Bidirectional reaming cutter

A surgical reamer having a plurality of cutting teeth, at least one of the cutting teeth comprising:

• only two extended cutting teeth, said two extended cutting teeth being a first extended cutting tooth and a second extended cutting tooth;
• only one recessed portion extending between said first and second extended cutting teeth, said recessed portion being elongate;
• a forward portion including a first cutting edge that cuts in a first rotary direction along a first axial direction and said first extended cutting tooth coupled therewith;
• a rearward portion including a second cutting edge that cuts in a second rotary direction along a second axial direction opposite said first axial direction and said second extended cutting tooth coupled therewith;
• and
• a mid-portion interconnecting said forward portion and said rearward portion, said mid-portion having only two transitional cutting tooth portions and only one said recessed portion, said recessed portion being between said transitional cutting tooth portions, said recessed portion including a first end and a second end opposing said first end, said first and second ends respectively connected to said transitional cutting tooth portions, the reamer including a cutting head having a first cutting head end and a second cutting head end, said cutting head including the plurality of cutting teeth, said cutting head having an axis extending from said first cutting head end to said second cutting head end, said recessed portion being substantially parallel with said axis running from said first end to said second end, said recessed portion having a length which is greater than said first extended cutting tooth and is greater than said second extended cutting tooth.

A method of cutting a cavity in a bone, comprising the steps of:

• providing a shaft having an end and a cutting head connected to said end of said shaft;
• contacting the bone with said cutting head, said cutting head having a plurality of cutting teeth, at least one said cutting tooth having:
• only two extended cutting teeth, said two extended cutting teeth being a first extended cutting tooth and a second extended cutting tooth;
• only one recessed portion extending between said first and second extended cutting teeth, said recessed portion being elongate;
• a forward portion having a first cutting edge that cuts in a first rotary direction along a first axial direction and said first extended cutting tooth coupled therewith;
• a rearward portion having a second cutting edge that cuts in a second rotary direction along a second axial direction opposite said first axial direction and said second extended cutting tooth coupled therewith;
• and
• a mid-portion interconnecting said forward portion and said rearward portion, said mid-portion having only two transitional cutting tooth portions and only one said recessed portion, said recessed portion being between said transitional cutting tooth portions;
• and rotating said cutting head in a first rotary direction, said recessed portion including a first end and a second end opposing said first end, said first and second ends respectively connected to said transitional cutting tooth portions, said cutting head being coaxially connected to said shaft about an axis of the reamer, said recessed portion being substantially parallel with said axis running from said first end to said second end, said recessed portion having a length which is greater than said first extended cutting tooth and is greater than said second extended cutting tooth.