Apparatus and method for sculpting the surface of a joint

An apparatus for cutting into mammalian bone, the apparatus comprising:

• a frame having a space within and an outside region without;
• a plurality of cutting cylinders rotatably disposed within the frame;
• and
• a drive member externally accessible from outside of the frame, the drive member operably coupled to rotate the cutting cylinders.

An apparatus for cutting into mammalian bone, the apparatus comprising:

• a frame having a posterior region for inserting into a mammalian body and an anterior region opposite the posterior region;
• at least one upper cutting element having a cutting surface;
• and
• an extendable body operably coupled to the bottom portion, the extendable body having a first configuration, and a second configuration, in which the apparatus has a greater height in the second configuration than in the first configuration, in which the extendable body is mechanically restricted with respect to side-to-side movement.

An apparatus for simultaneously cutting into two distinct regions of mammalian bone, the apparatus comprising:

• a first frame having a posterior region for inserting into a mammalian body and an anterior region opposite the posterior region;
• a second frame having a posterior region for inserting into a mammalian body and an anterior region opposite the posterior region;
• the first frame having a first moveable cutting body including a first upper cutting surface capable of cutting into tissue and bone;
• the second frame having a second moveable cutting body including a second upper cutting surface capable of cutting into tissue and bone;
• a first drive member operably coupled to the first cutting body;
• a second drive member operably coupled to the second cutting body;
• and
• at least one connecting member for maintaining the first and second frames in spaced apart relation to each other.

An apparatus for cutting into mammalian bone, the apparatus comprising:

• a frame having a posterior region for inserting into a mammalian body and an anterior region opposite the posterior region;
• a posterior roller rotatably coupled to the frame posterior region;
• a anterior roller rotatably coupled to the frame anterior region;
• a cutting belt looped around both the posterior and anterior rollers;
• and
• a drive member operably coupled to the anterior roller to rotatably drive the anterior roller and cutting belt.

An apparatus for cutting into mammalian bone, the apparatus comprising:

• a frame having a posterior region for inserting into a mammalian body and an anterior region opposite the posterior region;
• a substantially planar upper cutting element having a cutting surface;
• and
• a drive member operably coupled to the cutter element so as to drive the cutting element to move substantially within a plane, in which the drive member is accessible from outside of the frame.

An apparatus for cutting into mammalian bone, the apparatus comprising:

• a frame having a posterior region for inserting into a mammalian body and an anterior region opposite the posterior region;
• a removable cartridge having an upper surface bearing a plurality of cutting elements, the cartridge slidably coupled to the frame to allow for movement of the cutting elements with respect to the frame;
• and
• a drive member operably coupled to the cartridge so as to reciprocatingly drive the cartridge, in which the drive member is accessible from outside of the frame.