Curved surgical tool driver

• US 20040087958A1
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symmetry Medical Inc
• Original Assignee: Symmetry Medical Inc
• Inventors: Myers, Reese K., Mendenhall, Bryan C., Salyer, Paul E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,326,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/80
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1624 Drive mechanisms therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1631 Special drive shafts, e.g. flexible shafts A61B17/1642, A61B17/164 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1666 for the acetabulum

Abstract

A surgical tool driver has a driven end connectable to a rotary drive source and a driving end connectable to a surgical tool. A shaft assembly there between includes a hollow outer shaft and a flexible drive shaft for transmitting rotary power from the driven end to the driving end. The shaft assemble is curved for bypassing anatomical features in a patient.

Claims

1. A surgical tool driver, comprising:

a hollow elongated outer shaft having a first end and a second end, said outer shaft having a fixed curved portion between said first end and said second end, said fixed curved portion adapted and arranged along said outer shaft for bypassing anatomical structures in a patient between said first and second ends as said driver is positioned for use;

a driven end attachment assembly at one said end of said outer shaft, said driven end attachment assembly being adapted for attachment to a rotary drive source;

a driving end attachment assembly at the other said end of said outer shaft, said driving end attachment assembly adapted for selectively engaging and disengaging a surgical tool; and

a flexible drive shaft disposed in said outer shaft, one end of said flexible drive shaft being connected to said driven end attachment assembly, and the other end of said flexible drive shaft being connected to said driving end attachment assembly.

2. The surgical tool driver of claim 1, said driving end attachment assembly including a universal joint drivingly connected to said flexible drive shaft.

3. The surgical tool driver of claim 2, said driven end attachment assembly and said driving end attachment assembly disposed in substantial linear alignment.

4. The surgical tool driver of claim 1, said driven end attachment assembly and said driving end attachment assembly disposed in substantial linear alignment.

5. The surgical tool driver of claim 1, said outer shaft having a collar, and said driven end attachment assembly including a shaft adapted for attachment to a drive source, said shaft journaled in bearings in said collar.

6. The surgical tool driver of claim 5, said shaft of said driven end attachment assembly and said driving end attachment assembly disposed in substantial linear alignment.

7. The surgical tool driver of claim 5, said shaft of said driven end attachment assembly having a hollow end, and said flexible drive shaft being secured in said hollow end.

8. The surgical tool driver of claim 5, said driving end attachment assembly including a universal joint drivingly connected to said flexible drive shaft.

9. The surgical tool driver of claim 8, said shaft of said driven end attachment assembly having a hollow end, and said flexible drive shaft being secured in said hollow end.

10. The surgical tool driver of claim 9, said shaft of said driven end attachment assembly and said driving end attachment assembly disposed in substantial linear alignment.

11. A driver for an acetabular reamer, comprising:

a hollow elongated outer shaft having a first end and a second end, said outer shaft having a fixed curved portion between said first end and said second end, said fixed curved portion adapted and arranged along said outer shaft for bypassing anatomical structures in a patient between said first and second ends as said driver is positioned for use;

a driven end attachment assembly at one said end of said outer shaft, said driven end attachment assembly being adapted for attachment to a rotary drive source;

a driving end attachment assembly at the other said end of said outer shaft, said driving end attachment assembly adapted for selectively engaging and disengaging an acetabular reamer; and

a flexible drive shaft disposed in said outer shaft, one end of said flexible drive shaft being connected to said driven end attachment assembly, and the other end of said flexible drive shaft being connected to said driving end attachment assembly.

12. The driver of claim 11, said driven end attachment assembly and said driving end attachment assembly being in substantially linear alignment.

13. The driver of claim 12, said driving end attachment assembly including a universal joint connected to said flexible drive shaft.

14. The driver of claim 11, said driving end attachment assembly including a universal joint connected to said flexible drive shaft.

15. The driver of claim 11, said driven end attachment assembly including a shaft, and said outer shaft having a collar for rotatably receiving said shaft of said driven end attachment assembly.

16. The driver of claim 15, said shaft of said driven end attachment assembly having a hollow end, and said flexible drive shaft having an end thereof secured in said hollow end.

17. The driver of claim 16, said shaft of said driven end attachment assembly being in substantially linear alignment with said driving end attachment assembly.

18. The driver of claim 16, said driving end attachment assembly having a hollow receiver, and said flexible drive shaft having an end thereof secured in said hollow receiver.

19. A method for surgically preparing a bone, comprising steps of:

providing a surgical tool driver with a driven end attachment assembling and a driving end attachment assembly, and a curved shaft assembly there between, said curved shaft assembly including a rigid hollow outer shaft and a flexible drive shaft in said outer shaft, said flexible drive shaft connected to said driven end attachment assembling and said driving end attachment assembly;

providing a surgical tool for machining a surface of the bone;

attaching the surgical tool to the driving end attachment assembly;

connecting the driven end attachment assembly to a rotary drive source;

inserting the surgical tool through a surgical wound;

positioning the surgical tool against a bone surface while positioning the curved portion of the shaft assembly around intervening anatomy; and

driving the tool to machine the bone surface.

20. The method of claim 19, including providing an acetabular reamer as said surgical tool, and machining a depression in an acetabulum of sufficient depth for receiving an acetabular cup.