the cutting tool is inserted through the guide hole of the guide component, the cutting tool's longitudinal axis is coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the guide hole so that when the cutting tool is extended beyond the center of curvature, the cutting tool intersects the center of curvature regardless of the guide component's position along the track;
the method comprising:
(a) making an incision in skin next to a site of the intended osteotomy in the target bone;
(b) attaching the guide assembly with one or more anchor wires such that the center of curvature of the guide assembly is close to the incision;
(c) inserting the cutting tool into the guide hole in the guide component;
(d) inserting the cutting tool through the incision and driving the cutting tool into the target bone under power until it reaches a desired depth; and
(e) rotating the cutting tool up or down about the center of curvature guided by sliding of the guiding component along the track component.