Reaming instrument with adjustable profile

1. A reaming instrument with an adjustable profile, the reaming instrument comprising:

a rotatable cutting head comprising a proximal end, a distal end and an axis of rotation about which the cutting head is rotatable;

a cutting face positioned on the distal end of the cutting head, the cutting face conforming to a plane extending generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation;

at least one radially displaceable cutting element having a cutting edge, the cutting edge projecting in a distal direction from the cutting face; and

an adjustment element operably engaged with the at least one radially displaceable cutting element,

the adjustment element being operable in a first operation to displace the at least one radially displaceable cutting element radially inwardly with respect to the axis of rotation, and toward a fully retracted state in which the cutting head has a minimum cutting head profile, the adjustment element also being operable in a second operation to displace the at least one radially displaceable cutting element radially outwardly with respect to the axis of rotation, and toward a fully expanded state in which the cutting head has a maximum cutting head profile.

2. The reaming instrument of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment element comprises a first engagement surface, and the at least one radially displaceable cutting element comprises a second engagement surface.

3. The reaming instrument of claim 2 , wherein the first engagement surface is in direct contact with the second engagement surface.

4. The reaming instrument of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment element comprises a gear wheel having a first plurality of gear teeth.

5. The reaming instrument of claim 4 , wherein the gear wheel defines a central bore having a bore axis.

6. The reaming instrument of claim 5 , wherein the central bore is substantially parallel to and substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation of the cutting head.

7. The reaming instrument of claim 5 , wherein the central bore defines an inner wall, the inner wall having a hexagonal profile to form a hexagonal socket inside the gear wheel.

8. The reaming instrument of claim 5 , wherein the at least one radially displaceable cutting element comprises a second plurality of gear teeth configured to mate with the first plurality of gear teeth on the gear wheel.

9. The reaming instrument of claim 8 , wherein the at least one radially displaceable cutting element comprises a rack, and the rack comprises the second plurality of gear teeth.

10. The reaming instrument of claim 9 , wherein the at least one radially displaceable cutting element has an L-shaped body defining a first leg and a second leg extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the first leg.

11. The reaming instrument of claim 10 , wherein the rack extends along the second leg.

12. The reaming instrument of claim 10 , wherein the cutting edge of the at least one radially displaceable cutting element projects from the first leg.

13. The reaming instrument of claim 1 , wherein the cutting face comprises a plurality of cutting elements projecting in the distal direction from the cutting face, the at least one radially displaceable cutting element being one of the plurality of cutting elements.

14. The reaming instrument of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of cutting elements are uniformly spaced from one another on the cutting face.

15. The reaming instrument of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the cutting edge of the at least one radially displaceable cutting element projects radially outwardly from a perimeter edge of the cutting face when the at least one radially displaceable cutting element is in the fully expanded state.

16. The reaming instrument of claim 1 , wherein the cutting edge of the at least one radially displaceable cutting element extends, in its entirety, inside a perimeter edge of the cutting face when the at least one radially displaceable cutting element is in the fully retracted state.

17. The reaming instrument of claim 1 , wherein the at least one radially displaceable cutting element comprises a first radially displaceable cutting element having a first cutting edge, and a second radially displaceable cutting element having a second cutting edge.

18. The reaming instrument of claim 17 , wherein the first radially displaceable cutting element is movable in a first radial direction toward the fully expanded state, and the second radially displaceable cutting element is movable in a second radial direction toward the fully expanded state, the second radial direction being opposite the first radial direction.

19. The reaming instrument of claim 17 , wherein the cutting face is generally circular, and the second radially displaceable cutting element is angularly offset from the first radially displaceable cutting element by an angle of approximately 180 degrees with respect to the generally circular cutting face.

20. The reaming instrument of claim 17 , wherein the first radially displaceable cutting element and the second radially displaceable cutting element are both operably engaged with the adjustment element.

21. The reaming instrument of claim 17 , wherein the at least one radially displaceable cutting element further comprises a third radially displaceable cutting element having a third cutting edge, and a fourth radially displaceable cutting element having a fourth cutting edge.

22. The reaming instrument of claim 21 , wherein the third radially displaceable cutting element is movable in a third radial direction toward the fully expanded state, and the fourth radially displaceable cutting element is movable in a fourth radial direction toward the fully expanded state, the fourth radial direction being opposite the third radial direction.

23. The reaming instrument of claim 21 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth radially displaceable cutting elements are angularly offset from one another by an angle of approximately 90 degrees.

24. The reaming instrument of claim 21 , wherein the third radially displaceable cutting element and the fourth radially displaceable cutting element are both operably engaged with the adjustment element.

25. The reaming instrument of claim 1 , wherein the cutting face comprises a drill bit centrally located on the cutting face.

26. The reaming instrument of claim 1 , wherein the cutting face defines at least one slot that extends through the cutting face.

27. The reaming instrument of claim 26 , wherein a portion of the at least one radially displaceable cutting element extends within the at least one slot, the at least one slot defining a path of travel for the at least one radially displaceable cutting element as the at least one radially displaceable cutting element is displaced between the fully expanded state and the fully retracted state.

28. The reaming instrument of claim 1 comprising a drive shaft extending from the cutting head, the drive shaft operable to rotate the cutting head during a bone cutting procedure.

29. The reaming instrument of claim 28 comprising an adjustment tool extending from the adjustment element, the adjustment tool configured to actuate the adjustment element in the first operation to displace the at least one radially displaceable cutting element radially outwardly with respect to the axis of rotation, toward the fully expanded state, the adjustment tool also configured to actuate the adjustment element in the second operation to displace the at least one radially displaceable cutting element radially inwardly with respect to the axis of rotation, toward the fully retracted state.

30. The reaming instrument of claim 29 , wherein the drive shaft defines a hollow passage in its interior, and wherein the adjustment tool extends through the hollow passage of the drive shaft.

31. The reaming instrument of claim 30 , wherein the adjustment tool is rotatable independently of the drive shaft.