Patent ID: 7666187

Claim:
A cutting block for resecting a bone comprising: a body having a first generally planar bone contacting surface and a second surface spaced from said bone contacting surface along first axis perpendicular to said generally planar bone contacting surface; said body having a perimeter surface extending between said first and second surfaces, at least a medial and a lateral perimeter surface of the body curved along a plane parallel to the planar bone contacting surface and along a plane perpendicular to the bone contacting surface, wherein said body is to be used to resect a distal femur and includes a plurality of slots for guiding a saw blade, wherein at least one of the slots includes two inwardly facing end surfaces extending from a bottom slot surface to a top slot surface at a location adjacent said perimeter surface of said body and wherein the inwardly facing end surfaces of said slot are curved surfaces, each curved surface having a central longitudinal axis extending in a direction from a top surface and a bottom surface of the body, parallel to the bone contacting surface which top and bottom surfaces connect ends of the medial and lateral perimeter surfaces and each inwardly facing curved surface extending toward a center of the top and bottom surfaces of said body located between the medial and lateral perimeter surfaces, the inwardly facing curved surface for engaging an edge of the saw blade.