Surgical saw with sensing technology for determining cut through of bone and depth of the saw blade during surgery

A saw blade assembly for use in a medical saw for single use applications, the saw blade comprising:

• a cutting edge disposed at a distal end of the saw blade;
• a shank disposed adjacent to a proximal end of the saw blade;
• a blade member extending between the distal end and the proximal end;
• a bushing configured to be located adjacent to at least a portion of the blade member, wherein the bushing is constrainedly moveable relative to the blade member in a direction corresponding to the length of the blade member;
• and
• a destructible portion that is at least partially destructible during a cleaning process.

A saw including a saw blade penetration measuring system for determining, with respect to a reference point, a depth of penetration of a cutting edge of a saw blade in a cut, the saw comprising:

• a chuck for engagement with a shank of a saw blade, wherein the chuck is operable to constrain a saw blade engaged by the chuck to limit relative axial movement relative to a cutting direction of the saw blade;
• a displacement sensing arm extending from the saw, wherein the displacement sensing arm is engageable with a bushing member that is constrainedly moveable relative to the saw blade along the cutting direction of the saw blade when the saw blade is engaged by the chuck;
• and
• a displacement sensor disposed in a fixed relative position with respect to a saw blade engaged by the chuck at least in a direction corresponding to the length of the saw blade, the displacement sensing arm being adapted for relative movement with respect to the displacement sensor, wherein the displacement sensor is operative to output a first signal representative of the displacement of the displacement sensing arm relative to the displacement sensor;
• wherein the movement of the displacement sensing arm relative to the saw corresponds to displacement of the bushing relative to a saw blade engaged by the chuck.