Methods for cutting bone
A method of cutting bone with a bone die cutter includes positioning complementary cutting dies on at least substantially opposing sides of a bone. At least one of the cutting dies is pressed toward the other so that the cutting dies cut a bone portion from the bone. The cut bone portion is separated from the remainder of the bone. The cut bone portion is subsequently reattached to the bone at the location from which it was removed.
1 . A method of cutting bone with a bone die cutter, the method comprising:
positioning complementary cutting dies on at least substantially opposing sides of a bone;
pressing at least one of the cutting dies toward the other so that the cutting dies cut a bone portion from the bone;
separating the cut bone portion from the bone; and
reattaching the cut bone portion to the bone.
2 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the act of separating the cut bone portion forms a recessed pocket on the bone, the cut bone portion being reattached into the recessed pocket.
3 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the recessed pocket includes an undercut portion.
4 . A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the act of performing a surgical procedure between the acts of separating and reattaching.
5 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the cutting dies are positioned on opposing lateral and medial sides of a tibial tubercle such that the cut bone portion comprises at least a portion of the tibial tubercle.
6 . A method as recited in claim 5 , further comprising performing a total knee arthroplasty or a partial knee arthroplasty between the steps of separating and reattaching.
7 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the cutting dies are positioned on opposing sides of a distal portion of a tibial tubercle such that the separated cut bone portion comprises the distal portion of the tibial tubercle while a proximal portion of the tibial tubercle remains attached to the tibia.
8 . A method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the distal portion of the tibial tubercle is separated from the tibia so that at least a portion of a patella ligament remains attached to the distal portion of the tibial tubercle.
9 . A method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the distal portion of the tibial tubercle is separated from the tibia so that a recessed undercut pocket is at least partially formed on the proximal portion of the tibial tubercle.
10 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the dies has a blade projecting therefrom, the act of positioning the complementary cutting dies comprising positioning the dies so that the blades intersect at an angle when the blades are brought together.
11 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the dies has a transverse cross sectional configuration that corresponds substantially to the contour of an exterior surface of a vertically bisected heart design.
12 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the step of positioning complementary cutting dies comprises positioning a die cutter adjacent to the bone, the die cutter comprising a housing having a pair of translation arms extending therefrom, each cutting die being disposed at the end of a corresponding translation arm.