Patent ID: 8623026

Claim:
A surgical assistance tool for joint arthroplasty, the surgical assistance tool comprising: a first template, the first template including: at least one surface for engaging at least a portion of a trochlear region of a knee joint of a patient, the at least one surface being substantially a negative of one or more portions of the trochlear region; at least one relieved portion of the surface, the at least one relieved portion being relieved relative to a corresponding sub-portion of the trochlear region such that the at least one relieved portion does not engage the corresponding sub-portion of the trochlear region when the at least one surface is engaged with the portion of the trochlear region; and at least one guide for directing movement of a surgical instrument; and wherein said guide has a predetermined orientation relative to an anatomical or a biomechanical axis associated with the knee joint of the patient.