Osteotome with disposable blade

1 . An osteotome, comprising:

a blade portion and a handle portion, the blade portion and the handle portion comprising separable components;

the blade portion comprising a tool edge portion and blade shaft portion, the tool edge portion comprising a longitudinally extending base extending outward to a sharp distal end, the blade shaft portion extending between a proximal end of the longitudinally extending base and a first proximal end of the blade shaft portion, and adjacent the first proximal end, an externally threaded portion:

the handle portion comprising a hand grip portion and a handle shaft portion, the handle shaft portion extending between a proximal end adjacent the hand grip portion and a first distal end, and a retainer, the retainer comprising a lip outwardly protruding from the handle shaft portion;

wherein the first proximal end further comprises a first end piece, and wherein the first distal end comprises a second end piece, and where the first end piece and the second end piece are designed for interlocking engagement that prevents rotation therebetween; and

a coupler, the coupler comprising (a) a cylindrical portion having an interior which is at least partially threaded, and (b) a retaining portion, the coupler sized and shaped for sliding engagement along an unthreaded portion of the handle shaft portion,

wherein the coupler is retained on the handle shaft portion by interference between the retainer and the retaining portion;

wherein the coupler is sized and shaped for threaded engagement with the externally threaded portion of the blade shaft portion and upon tightening thereby secures the handle portion to the blade portion; and

wherein the first end piece on the blade portion comprises (a) a pair of circular segments oriented transversely to a longitudinal axis of the blade shaft portion, and (b) a gullet between the pair of circular segments, the gullet sloping inwardly and extending distally along the longitudinal axis of the blade shaft portion.

2 . The osteotome of claim 1 , wherein the second end piece on the handle shaft portion comprises a generally U-shaped protrusion, the generally U-shaped protrusion sized and shaped for secure interlocking engagement with the gullet in the first end piece.

3 . The osteotome of claim 1 , wherein the handle shaft portion comprises a cylindrical portion.

4 . The osteotome of claim 3 , wherein the cylindrical portion of the handle shaft portion has a diameter D 1 , and wherein the retainer comprises a hoop having a diameter D 2 , where the hoop extends outwardly from the cylindrical portion, wherein D 2 is greater than D 1 .

5 . The osteotome of claim 4 , wherein the retaining portion of the coupler comprises an interior surface having a diameter D 3 , and wherein diameter D 3 is greater than diameter D 1 but less than diameter D 2 .

6 . The osteotome of claim 1 , wherein the coupler further comprises an exterior surface, and wherein the exterior surface further comprises grooves.

7 . The osteotome of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinally extending base of the blade portion comprises in part, a prism shaped portion, wherein the prism shaped portion is tapered from a thickness of TP to a thickness of TD, along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis thereof.

8 . The osteotome of claim 1 , wherein the sharp distal end has a selected width W.

9 . The osteotome of claim 8 , wherein width W is between about two (2) millimeters and about twenty five (25) millimeters.

10 . A replaceable end effector for use with a surgical instrument system, the surgical instrument system including a reusable handle, the replaceable end effector comprising:

a blade portion, the blade portion comprising a tool edge portion and a blade shaft portion, the tool edge portion comprising a longitudinally extending base extending outward to a sharp distal end, the blade shaft portion extending between a proximal end of the longitudinally extending base and a first proximal end of the blade shaft portion, and adjacent the first proximal end, an externally threaded portion;

wherein the first proximal end further comprises a first end piece having an anti-rotation element configured for interlocking engagement with the reusable handle; and

wherein the first end piece comprises (a) a pair of circular segments oriented transversely to a longitudinal axis of the blade shaft portion, and (b) a gullet between the pair of circular segments, the gullet sloping inwardly and extending distally along a longitudinal axis of the blade shaft portion.

11 . The replaceable end effector as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the longitudinally extending base of the blade portion comprises, in part, a prism shaped portion, wherein the prism shaped portion is tapered from a thickness of TP to a thickness of TD, along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis thereof.

12 . The replaceable end effector as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the blade portion comprises an osteotome.

13 . The replaceable end effector as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the blade portion comprises a chisel.

14 . The replaceable end effector as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the sharp distal end has a selected width W.

15 . The replaceable end effector as set forth in claim 14 , wherein width W is between about two (2) millimeters and about twenty five (25) millimeters.

16 . The replaceable end effector as set forth in claim 14 , wherein width W of the sharp distal end is between about two (2) millimeters and about thirty one point seventy five (31.75) millimeters.

17 . A surgical instrument kit, comprising:

a plurality of blade portions, and at least one handle portion, wherein the plurality of blade portions are configured for being individually detachably coupled to one of the at least one handle portion;

wherein at least some of the plurality of blade portions comprise a tool edge portion and blade shaft portion, the tool edge portion comprises a longitudinally extending base extending outward to a sharp distal end, the blade shaft portion extends between a proximal end of the longitudinally extending base and a first proximal end of the blade shaft portion, and adjacent the first proximal end, an externally threaded portion;

wherein at least one handle portion comprises a hand grip portion and a handle shaft portion, and wherein the handle shaft portion extends between a proximal end adjacent the hand grip portion and a first distal end, and a retainer, the retainer comprising a lip outwardly protruding from the handle shaft portion; and

wherein the first proximal end further comprises a first end piece, and wherein the first distal end further comprises a second end piece, and,

wherein the first end piece comprises an anti-rotation element configured for interlocking engagement with the reusable handle, and wherein the first end piece comprises (a) a pair of circular segments oriented transversely to a longitudinal axis of the blade shaft portion, and (b) a gullet between the pair of circular segments, the gullet sloping inwardly and extending distally along a longitudinal axis of the blade shaft portion, so that engagement between the first distal end and the gullet prevents rotation between the blade shaft portion and the handle portion.

18 . The kit as set forth in claim 17 , wherein each of the at least one handle portion further comprises a coupler, the coupler comprising (a) a cylindrical portion having an interior which is at least partially threaded, and (b) a retaining portion, the coupler sized and shaped for sliding engagement along an unthreaded portion of the handle shaft portion, and wherein the coupler is retained on the handle shaft portion by interference between the retainer and the retaining portion; and

wherein the coupler is sized and shaped for threaded engagement with the externally threaded portion of a selected blade shaft portion, and upon tightening thereby secures a handle portion to a selected blade portion.

19 . The kit as set forth in claim 17 , wherein the longitudinally extending base of each one of the plurality of blade portions comprise a prism shaped portion, wherein the prism shaped portion is tapered from a thickness of TP to a thickness of TD, along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis thereof.

20 . The kit as set forth in claim 17 , wherein the sharp distal end has a selected width W.

21 . The kit as set forth in claim 20 , wherein width W is between about two (2) millimeters and about thirty one point seven five (31.75) millimeters.

22 . The kit as set forth in claim 17 , wherein at least some of the plurality of blade portions comprise an osteotome.

23 . The kit as set forth in claim 17 , wherein at least some of the plurality of blade portions comprise a chisel . . .