Retrograde resection apparatus and method

1. A retrograde resection apparatus, comprising:

a shaft having a first end region including a first and a second protrusion extending radially outward therefrom;

a cutting blade having a disc-shaped body defining a top surface, and a bottom surface, and a central region about which said cutting blade is configured to rotate around, said cutting blade including:

at least one cutting lip provided on said bottom surface;

a slot extending through at least a portion of said central region of said disc-shaped body and towards a periphery of said cutting blade, said slot defining a top opening on said top surface and a bottom opening on said bottom surface; and

a first and a second recess extending from at least a portion of said slot in said central region, said first and said second recesses each having an upper opening on said top surface of said disc-shaped body and a closed bottom surface opposite said upper opening;

wherein said slot and said first end region of said shaft are configured to allow said first and said second protrusions to be advanced through said bottom opening and then through said top opening of said disc-shaped body; and

wherein a first rotation of said shaft within said slot orientates said first and said second protrusions to be received through said upper openings and advanced into and engage said first and second recesses, respectively, such that a second, subsequent rotation of said shaft causes said cutting blade to rotate about said central region and a longitudinal axis of said shaft and allows said cutting blade to tilt relative to said longitudinal axis of said shaft and said cutting lip is facing a second end region of said shaft.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and said second protrusions includes a hemispherical protrusion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first and said second protrusions extending radially outward in opposite directions.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a screw, including a proximal end and a distal end defining a bore therethrough, received on said shaft.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said shaft is rotatable in said bore.

6. The apparatus of 4 , wherein said screw includes a nut on said proximal end.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said screw includes a plurality of continuous threads in a central portion and a tap proximate said distal end.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a biasing device configured to bias said shaft against said cutting blade;

a first sleeve slidably positioned on said shaft; and

a spring slidably positioned on said shaft between said first sleeve and said biasing member.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing device configured to bias said shaft against said cutting blade.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a tether, wherein said tether is affixed to said cutting blade.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said cutting blade body is less than 1 mm in thickness.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cutting blade body defines an edge, said cutting blade body has a first thickness and said body tapers to a second thickness proximate to said edge.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said cutting lip further includes a slit defined through said body at an angle to the second surface of the cutting device.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said central region of said body further includes a hub.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said hub extends generally away from said bottom surface.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said slot extends through at least a portion of said hub.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said first and said second recesses extend through at least a portion of said hub.

18. A retrograde resection apparatus, comprising:

a shaft having a distal end region, a proximal end region, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said distal end region including at first and a second protrusion extending radially outward in opposite directions from said shaft; and

a disc-shaped cutting blade comprising a top surface, a bottom surface opposite to said top surface, and a central region including center of rotation, said cutting blade further comprising:

a cutting lip projecting outwardly from said bottom surface;

a slot extending through said top surface to said bottom surface and through at least a portion of said central region and towards a periphery of said cutting blade, said slot including first and second opposite sidewalls; and

a first and a second recess extending from said first and said second sidewall of said slot in said central region, respectively, said first and said second recesses each having an upper opening on said top surface of said disc-shaped body and a closed bottom surface opposite said upper opening;

wherein said slot and said distal end region of said shaft are configured to allow said first and said second protrusions to be advanced from said bottom surface, through said slot, to said top surface and into said central region of said cutting blade such that said first and said second protrusions engage said first and said second recesses, respectively, and said cutting lip is facing said proximal end region of said shaft;

wherein rotation and retrograde movement of said shaft causes said cutting blade to rotate about said center of rotation and said longitudinal axis of said shaft; and

wherein said cutting blade is tiltable with respect to said longitudinal axis of said shaft when said first and said second protrusions engage said first and said second recesses as said shaft and said cutting blade rotate about said center of rotation and said longitudinal axis of said shaft.