Patent Document ID: 7510557
Application ID: 11037535
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method of replacing a portion of a patient's joint, the joint including first and second bones, the method comprising: selecting an implant to replace a portion of a patient's joint, to be positioned onto a cut portion of the first bone; determining the configuration and dimensions of a cutting guide image by imaging the first bone prior to making a incision, and utilizing the image of the first bone, and the dimensions of the selected implant, to determine the configuration and dimension of the cutting guide image; making an incision proximal to the joint sized smaller than the implant; exposing at least a portion of the joint through the incision; projecting a cutting guide image of visible light onto the first bone of the joint, the cutting guide image comprising a plurality of projected guide segments corresponding to the path to be cut, a path corresponding to dimensions of the implant; aligning a cutting tool with the cutting guide image; and cutting the first bone of the joint by moving a cutting tool in relation to the cutting guide image.