Disposable acetabular reamer and method of fabricating the same

A disposable acetabular reamer comprised of at least one cutter blade and a support;

• said cutter blade and said support being affixed to one another such that said cutter blade is fixed in a generally arcuate configuration along the surface of said support;
• a plurality of upstanding teeth formed on said cutter blade, and said cutter blade being capable of engaging the surface of a socket similarly shaped to thereby reform the surface of the socket.

A cutter blade for use as an element of an acetabular reamer, said cutter blade being formed from a blank to provide a center section, a series of opposed segments defining wings extending outwardly from said center section;

• said center section and said segments each being formed with at least one cutting edge, said cutting edges being disposed above and opening in said blank to permit discharge of material being removed from said boney material.

A cutter blade for use as an element of a disposable acetabular reamer;

• said cutter blade being formed from a blank to provide a center section, said center section terminating in transverse end strips;
• fingers facing inwardly from the inner edge of said transverse strips;
• cutter teeth being formed on said center section and said fingers and tabs being formed on said center section and said fingers to permit attachment of said cutter blade to a support.

The method of manufacturing cutter blades from a flat blank for use as an element in acetabular reamers consisting of the forming of one or more cutting teeth while the blade, or blades are generally flat, and, thereafter, shaping said cutter blade.

The method of manufacturing cutter blades for use as an element in acetabular reamers consisting of sharpening of one or more cutting teeth while the blade, or blades, are generally flat.

The method of manufacturing cutter blades for use as an element in acetabular reamers consisting of elevating the edge of one or more cutting teeth while the blade, or blades, are generally flat.

An acetabular reamer wherein the cutter blade is joined to a support such that when rotated it cuts a generally hemispherical shape.

An acetabular reamer wherein the one or more cutter blades is comprised of serially spaced segments to allow the segments of the cutter blade to bend into a generally hemispherical surface.

An acetabular reamer wherein the metallic blank is heat treated prior to being formed into a generally hemispherical shape.