Adjustable height rasp
AssigneeWarsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
InventorsNewton H. Metcalf, Richard J. Thiele
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of an adjustable rasping tool for use in orthopedic medical procedures are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a body having two arms extending from a base and a tip portion on each arm is provided, with a shaft between the arms connected to a handle that is rotatably coupled to the base of the body. The shaft has an extended distal portion that contacts the tip portions of the arms. As the shaft is moved proximally (e.g. by rotating the handle in a given direction), the extended distal portion moves with respect to the tip portions and forces them apart. Methods for using embodiments of the disclosed structure are also described.
Claims22
A tool for use in spinal orthopedic surgery, comprising:
- a handle having a longitudinal axis;
- a body having a base connected to said handle and a plurality of arms each having a tip portion, each said tip portion having a relatively internal sloped surface and a relatively external surface, at least part of at least one of said external surfaces being a rasping surface, and said arms have an unstressed position relative to each other;
- and
- a shaft having a proximal portion operatively connected to said handle and a distal portion, said distal portion having an expanded part that contacts said relatively internal sloped portions of said tip portions, whereby operating said handle in a first mode moves said expanded part against said relatively internal sloped portions to force said arms apart, and operating said handle in a second mode moves said expanded part relative to said relatively internal sloped portions to allow said arms to move toward said unstressed relative position.
An orthopedic surgical apparatus comprising:
- a body having a base, first and second longitudinal arms extending from said defining a slot between them, and a longitudinal axis along said slot, said base having a hole therethrough substantially along said axis, said first arm having an internal surface and a first tip portion, said first tip portion having an external rasping surface and an internal sloped surface, said second arm having an internal surface facing said internal surface of said first arm and a second tip portion facing said first tip portion, said second tip portion having an external surface and an internal sloped surface, and wherein said first and second arms have an unstressed relative position such that said internal surfaces are substantially parallel;
- a shaft having a threaded proximal portion and a substantially conical distal portion, said shaft having a shaft longitudinal axis and a boss extending from said shaft substantially perpendicularly to said shaft axis, said shaft being at least partially within said slot, and said conical distal portion having an external surface at least a part of which engages a part of said internal sloped surfaces of said tip portions;
- and
- a handle portion rotatably connected to said base of said body and having a threaded hole connected to said threaded portion of said shaft, whereby rotation of said handle portion in a first direction moves said shaft relatively proximally so that said distal portion of said shaft forces said tip portions apart, and rotation of said handle portion in a second direction opposite to said first direction moves said shaft relatively distally and allows said arms to move toward said unstressed relative position.
A method of preparing an orthopedic implant site, comprising:
- providing an expandable rasping tool having at least two arms forming a slot and a respective tip portion on each arm and a shaft between said arms with a distal extended portion abutting an interior surface of each said tip portion, at least one of said tip portions having an external rasping surface;
- inserting said tool to an orthopedic implant site;
- moving said shaft proximally and thereby moving said tip portions apart and into contact with one or more tissue portions;
- and
- abrading one or more of said tissue portions by shifting said rasping surface against such portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.