Tool with deployable cutting blade

• US 7,179,024 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2004
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stout Medical Group, L.P. (Alphatec Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Stout Medical Group, L.P. (Alphatec Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Greenhalgh, E. Skott
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter; Monica
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams; Jamila O.
• Application Number:
  US10/825,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20040208717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 408/54, 408/30, 408/22, 408/24, 408/93, 408/148, 408/150, 408153-154, 408/156, 408/158, 408/159, 408/173, 408/180, 408/187, 408/189, 408/211, 408223-224, 408/174, 408/178, 82/12, 606/80, 606/79, 606/84, 606/82, 606/176, 606/177, 606/178, 606/179, 606/180
• US Class Current: 408/224
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 51/0018 Drills for enlarging a hole
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 51/0036 by a tool-carrying eccentric
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 51/0045 by expanding or tilting the toolhead
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 51/02 Twist drills
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/906 Axially spaced

Abstract

A tool having a deployable cutting blade for making an undercut in a substrate is disclosed. The tool has a chamber positioned between its cutting tip and its tang. The cutting blade is movably mounted within the chamber. The blade is movable by sliding, pivoting or deflecting on a cantilever mounting and is movable between a retracted position within the chamber and an extended position projecting outwardly to engage and cut the substrate. Actuators for moving the blade include an eccentric cam mounted on a camshaft, a push rod and an inflatable balloon. Blades are also resiliently mounted and oriented so that their engagement with the substrate will cause them to retract into the chamber when the tool rotates in one direction and deploy into the extended position when the tool rotates in the opposite direction.

Claims

1. A tool for making an undercut in a substrate, said tool comprising:

an elongated bit shaft having a cutting tip positioned at one end and a tang positioned at an opposite end, said bit shaft being rotatable about a lengthwise axis to bore an opening in said substrate with said cutting tip;

a chamber located within said bit shaft and positioned between said cutting tip and said tang, said chamber having an opening providing access thereto;

a cutting blade positioned within said chamber, said cutting blade being movable between a retracted position within said chamber and an extended position projecting outwardly from said bit shaft through said opening; and

means for moving said cutting blade between said retracted and extended positions, said cutting blade forming said undercut when in said extended position upon rotation of said bit shaft, wherein said blade moving means comprises an axle positioned within said chamber, the chamber being defined by first and second sidewalls angularly oriented with respect to one another, said axle being substantially lengthwise aligned with and offset from the longitudinal axis of said bit shaft, said cutting blade being mounted on said axle between said sidewalls for pivoting motion into and out of said chamber, rotation of said bit shaft in a first direction causing said blade member to pivot on said axle and move into said chamber against said first sidewall upon contact between said blade and said substrate, rotation of said bit shaft in an opposite direction causing said cutting blade to pivot on said axle and move out of said chamber and into engagement with said second sidewall upon contact between said blade and said substrate.

2. A tool according to claim 1, wherein said first and second sidewalls are oriented at 90°

to one another.

3. A tool according to claim 1, wherein said first direction corresponds with the direction of advance of said bit shaft through said substrate.

4. A tool according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing member engaging said culling blade and biasing it into said retracted position.

5. A tool according to claim 1, wherein the bit shaft configured to have a helical groove along the length of the bit shaft.

6. A tool according to claim 4, wherein the biasing member comprises a return spring.

7. A tool according to claim 6, wherein the return spring comprises a coil spring.

8. A tool according to claim 1, wherein the lengthwise axis is substantially radially central to the bit shaft.

9. A tool according to claim 4, wherein the biasing member is coaxial with the axle.

10. A tool according to claim 1, further comprising a first stop configured to limit rotation of the cutting blade.

11. A tool according to claim 10, wherein the first stop comprises the first sidewall.

12. A tool according to claim 10, wherein the first stop is configured to limit rotation of the cutting blade in the first direction.

13. A tool according to claim 10, further comprising a second stop configured to limit rotation of the cutting blade.

14. A tool according to claim 13, wherein the second stop comprises the second sidewall.

15. A tool according to claim 13, wherein the second stop is configured to limit rotation of the cutting blade in the second direction.

16. A tool according to claim 1, wherein the second direction corresponds with the direction of withdraw of the bit shaft through the substrate.

17. A tool according to claim 1, wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall comprise of a material of the bit shaft.

18. A tool according to claim 17, wherein the material is steel.

19. A tool according to claim 18, wherein the material is stainless steel.

20. A tool according to claim 17, wherein the material is titanium.