Surgical instrumentation and method for forming a passage in bone having an enlarged cross-sectional portion

• US 6,814,734 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2002
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: SDGI Holdings Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Veldman, Michael S., Taylor, Harold S., Chappuis, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reip, David O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baxter, Jessica R.
• Application Number:
  US10/052,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20020193799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 606/80, 606/79, 606/84, 606/82, 606/167, 606/170, 606/176-180
• US Class Current: 606/80
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1617 with mobile or detachable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1655 for tapping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3472 for bones, e.g. intraosseus injections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7098 wherein the implant is permeable or has openings, e.g. fenestrated screw hollow surgical screws A61B17/864
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/864 hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated

Abstract

A surgical instrument and method for forming a passage in bone having an enlarged cross-sectional portion is provided. The instrument includes an elongate member and a cutting element engaged thereto and transitionable between a retracted configuration for extending through a first portion of the passage and an expanded configuration for forming a second portion of the passage having an enlarged cross-section. In one embodiment, the cutting element is transitioned between the retracted and expanded configurations by axially displacing the cutting element relative to the elongate member. In another embodiment, the elongate member includes a tapping thread configured to cut threads along the first portion of the passage, and the cutting element is a blade configured to form the enlarged cross-section when transitioned to the expanded configuration. In another embodiment, the cutting element is arranged in an axial orientation when in the retracted configuration and an angular orientation when in the expanded configuration.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate member extending along an axis; and

at least one cutting element engaged with said elongate member and being transitionable between a retracted configuration for extending through a first portion of a passage in bone and an expanded configuration for forming a second portion of the passage having an enlarged cross-section; and

wherein a portion of said elongate member defines a tapping thread configured to cut threads along the first portion of the passage, and wherein axial displacement of said at least one cutting element relative to said elongate member causes said at least one cutting element to transition between said retracted and expanded configurations to form said second portion of the passage having said enlarged cross-section.

2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said elongate member and said cutting element define bearing surfaces slidably engaging one another during said axial displacement, at least one of said bearing surfaces including a ramped section configured to transition said cutting element between said retracted and expanded configurations during said axial displacement.

3. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said elongate member defines an axial channel including a ramped section, said at least one cutting element being at least partially disposed within said channel and slidably displaced along said ramped section to transition said cutting element between said retracted and expanded configurations.

4. The instrument of claim 3, further comprising an actuator mechanism engaged with said elongate member and coupled to said at least one cutting element, wherein axial displacement of said actuator mechanism relative to said elongate member slidably displaces said cutting element along said ramped section of said channel to transition said cutting element between said retracted and expanded configurations.

5. The instrument of claim 4, wherein said actuator mechanism comprises a collet slidably engaged about said elongate member wherein axial displacement of said collet relative to said elongate member slidably displaces said cutting element along said ramped section of said channel to transition said cutting element between said retracted and expanded configurations.

6. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said elongate member comprises a sleeve, said at least one cutting element being outwardly biased toward said expanded configuration and being at least partially disposed within said sleeve to selectively maintain said at least one cutting element in said retracted configuration, said at least one cutting element being transitionable between said retracted and expanded configurations by axially displacing said at least one cutting element relative to said sleeve.

7. The instrument of claim 6, further comprising an actuator mechanism including a shaft disposed within said sleeve and coupled to said cutting element, wherein axial displacement of said shaft relative to said sleeve transitions said at least one cutting element between said retracted and expanded configurations.

8. The instrument of claim 6, wherein said at least one cutting element is pivotally coupled to said shaft and is aligned in an axial orientation when in said retracted configuration and in angular orientation when in said expanded configuration.

9. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate member;

a first cutting element disposed along said elongate member for forming a first portion of a passage in bone, said first cutting element comprising a tapping thread; and

a second cutting element disposed along said elongate member and being transitionable between a retracted configuration for extending through the first portion of the passage and an expanded configuration for forming a second portion of the passage having an enlarged cross-section.

12. The instrument of claim 9, wherein said second cutting element comprises a cutting blade extending laterally from said elongate member when transitioned toward said expanded configuration.

13. The instrument of claim 12, wherein said elongate member defines a channel extending along an axis with said cutting blade being at least partially disposed within said channel, at least one of said channel and said cutting blade including a ramped section configured to transition said cutting blade between said retracted and expanded configurations when said cutting blade is axially displaced along said channel.

14. The instrument of claim 13, further comprising an actuator mechanism engaged with said elongate member and coupled to said cutting blade, wherein axial displacement of said actuator mechanism relative to said elongate member axially displaces said cutting blade along said channel to transition said cutting blade between said retracted and expanded configurations.

11. The instrument of claim 11, wherein said first cutting element comprises a distal end portion of said elongate member.

10. The instrument of claim 11, wherein said first cutting element comprises a drill flute.

15. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate member;

a first cutting element disposed along said elongate member for forming a first portion of a passage in bone, said first cutting element comprising a distal end portion of said elongate member, said distal end portion of said elongate member configured to be self-drilling and self-tapping; and

a second cutting element disposed along said elongate member and being transitionable between a retracted configuration for extending through the first portion of the passage and an expanded configuration for forming a second portion of the passage having an enlarged cross-section.

16. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate member;

a first cutting element disposed along said elongate member for forming a first portion of a passage in bone; and

a second cutting element disposed alone said elongate member and being transitionable between a retracted configuration for extending through the first portion of the passage and an expanded configuration for forming a second portion of the passage having an enlarged cross-section; and

wherein said first cutting element comprises a tapping thread and wherein said second cutting element comprising a cutting blade.

17. The instrument of claim 16, wherein said cutting blade includes a cutting edge having a profile corresponding to a profile of said tapping thread.

18. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate member;

a tapping thread defined along a portion of said elongate member for forming a threaded portion of a passage in bone; and

a cutting blade engaged with said elongate member and being transitionable between a retracted configuration for extending through the threaded portion of the passage and an expanded configuration for forming an enlarged cross-sectional portion of the passage.

19. The instrument of claim 18, wherein said elongate member defines an axial channel including a ramped section, said cutting blade being at least partially disposed within said channel and slidably displaceable along said ramped section to transition said cutting blade between said retracted and expanded configurations.

20. The instrument of claim 19, further comprising a collet engaged with said comprises a collet slidably engaged about said elongate member and coupled to said cutting blade so that axial displacement of said collet relative to said elongate member slidably displaces said cutting blade along said ramped section of said channel to transition said cutting blade between said retracted and expanded configurations.

21. The instrument of claim 18, wherein said cutting blade includes a cutting edge having a profile corresponding to a profile of said tapping thread.

22. A surgical instrument, comprising:

means for tapping threads along a portion of a passage in bone;

means for forming an enlarged cross-sectional portion of the passage; and

means for transitioning said means for forming between a retracted configuration for extending through the threaded portion of the passage and an expanded configuration for forming the enlarged cross-sectional portion of the passage.

23. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate member extending along an axis and including;

a tapping portion formed alone a distal portion of said elongate member and configured to cut threads along a passage in bone; and

an expandable portion having at least one cutting element transitionable between an axial orientation configured to extend through the axial passage in bone and an angular orientation for enlarging a portion of the axial passage laterally adjacent said threads.

24. The instrument of claim 23, wherein said at least one cutting element is pivotally coupled to said elongate member.

25. The instrument of claim 24, wherein said at least one cutting element is pivotally coupled to a distal end portion of said elongate member.

26. The instrument of claim 23, wherein said at least one cutting element is outwardly biased toward said angular orientation and is initially maintained in said axial orientation by a retention element.

27. The instrument of claim 26, wherein said retention element is a sleeve, said at least one cutting element being at least partially disposed within said sleeve to selectively maintain said at least one cutting element in said axial orientation, said at least one cutting element being transitionable between said retracted and expanded configurations by axially displacing said at least one cutting element relative to said sleeve.

28. The instrument of claim 27, further comprising an actuator mechanism including a shaft disposed within said sleeve and coupled to said at least one cutting element, wherein axial displacement of said shaft relative to said sleeve transitions said at least one cutting element between said axial and angular configurations.

29. The instrument of claim 28, wherein said at least one cutting element is pivotally coupled to said shaft.

30. The instrument of claim 23, wherein the axial passage is formed by applying an axial force to said elongate member;

and

wherein the axial passage is enlarged by applying a rotational force to said elongate member.

31. The instrument of claim 30, further comprising a handle coupled to said elongate member, said handle configured to transmit said axial and rotational forces to said elongate member.

32. The instrument of claim 23, further comprising a retention element configured to selectively maintain said at least one cutting element in said axial orientation.

33. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate member extending along an axis;

a tapping element formed along a distal portion of said elongate member; and

at least one cutting element transitionable between a retracted configuration for extending through a passage in bone and an expanded configuration for enlarging a portion of the passage; and

wherein said tapping element is configured to cut threads along the passage, said at least one cutting element configured to enlarge said portion of the passage laterally adjacent said threads when transitioned to said expanded configuration.

34. The instrument of claim 33, wherein said at least one cutting element has a lateral profile corresponding to a lateral profile of said tapping element.

35. The instrument of claim 33, wherein axial displacement of said at least one cutting element relative to said elongate member causes said at least one cutting element to transition between said retracted and expanded configurations.

36. The instrument of claim 35, wherein said elongate member and said cutting element define bearing surfaces slidably engaging one another during said axial displacement, at least one of said bearing surfaces including a ramped section configured to transition said cutting element between said retracted and expanded configurations during said axial displacement.

37. The instrument of claim 33, wherein said elongate member includes another cutting element configured to form the passage in the bone.

38. The instrument of claim 37, wherein said another cutting element comprises a portion of said tapping element.