Flexible drill and method of joining nitinol to dissimilar metals
AssigneeArthrex, Inc.
InventorsGary Scott Sherman, Jerry F. Sterrett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flexible drill with a shaft having a nitinol portion (or nitinol region) provided between a stainless steel driver end and a stainless steel drill tip. The flexible drill with nitinol shaft is provided with a bearing surface to allow centering within a drill guide, low friction bearing and flexibility to drill around a curve. The bearing surface may be formed of a fluoropolymer such as LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene). The flexible drill shaft may be used through a drill guide, such as a curved drill sleeve.
Claims15
A flexible drill, comprising a shaft with a flexible nitinol shaft in contact with a rigid drill tip of a dissimilar material.
A flexible drill comprising:
- a stainless steel shaft and a stainless steel drill tip, both the stainless steel shaft and a stainless steel drill tip being in contact with a nitinol flexible shaft;
- wherein
- the nitinol flexible shaft consists essentially of nitinol and is covered by a coating for surface bearing;
- and wherein
- the nitinol flexible shaft is connected to the stainless steel shaft and the stainless steel drill tip by laser welding.
A method of joining nitinol to a dissimilar metal, comprising the steps of:
- providing a nitinol member in the proximity of a tubular member of a dissimilar metal;
- forming a plurality of cross-holes through the tubular member;
- inserting the nitinol member within the tubular member;
- and
- creating welding plugs in the cross-holes using laser.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.