Patent ID: 7674267

Claim:
A method for cutting bone, the bone having an outer peripheral surface and an inner cortical surface, said method comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus comprising a shaft member having a central axis and extending between a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion including a cutting blade extending in a first plane between a shield section and a guide section that extends axially beyond said shield section, the guide section including a bulbous terminal end, the shield section and the guide section projecting axially beyond the cutting blade to recess the cutting blade in the distal end portion, the shield section including an inwardly facing shield surface which extends in a second plane that is transverse to the first plane of the cutting blade; positioning the apparatus so that the distal end portion of the apparatus engages the outer peripheral surface of the bone; and repetitively impacting the proximal end portion of the apparatus so that the cutting blade cuts the bone.