Milling system for resecting a joint articulation surface

Abstract

A milling system for use in resecting at least a portion of a joint articulation surface of a bone includes an alignment guide having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface with an opening extending therebetween. Fasteners are used to secure the alignment guide to the bone so that the alignment guide is suspended above the bone. A template is removably mounted to the alignment guide so that a plurality of guide paths extending through template are aligned with the opening in the alignment guide. A mill extends down through the guide path and has a burr on the end thereof for resecting the bone.

1 . A milling system for use in resecting at least a portion of a joint articulation surface of a bone, the system comprising: 
 an alignment guide having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface with an opening extending therebetween;    means for removably mounting the alignment guide to a bone;    a template having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface with a plurality of guide paths extending therebetween, the plurality of guide paths being elongated and extending along both the top surface and the opposing bottom surface; and    means for removably securing the template to the alignment guide so that the plurality of guide paths are aligned with the opening of the alignment guide.    
   
   
       2 . The milling system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of guide paths are interconnected.  
   
   
       3 . The milling system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the template has a convex curvature.  
   
   
       4 . The milling system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of guide paths intersect with the top surface of the template at an orientation substantially normal to the top surface of the template.  
   
   
       5 . The milling system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of guide paths intersect with the top surface of the template at an orientation substantially normal to the top surface of the template.  
   
   
       6 . The milling system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of guide paths are curved along the length thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The milling system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the template comprises: 
 a body that at least partially bounds an opening extending through the body; and    a plurality of partition walls disposed within the opening of the body and connected to the body, the plurality of partition walls bounding the plurality of guide paths.    
   
   
       8 . The milling system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a mill comprising an elongated shaft having a burr mounted on an end thereof, the burr radially outwardly projecting beyond at least a portion of the shaft; and    the plurality of guide paths of the template having a first portion sized so that the burr can pass therethrough and a second portion sized so that the shaft can pass therethrough but the burr cannot pass therethrough.    
   
   
       9 . The milling system as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising a bearing housing mounted on the shaft of the mill and at least one bearing disposed within the bearing housing.  
   
   
       10 . The milling system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of guide paths has a portion sized so that the shaft of the mill can pass therethrough but the burr cannot pass therethrough.  
   
   
       11 . The milling system as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 the burr having an effective radius radially outwardly extending from the exterior surface of the shaft to a maximum outer radius of the burr; and    a template comprising: 
 a body at least partially bounding an opening; and  
 a partition wall disposed within the opening of the body and connected to the body, the partition wall having opposing side surfaces with a thickness extending therebetween, the thickness being not more than twice the effective radius of the burr.  
   
   
   
       12 . The milling system as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising a tubular bearing housing encircling the shaft of the mill such that the mill can freely rotate within the bearing housing, the bearing housing having a lower stem portion received within a select one of the plurality of guide paths of the template and an annular shoulder resting on a top surface of the template.