Patent ID: 6685709
Filing Date: 2004-02-03
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method for removing portions of a bone, said method comprising the steps of:providing (i) a guidewire, and (ii) a router assembly comprising a cutting head fixed to a shaft rotatably disposed in a hole through a body portion of a shield assembly, and a hood portion of said shield assembly extending from said body portion of said shield assembly and covering a first portion of said cutting head while leaving exposed a second portion of said cutting head, said shaft and said cutting head having bores therethrough, and said shield assembly hood portion having a hole therein; pivotally connecting a distal end of the guidewire to a fixture; anchoring the fixture in a tunnel in the bone to thereby anchor the guidewire in the bone; mounting said router assembly on said guidewire such that said guidewire extends through said shaft bore, said cutting head bore, and said hood portion hole, and moving said router assembly along said guidewire to proximate the bone; and positioning said router assembly such that said second portion of said cutting head is directed toward the bone portion to be removed, and rotating said shaft, to rotate said cutting head, to remove portions from the bone, while the shield assembly hood portion separates said cutting head from other anatomical structures.