JOINT SCRUBBER
A medical device suitable for scrubbing a joint, such as a distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint, is disclosed. The device may include a first end, a second end, and a space there between, and a joint scrubber having a first end coupled to the second end of the arm. The joint scrubber is configured to break apart or loosen material in a joint in order to facilitate the insertion of another device, such as a bone screw.
1 . A medical device for scrubbing a joint, the device comprising:
an arm having a first end, a second end, and a space there between; and
a joint scrubber having a first end coupled to the second end of the arm.
2 . The medical device for scrubbing a joint of claim 1 , wherein the joint scrubber comprises a compressible element.
3 . The medical device for scrubbing a joint of claim 2 , wherein the compressible element comprises an outer perimeter, and wherein the outer perimeter expands when a force is applied to the compressible element.
4 . The medical device for scrubbing a joint of claim 3 , wherein the force is applied along the axis.
5 . The medical device for scrubbing a joint of claim 1 , wherein the joint scrubber comprises at least one bending element.
6 . The medical device for scrubbing a joint of claim 1 , wherein the joint scrubber comprises a plurality of bending elements.
7 . The medical device for scrubbing a joint of claim 1 , wherein at least one bending element comprises a slat.
8 . The medical device for scrubbing a joint of claim 1 , wherein the joint scrubber comprises a plurality of slats.
9 . The medical device for scrubbing a joint of claim 1 , wherein the joint scrubber comprises a plurality of slats formed by forming cuts through material used to form the joint scrubber in a first direction.
10 . The medical device for scrubbing a joint of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of slats further comprise a cut partially through the material in a second direction.
11 . The medical device for scrubbing a joint of claim 1 , wherein the joint scrubber comprises plastic.
12 . The medical device for scrubbing a joint of claim 1 , wherein the joint scrubber comprises metal.
13 . The medical device for scrubbing a joint of claim 1 , wherein the joint scrubber comprises deformably resilient material.
14 . The medical device for scrubbing a joint of claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises an end cap coupled to a second end of the joint scrubber.
15 . The medical device for scrubbing a joint of claim 14 , wherein the end cap comprises a first end coupled to the second end of the joint scrubber and a second end.
16 . The medical device for scrubbing a joint of claim 14 , wherein the end cap comprises a first end coupled to the second end of the joint scrubber, a second end, and a tapered section there between.
17 . The medical device for scrubbing a joint of claim 14 , wherein the second end of the end cap is configured to reside within a bore formed within an phalanx.
18 . The medical device for scrubbing a joint of claim 1 , wherein a length of the arm is between about 2 cm to about 20 cm.
19 . The medical device for scrubbing a joint of claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the joint scrubber in an uncompressed position is less than the outer diameter of the arm.
20 . The medical device for scrubbing a joint of claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the joint scrubber in an uncompressed position is about 0.25 to about 5 mm.