Expandable reamer cutting head

1. A medical device comprising:

a rotatable cutter head having a center longitudinal rotation axis;

the rotatable cutter head comprising a mandrel and a plurality of elongated cutters disposed on the mandrel;

each of the elongated cutters rotatable about a cutter rotation axis, respectively, wherein rotation of each of the elongated cutters about the cutter rotation axis changes a cutting diameter of the rotatable cutter head;

each cutter rotation axis having a length which simultaneously extends both longitudinally along the center longitudinal rotation axis and circumferentially around the center longitudinal rotation axis;

each cutter rotation axis parallel with a first imaginary plane, respectively, which is at an angle with a second imaginary plane which is parallel to the center longitudinal axis, respectively;

wherein the mandrel comprises a proximal cylindrical section, a distal cylindrical section and a distal end section;

wherein the distal cylindrical section is arranged distal of the proximal cylindrical section, and the distal end section is arranged distal of the distal cylindrical section;

wherein the distal cylindrical section has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the proximal cylindrical section and the distal end section such that an annular recess is formed between the proximal cylindrical section and the distal end section; and

wherein each of the elongated cutters is disposed in the annular recess.

2. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein:

the distal end section of the mandrel is conically shaped and/or has a plurality of cutting blades.

3. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein:

each of the elongated cutters is rotatable about the cutter rotation axis via an axle rotatable in a bore, respectively.

4. The medical device of claim 3 , wherein:

each of the elongated cutters comprises the axle; and

each of the bores is disposed in the mandrel.

5. The medical device of claim 4 , wherein:

the mandrel comprises a proximal cylindrical section, a distal cylindrical section and a distal end section;

wherein the distal cylindrical section is arranged distal of the proximal cylindrical section, and the distal end section is arranged distal of the distal cylindrical section;

wherein the distal cylindrical section has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the proximal cylindrical section and the distal end section such that an annular recess is formed between the proximal cylindrical section and the distal end section;

wherein each of the elongated cutters is disposed in the annular recess; and

wherein each of the bores is disposed in a portion of the mandrel which is part of the proximal cylindrical section and/or the distal cylindrical section.

6. The medical device of claim 5 , wherein:

the portion of the mandrel which is part of the proximal cylindrical section and/or the distal cylindrical section of the mandrel comprises a mounting tab.

7. The medical device of claim 6 , wherein:

the mounting tab is disposed adjacent a shoulder region of the proximal cylindrical section.

8. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein:

each of the elongated cutters is rotatable about the cutter rotation axis via a bore rotatable about an axle, respectively.

9. The medical device of claim 8 , wherein:

each of the elongated cutters comprises the bore; and

each of the axles extends from the mandrel and into each of the bores.

10. The medical device of claim 9 , wherein:

the mandrel comprises a proximal cylindrical section, a distal cylindrical section and a distal end section;

wherein the distal cylindrical section is arranged distal of the proximal cylindrical section, and the distal end section is arranged distal of the distal cylindrical section;

wherein the distal cylindrical section has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the proximal cylindrical section and the distal end section such that an annular recess is formed between the proximal cylindrical section and the distal end section;

wherein each of the elongated cutters is disposed in the annular recess; and

wherein each of the axles extends from a bore formed in the distal end section of the mandrel.

11. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein:

the rotatable cutter head further comprises an elongated cutter guide, the elongated cutter guide having a tubular body which mechanically engages with the elongated cutters; and

wherein each of the elongated cutters is rotatable about the cutter rotation axis by movement of the tubular body along the longitudinal rotation axis relative to the elongated cutters.

12. The medical device of claim 11 , wherein:

the tubular body and the elongated cutters are arranged such that distal movement of the tubular body along the longitudinal rotation axis relative to the elongated cutters increases the cutting diameter of the rotatable cutter head; and

the tubular body and the elongated cutters are arranged such that proximal movement of the tubular body along the longitudinal rotation axis relative to the elongated cutters decreases the cutting diameter of the rotatable cutter head.

13. The medical device of claim 11 , wherein:

the tubular body comprises a plurality of cutter guide slots; and

wherein each one of the elongated cutters occupies one of the cutter guide slots.

14. The medical device of claim 13 , wherein:

each of the cutter guide slots are defined by opposing edges of the tubular body;

wherein the opposing edges defining each cutter guide slot comprise a leading edge which leads the elongated cutter occupying the cutter guide slot in a direction of rotational cutting of the rotatable cutter head, and a trailing edge which trails the elongated cutter occupying the cutter guide slot in a direction of rotational cutting of the rotatable cutter head;

wherein the leading edge of the tubular body defining each cutter guide slot mechanically engages with the elongated cutter occupying the cutter guide slot to increase the cutting diameter of the of the rotatable cutter head; and

wherein the training edge of the tubular body defining each cutter guide slot mechanically engages with the elongated cutter occupying the cutter guide slot to decrease the cutting diameter of the of the rotatable cutter head.

15. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein:

each of the elongated cutters comprises an elongated, planar cutter blade, respectively; and

each of the elongated, planar cutter blades tapers from a proximal end to a distal end at a taper angle.

16. The medical device of claim 15 , wherein:

each of the elongated cutter blades has a leading face and a trailing face relative to a cutting direction of the rotatable cutter head; and

wherein the trailing face of each of the elongated cutter blades has a bevel.

17. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein:

the mandrel has a through-passage which extends along the longitudinal rotation axis.

18. A medical device comprising:

a rotatable cutter head having a center longitudinal rotation axis;

the rotatable cutter head comprising a mandrel and a plurality of elongated cutters disposed on the mandrel;

each of the elongated cutters rotatable about a cutter rotation axis, respectively, wherein rotation of each of the elongated cutters about the cutter rotation axis changes a cutting diameter of the rotatable cutter head;

each cutter rotation axis having a length which simultaneously extends both longitudinally along the center longitudinal rotation axis and circumferentially around the center longitudinal rotation axis;

each elongated cutter comprising a cutter blade having a proximal end and a distal end;

the cutter rotation axis of each elongated cutter is spaced at a radial distance from the longitudinal axis which changes 1.5 mm or less from the proximal end to the distal end of the cutter blade;

wherein the rotatable cutter head further comprises an elongated cutter guide, the elongated cutter guide having a tubular body which mechanically engages with the elongated cutters; and

wherein each of the elongated cutters is rotatable about the cutter rotation axis by movement of the tubular body along the longitudinal rotation axis relative to the elongated cutters.

19. A medical device comprising:

a rotatable cutter head having a center longitudinal rotation axis;

the rotatable cutter head comprising a mandrel and a plurality of elongated cutters disposed on the mandrel;

each of the elongated cutters rotatable about a cutter rotation axis, respectively, wherein rotation of each of the elongated cutters about the cutter rotation axis changes a cutting diameter of the rotatable cutter head;

each cutter rotation axis having a length which simultaneously extends both longitudinally along the center longitudinal rotation axis and circumferentially around the center longitudinal rotation axis;

each the cutter rotation axis is spaced at a radial distance from the longitudinal axis; and

each cutter rotation axis extends circumferentially around the center longitudinal rotation axis in a range of 1% to 15% of a full rotation around the center longitudinal rotation axis;

wherein the rotatable cutter head further comprises an elongated cutter guide, the elongated cutter guide having a tubular body which mechanically engages with the elongated cutters; and

wherein each of the elongated cutters is rotatable about the cutter rotation axis by movement of the tubular body along the longitudinal rotation axis relative to the elongated cutters.

20. A medical device comprising:

a rotatable cutter head having a center longitudinal rotation axis;

the rotatable cutter head comprising a mandrel and a plurality of elongated cutters disposed on the mandrel;

each of the elongated cutters rotatable about a cutter rotation axis, respectively, wherein rotation of each of the elongated cutters about the cutter rotation axis changes a cutting diameter of the rotatable cutter head;

each cutter rotation axis having a length which simultaneously extends both longitudinally along the center longitudinal rotation axis and circumferentially around the center longitudinal rotation axis;

each cutter rotation axis parallel with a first imaginary plane, respectively, which is at an angle with a second imaginary plane which is parallel to the center longitudinal axis, respectively;

wherein the rotatable cutter head further comprises an elongated cutter guide, the elongated cutter guide having a tubular body which mechanically engages with the elongated cutters; and

wherein each of the elongated cutters is rotatable about the cutter rotation axis by movement of the tubular body along the longitudinal rotation axis relative to the elongated cutters.

21. The medical device of claim 20 , wherein:

the mandrel comprises a proximal cylindrical section, a distal cylindrical section and a distal end section;

wherein the distal cylindrical section is arranged distal of the proximal cylindrical section, and the distal end section is arranged distal of the distal cylindrical section;

wherein the distal cylindrical section has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the proximal cylindrical section and the distal end section such that an annular recess is formed between the proximal cylindrical section and the distal end section; and

wherein each of the elongated cutters is disposed in the annular recess.

22. The medical device of claim 21 , wherein:

the distal end section of the mandrel is conically shaped and/or has a plurality of cutting blades.

23. The medical device of claim 20 , wherein:

each of the elongated cutters is rotatable about the cutter rotation axis via an axle rotatable in a bore, respectively.

24. The medical device of claim 23 , wherein:

each of the elongated cutters comprises the axle; and

each of the bores is disposed in the mandrel.

25. The medical device of claim 24 , wherein:

the mandrel comprises a proximal cylindrical section, a distal cylindrical section and a distal end section;

wherein the distal cylindrical section is arranged distal of the proximal cylindrical section, and the distal end section is arranged distal of the distal cylindrical section;

wherein the distal cylindrical section has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the proximal cylindrical section and the distal end section such that an annular recess is formed between the proximal cylindrical section and the distal end section;

wherein each of the elongated cutters is disposed in the annular recess; and

wherein each of the bores is disposed in a portion of the mandrel which is part of the proximal cylindrical section and/or the distal cylindrical section.

26. The medical device of claim 25 , wherein:

the portion of the mandrel which is part of the proximal cylindrical section and/or the distal cylindrical section of the mandrel comprises a mounting tab.

27. The medical device of claim 26 , wherein:

the mounting tab is disposed adjacent a shoulder region of the proximal cylindrical section.

28. The medical device of claim 20 , wherein:

each of the elongated cutters is rotatable about the cutter rotation axis via a bore rotatable about an axle, respectively.

29. The medical device of claim 28 , wherein:

each of the elongated cutters comprises the bore; and

each of the axles extends from the mandrel and into each of the bores.

30. The medical device of claim 29 , wherein:

the mandrel comprises a proximal cylindrical section, a distal cylindrical section and a distal end section;

wherein the distal cylindrical section is arranged distal of the proximal cylindrical section, and the distal end section is arranged distal of the distal cylindrical section;

wherein the distal cylindrical section has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the proximal cylindrical section and the distal end section such that an annular recess is formed between the proximal cylindrical section and the distal end section;

wherein each of the elongated cutters is disposed in the annular recess; and

wherein each of the axles extends from a bore formed in the distal end section of the mandrel.

31. The medical device of claim 20 , wherein:

the tubular body and the elongated cutters are arranged such that distal movement of the tubular body along the longitudinal rotation axis relative to the elongated cutters increases the cutting diameter of the rotatable cutter head; and

the tubular body and the elongated cutters are arranged such that proximal movement of the tubular body along the longitudinal rotation axis relative to the elongated cutters decreases the cutting diameter of the rotatable cutter head.

32. The medical device of claim 20 , wherein:

the tubular body comprises a plurality of cutter guide slots; and

wherein each one of the elongated cutters occupies one of the cutter guide slots.

33. The medical device of claim 32 , wherein:

each of the cutter guide slots are defined by opposing edges of the tubular body;

wherein the opposing edges defining each cutter guide slot comprise a leading edge which leads the elongated cutter occupying the cutter guide slot in a direction of rotational cutting of the rotatable cutter head, and a trailing edge which trails the elongated cutter occupying the cutter guide slot in a direction of rotational cutting of the rotatable cutter head;

wherein the leading edge of the tubular body defining each cutter guide slot mechanically engages with the elongated cutter occupying the cutter guide slot to increase the cutting diameter of the of the rotatable cutter head; and

wherein the training edge of the tubular body defining each cutter guide slot mechanically engages with the elongated cutter occupying the cutter guide slot to decrease the cutting diameter of the of the rotatable cutter head.

34. The medical device of claim 20 , wherein:

each of the elongated cutters comprises an elongated, planar cutter blade, respectively; and

each of the elongated, planar cutter blades tapers from a proximal end to a distal end at a taper angle.

35. The medical device of claim 34 , wherein:

each of the elongated cutter blades has a leading face and a trailing face relative to a cutting direction of the rotatable cutter head; and

wherein the trailing face of each of the elongated cutter blades has a bevel.

36. The medical device of claim 20 , wherein:

the mandrel has a through-passage which extends along the longitudinal rotation axis.