Bone dowel cutter

• US 5,928,238 A
• Filed: 12/27/1996
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Osteotech Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Osteotech Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Morris, John W., Scarborough, Nelson
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shai, Daphna
• Application Number:
  US08/773,191
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 606/79, 606/80, 606/96, 408/201, 408/204, 408/58, 408/72 R, 408/72 B, 408/115 R, 408/115 B, 408/226, 408/227, 408/228, 408/229
• US Class Current: 606/79
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/025 for taking bone, bone marrow or cartilage samples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1637 Hollow drills or saws producing a curved cut, e.g. cylindrical A61B10/025, A61B17/1695 take precedence
• 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 2017/00969 used for transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3094 Designing or manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4644 Preparation of bone graft, bone plugs or bone dowels, e.g. grinding or milling bone material bone material A61F2/28; disintegrating or milling devices B02C
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2839 Bone plugs or bone graft dowels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4649 Bone graft or bone dowel harvest sites
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/8923 Removable central lead
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/8973 and central lead
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/90 and axially extending peripheral cutting spur

Abstract

A device is provided for cutting dowels from a bone mass which is easily disassembled for cleaning and sterilization. The dowel cutter includes an axial mounting member having a proximal end portion configured for engagement with a drill chuck and a distal end portion configured to receive a cylindrical cutting blade, an elongated supporting shaft having a distal end portion configured to support a drill guide, and a securement mechanism formed integral with the mounting member for releasably maintaining the relative orientation of the supporting shaft and the axial mounting member during utilization.

Claims

1. A dowel cutting assembly for use with a powered drill which includes a barrel section having a chuck provided at a distal end thereof, comprising:

a) a mounting member having a proximal end portion configured for engagement with the chuck and a distal end portion configured for operative engagement with a cylindrical cutting blade;

b) an elongated supporting shaft having a distal end portion configured to support a drill guide; and

c) means for maintaining the relative longitudinal orientation of the elongated supporting shaft and the mounting member;

wherein the mounting member includes a transverse bore and the maintaining means includes an engagement member which is movable through the transverse bore into engagement with the supporting shaft.

2. A dowel cutting assembly according to claim 1, wherein an axial bore extends at least partially through the mounting member to accommodate the proximal end of the elongated supporting shaft.

10. A dowel cutting assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a cylindrical cutting blade operatively connected to the mounting member, the cylindrical cutting blade being positioned about the elongated supporting shaft.

11. A dowel cutting assembly according to claim 10, further comprising a drill guide operatively connected to the distal end of the elongated shaft, the drill guide extending distally beyond the distal edge of the cylindrical cutting blade.

14. A dowel cutting assembly according to claim 10, wherein a threaded stem extends distally from the mounting member for threadably engaging the cylindrical cutting blade.

3. A dowel cutting assembly for use with a powered drill which includes a barrel section having a chuck provided at a distal end thereof, comprising:

a) a mounting member having a proximal end portion configured for engagement with the chuck and a distal end portion configured for operative engagement with a cylindrical cutting blade;

b) an elongated supporting shaft having a distal end portion configured to support a drill guide; and

c) means for maintaining the relative longitudinal orientation of the elongated supporting shaft and the mounting member;

wherein an axial bore extends at least partially through the mounting member to accommodate the proximal end of the elongated supporting shaft, the maintaining means including an engagement member operably connected to the mounting member, the engagement member being movable into engagement with the supporting shaft to maintain the relative axial orientation of the supporting shaft and axial mounting member, and wherein the mounting member includes a transverse bore and the engagement member is movable through the transverse bore into engagement with the supporting shaft.

4. A dowel cutting assembly according to claim 3, wherein the engagement member is threadably received within the transverse bore.

5. A dowel cutting assembly for use with a powered drill which includes a barrel section having a chuck provided at a distal end thereof, comprising:

a) a mounting member having a proximal end portion configured for engagement with the chuck and a distal end portion configured for operative engagement with a cylindrical cutting blade;

b) an elongated supporting shaft having a distal end portion configured to support a drill guide; and

c) means for maintaining the relative longitudinal orientation of the elongated supporting shaft and the mounting member,

wherein an axial bore extends at least partially through the mounting member to accommodate the proximal end of the elongated supporting shaft, the elongated supporting shaft including an elongate support rod, a sleeve movably supported about the support rod, and a compression spring mounted about the sleeve.

6. A dowel cutting assembly according to claim 5, wherein a drill guide is operatively connected to the distal end of the elongate support rod.

7. A dowel cutting assembly according to claim 6, wherein the proximal end of the support rod is positioned and configured to be slidable within the axial bore formed in the mounting member.

8. A dowel cutting assembly according to claim 7, wherein the proximal end of the compression spring is fastened to the sleeve and the distal end of the compression spring abuts against a fitting fastened to the distal end of the elongate support rod, the compression spring urging the mounting member proximally and the drill guide distally.

9. A dowel cutting assembly according to claim 8, further comprising a cylindrical cutting blade supported on the mounting member, the cutting blade being positioned about the elongated supporting shaft.

12. A dowel cutting assembly for use with a powered drill which includes a barrel section having a chuck provided at a distal end thereof, comprising:

a) a mounting member having a proximal end portion configured for engagement with the chuck and a distal end portion configured for operative engagement with a cylindrical cutting blade;

b) an elongated supporting shaft having a distal end portion configured to support a drill guide;

c) means for maintaining the relative longitudinal orientation of the elongated supporting shaft and the mounting member;

d) a cylindrical cutting blade operatively connected to the mounting member the cylindrical cutting blade being positioned about the elongated supporting shaft; and

e) a drill guide operatively connected to the distal end of the elongated shaft, the drill guide extending distally beyond the distal edge of the cylindrical cutting blade;

wherein the maintaining means includes an abutment surface formed on the mounting member.

13. A dowel cutting assembly according to claim 12, wherein the elongated supporting shaft has a transverse flange formed at a proximal end thereof and the abutment surface has a transverse slot configured to receive the transverse flange.