Surgical Cutting Guide

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a surgical cutting guide for guiding a surgical instrument along a cutting path located on a biological tissue. The surgical guide includes a contact surface that conforms to a surface associated with the tissue and at least one guide for restricting movement of a surgical instrument in a first direction and for allowing the movement of the surgical instrument in a second direction along a cutting path across the surface of the tissue. The guide further contains a stop for restricting movement of the surgical instrument in the second direction along the cutting path. The stop is based at least, in part, on patient specific information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of making a surgical tool for repairing a knee joint of a patient, comprising:
 obtaining electronic image data of the knee joint of the patient,   obtaining, from the electronic image data, patient-specific information regarding a ligament of the knee joint of the patient,   designing the surgical tool having a portion that substantially conforms to at least a surface portion of the knee joint of the patient,   designing at least one guide configured to direct movement of a surgical instrument along a predetermined path, wherein the at least one guide is part of or linked to the surgical tool, and   designing a stop based on the patient-specific information for preventing the surgical instrument from deviating from the predetermined path, wherein the stop is integrated into the at least one guide.