Hand held battery powered bone awl
OwnerWinfred L. Sugginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hand held, self powered bone awl (10, 50) is disclosed which can be held in the hand of a surgeon for drilling holes through bone, such as the sternum bone during open heart surgery. In one embodiment, the awl is activated by a finger operated switch (38). In another embodiment, a pressure activated switch (52) operates the awl when the end of the bone awl bit (20) is pushed against the bone to be drilled. In either embodiment, a predetermined length (24) of the bit (20) is exposed to limit the depth of drilling to prevent damage to tissue behind the bone.
Claims8
A bone awl for drilling an aperture in the sternum bone to tie together the sternum bone after open heart surgery with a tie, comprising:
- a casing for grasping in the hand of a surgeon;
- an elongate bone awl bit for rotation about a longitudinal axis thereof to drill through bone, the elongate bone awl bit for drilling an aperture in the sternum bone to accept the tie;
- means for mounting the bit to the casing for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the bit, a predetermined length of the bit extending outward from the casing at a first end of the casing, the casing preventing the bone awl bit from penetrating through the sternum bone and into the underlying tissue beyond the predetermined length;
- motor means mounted within the casing for rotating the bit about its longitudinal axis;
- a power source mounted within the casing for operating said motor means;
- switch means mounted to the casing to connect the power source to said motor means to rotate the bit for drilling.
A bone awl for drilling holes through the separated sections of the sternum bone after open heart surgery to tie the sections of the sternum bone together, comprising:
- a casing for grasping in the hand of a surgeon;
- an elongate bone awl bit for rotation about its longitudinal axis to drill through the sternum bone to drill a hole to receive the tie;
- means for mounting the bit to the casing for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the bit, a predetermined length of the bit extending outward from the casing proximate a first end thereof, the casing preventing the bone awl bit from penetrating through the sternum bone and into underlying tissue beyond a distance corresponding to the predetermined length to prevent injury to the patient;
- a motor mounted within the casing for rotating the bit rotating its longitudinal axis;
- a power source mounted within the casing for operating said motor;
- and
- a finger activated switch mounted to the casing proximate the first end for selectively connecting the power source to the motor to rotate the bit for drilling.
A bone awl for drilling holes in separated sections of the sternum bone after open heart surgery to receive a tie to hold the sections together for knitting, comprising:
- a casing for grasping in the hand of a surgeon;
- an elongate bone awl bit for rotation about its longitudinal axis for drilling through bone, the bone awl bit for drilling a hole in the sternum bone section to receive the tie;
- means for mounting the bit to the casing for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the bit, a predetermined length of the bit extending outward from the casing proximate a first end of the casing, the first end of the casing contacting the section of the sternum bone being drilling as a hole is drilled to prevent penetration of the bone awl bit through the sternum bone section and underlying tissue beyond a depth corresponding to the predetermined length of the bit to prevent injury to the patient;
- a motor mounted within the casing for rotating the bit about its longitudinal axis;
- a power source mounted within the casing for operating the motor;
- and
- a pressure activated switch mounted on the casing for connecting the power source to the motor when the drill bit is forced against bone to be drilled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.