Rotary oscillating/reciprocating surgical tool

1. A surgical tool having a cutter that rotary oscillates and linearly reciprocates, said surgical tool including:

a handle;

a motor associated with said handle, said motor providing continuous rotary motion;

a transmission operably coupled to said motor, said motor being operable for selectively driving said transmission, said transmission having a first driver coupled to said motor and operable to effect rotary oscillation of a cutter shaft about a longitudinal axis of said cutter shaft, said transmission having a second driver coupled to said first driver operationally downstream thereof, said second driver including a helical bearing coupled to said cutter shaft and being operable in response to rotary oscillation of said cutter shaft effected by said first driver to effect linear reciprocation of said cutter shaft along said longitudinal axis and transmit said rotary oscillating rotation driving from said first driver to said cutter shaft, said helical bearing including an inner race secured to said cutter shaft and operable to move rotationally and oscillationally with said shaft;

said cutter shaft having a cutter on a distal end thereof, said cutter shaft being mounted to a transmission output for simultaneous oscillating rotation and linear reciprocation of said cutter respectfully about and along said longitudinal axis.

2. The surgical tool of claim 1 wherein said helical bearing including an outer race associated with said inner race and a plurality of bearing balls retained between said inner and outer races.

3. The surgical tool of claim 2 wherein said outer race being fixed against movement relative to said handle.

4. The surgical tool of claim 1 wherein the handle being configured to be mounted to a surgical robot.

5. The surgical tool of claim 1 including a housing, said handle being part of said housing and being configured to be gripped in a person's hand for use in a surgical procedure.

6. The surgical tool of claim 1 wherein motor being an electric motor.

7. The oscillating rotary and reciprocating surgical tool of claim 1 wherein said cutting tool is moved outward with respect to said housing when said cutting tool is rotated in a first direction and wherein said cutting tool is moved inward with respect to said housing when said cutting tool is rotated in an opposite direction.

8. The oscillating rotary and reciprocating surgical tool of claim 1 wherein said inner race includes a helical groove, a plurality of balls arranged to roll within said helical groove.

9. The oscillating rotary and reciprocating surgical tool of claim 1 wherein said helical bearing includes an outer bearing race, said outer bearing race secured to said housing so that said outer bearing race remains fixed in position with respect to said housing during rotation of an inner race.

10. The oscillating rotary and reciprocating surgical tool of claim 1 wherein said motor is pneumatic.

11. An oscillating rotary and reciprocating surgical tool including:

a housing forming a handle;

a motor mounted in the housing, said motor providing continuous rotary motion;

a cutter shaft carried by the housing;

a transmission mounted in the housing, said transmission including a first driver coupled to the motor and operable to produce oscillating rotation of said cutter shaft about a longitudinal axis of said cutter shaft and including a second driver coupled to the first driver and operable to effect reciprocating movement of said cutter shaft along said longitudinal axis while the cutter shaft is rotationally oscillating;

said first driver being operably associated with the motor and coupling said motor to said second driver, said first driver being operable to effect oscillating rotation of said cutter shaft through the second driver and said second driver being coupled to said cutter shaft and operable to add reciprocating movement of said cutter shaft while said cutter shaft is rotationally oscillating said second driver includes a helical bearing to cause said inward movement and said outward movement of said cutting tool in response to rotational oscillating movement of said cutting tool, said helical bearing includes a bearing race having a helical groove, a plurality of balls arranged to roll within said helical groove, said bearing race is an inner bearing race secured to said cutter shaft, said cutter shaft causing rotation of said inner bearing race; and

a cutting tool mounted at a distal end of said cutter shaft and movable therewith in a rotationally oscillating manner and a reciprocating manner.

12. The oscillating rotary and reciprocating surgical tool of claim 11 wherein said cutting tool is moved outward with respect to said housing when said cutting tool is rotated in a first direction and wherein said cutting tool is moved inward with respect to said housing when said cutting tool is rotated in an opposite direction.

13. The oscillating rotary and reciprocating surgical tool of claim 11 wherein said helical bearing includes an outer bearing race, said outer bearing race secured to said housing so that said outer bearing race remains fixed in position with respect to said housing during rotation of said inner race.

14. The oscillating rotary and reciprocating surgical tool of claim 11 wherein said motor is electric.

15. The oscillating rotary and reciprocating surgical tool of claim 11 wherein said motor is pneumatic.

16. The oscillating rotary and reciprocating surgical tool of claim 11 wherein said first driver includes a drive arm secured to an output shaft of said motor, said drive arm offset radially from a center of rotation of said motor output shaft, a follower assembly restricted to planar reciprocating movement in response to rotation of said drive arm, said follower assembly drivingly coupled to said second driver to cause oscillating rotation to said cutter shaft.

17. The oscillating rotary and reciprocating surgical tool of claim 16 wherein follower assembly includes a plurality of gear teeth arranged in a linear arrangement defining a gear rack, said cutter shaft including a pinion gear constructed to intermesh with said follower assembly gear teeth.