Intra-articular drill
OwnerLanny L. Johnsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drill bit is dimensioned to be received within a bone joint. The bit is oriented and retained in position by a removable fixation device to permit a drill drive shaft to be secured to, or removed from, the drill bit. By securing the drive shaft within a cavity at the end of the bit which performs the drilling function, retrograde drilling of bone from within the joint can be achieved. When the drive shaft is secured within a cavity at the opposite end of the drill bit, antegrade drilling of bone is possible from within the joint.
Claims4
An intra-articular drill for forming a cavity in bone from with a joint, comprising:
- a drill bit dimensioned to be received within said joint and having a base portion at a proximal end and a drilling portion at a distal end;
- a recess formed in said drill bit in coaxial relationship with a longitudinal axis of the drill bit, said recess being formed in said drilling portion of the drill bit commencing at the distal end thereof;
- and
- a drill shaft having an end portion adapted to be introduced within, secured to, and released from the recess from the distal end of the drill bit.
An intra-articular drill according to claim 7, further comprising:
- fixation means removably connected to said drill bit for orienting and retaining the position of the drill bit within the joint, said fixation means including a rod having an end adapted to be removably inserted in a still further recess provided in a side surface of said base portion of the drill bit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.