Patent ID: 6595996
Filing Date: 2003-07-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method of making a cut in the nasal bone of a patient in a rhinoplasty procedure comprising the steps ofremovably coupling an elongate shaft of an osteotome to a powered surgical handpiece, the osteotome comprising a cutting element at a distal end of the shaft and having an upper part tapering in width in the distal direction to a blunt tip and a lower part tapering in width in the distal direction, with a greater taper than the upper part, to a cutting edge disposed proximally of the blunt tip; introducing the cutting element through an incision in the patient's nose; advancing the cutting element along the nose to position the cutting edge at a location on the nasal bone at which a cut is to be made; reciprocating the cutting element via the powered surgical handpiece; moving the cutting element, while it is being reciprocated, forwardly along the nasal bone in a predetermined path with the cutting edge in contact with the nasal bone to make a cut of desired length in the nasal bone along the predetermined path, said step of moving including leading the cutting element with the blunt tip; and withdrawing the cutting element from the nose upon completion of the cut being made.