Surgical cutting tool

• US 5,895,403 A
• Filed: 10/17/1997
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CLAAS KGaA mbH
• Original Assignee: CLAAS KGaA mbH
• Inventors: Collinsworth, Lonnie Rae
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US08/953,608
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 606/184, 606/185, 606/186, 606/187, 606/131, 606/133, 606/167
• US Class Current: 606/184
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/10 Hair or skin implants

Abstract

A surgical cutting tool having a "stepped" or "funneled" axial passageway for the evacuation of tissue plugs. The tool is made of a length of cylindrical surgical steel having an axial bore therethrough. The proximal end of the tool terminates in a cutting tip which has a cutting edge sufficient to cut tissue plugs of a desired diameter. The distal end is adapted for connection to a vacuum source. The axial bore has a first inside diameter at the cutting edge, a second inside diameter greater than the first inside diameter forming a first relief near the cutting edge, and a third inside diameter greater than the second inside diameter forming a second relief upstream of the first relief. This funnel configuration from the proximal end to the distal end of the tool allows tissue plugs to be easily evacuated from the tool.

Claims

1. A surgical cutting tool with vacuum clearance capability, comprising a length of cylindrical surgical steel having an axial bore therethrough, a proximal end cutting tip terminating in a cutting edge, and a distal end, the axial bore having a first inside diameter at the cutting edge, a second inside diameter greater than the first inside diameter forming a first relief near the cutting edge, and a third inside diameter greater than the second inside diameter forming a second relief upstream of the first relief, whereby as vacuum is applied at the distal end of the tool tissue plugs cut at the cutting edge pass easily through the first and second reliefs to exit the axial bore.

2. The surgical cutting tool according to claim 1 wherein the length of cylindrical surgical steel is approximately 1.50 inches (3.81 cm).

3. The surgical cutting tool according to claim 2 wherein the first inside diameter at the cutting edge is between 0.0020 inches (0.05 mm) and 0.0600 inches (1.50 mm).

4. The surgical cutting tool according to claim 3 wherein the first inner diameter is 0.0394 inches (1 mm), the second inner diameter is approximately 0.043 inches (1.1 mm), and the third inside diameter is 0.062 inches (1.57 mm).

5. The surgical cutting tool according to claim 4 wherein the first relief is about 0.07 inches (1.7 mm) from the cutting edge.

6. The surgical cutting tool according to claim 5 wherein the second relief is about 0.3 inches (7.3 mm) from the cutting edge.

7. The surgical cutting tool according to claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the cutting tip is angled approximately 20 degrees toward the longitudinal axis of the tool.

8. The surgical cutting tool according to claim 7, the length of cylindrical surgical steel having a reduced outside diameter area from the cutting tip toward the distal end of a length corresponding to a desired depth of punch.

9. The surgical cutting tool according to claim 8, wherein the first relief is at the point of angle of the cutting tip and wherein the second relief is distal to the reduced outside diameter area.

10. A method for making the surgical cutting tool of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

(a) cutting a piece of cylindrical surgical steel to a desired length to obtain a blank;

(b) making a drill hole at one end (now the proximal end) of the blank to form the cutting edge;

(c) drilling open the other end (now the distal end) of the blank along its entire longitudinal axis with a first bit so as to create the axial bore therethrough;

(d) making a first step-back cut from the distal end toward the proximal end with a second bit having a diameter greater than the first bit to form the first relief; and

(e) making a second step-back cut from the distal end toward the proximal end with a third bit having a diameter greater than the second bit to form the second relief.

11. The method according to claim 10 further comprising grinding a cutting tip onto the proximal end.

12. The method according to claim 11 further comprising polishing the axial bore to an 8-10 micro finish.