Cutting apparatus for bioprocessing bone
A bone cutting assembly includes a manually actuated upper cutting element that carries a plurality of cutting blades configured to cut through frozen bone segments. A lower cutting element supports a bone segment to be cut and can include cutting blades aligned with the cutting blades of the upper cutting assembly. A pivoting linkage or a rack and pinion arrangement can be provided between the upper cutting element and a manually operated handle to provide sufficient mechanical advantage or leverage to allow an operator to manually cut through the bone.
1. A device for cutting a bone, comprising:
a. a force transmission mechanism wherein said force transmission mechanism comprises an elongated force transducing member pivotally coupled to a gear mechanism, wherein said gear mechanism comprises a gear ratio configured to result in a generation of up to 1000 lbf when less than 50 lbf is applied to said elongated force transducing member;
b. a manually operable handle coupled to an end of said elongated force transducing member, wherein said end is opposite of said gear mechanism; and
c. a cutting element.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said gear mechanism comprises a ratchet and a pawl gear assembly.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein said elongated force transducing member has a length of about 18 to about 20 inches providing a leverage ratio of at least 27:1 between a force exerted to push said handle and a force exerted by said elongated force transducing member.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein said bone is ex vivo.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein said cutting element is an upper cutting element or a lower cutting element.
6. The device of claim 5 , wherein said upper cutting element or said lower cutting element comprises an alignment notch, wherein said alignment notch is specific to an additional cutting element.
7. The device of claim 5 , wherein said upper cutting element, said lower cutting element, or both comprise one or more cutting blades wherein a cutting blade comprises one or more angles.
8. The device of claim 7 , wherein said angles converge on an apex.
9. The device of claim 7 , wherein said cutting blades are arranged in a radial pattern.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein said gear mechanism comprises a rack and a pinion wherein said pinion comprises a diameter of at least 1.375 inches and wherein said pinion comprises at least twelve gear teeth, and said rack comprises at least 20 gear teeth.
11. A device for cutting a bone, comprising:
a. an elongated force transducing member;
b. a linkage; and
c. an upper cutting element,
wherein said elongated force transducing member is coupled to said linkage and forms a first pivot with said linkage, wherein said linkage is coupled to said upper cutting element and forms a second pivot with said upper cutting element, and wherein said first pivot and said second pivot are offset; and
wherein said offset is configured to result in a generation of up to 1000 lbf when less than 50 lbf is applied to said elongated force transducing member.
12. The device of claim 11 , wherein said bone is ex vivo.
13. The device of claim 11 , wherein said elongated force transducing member further comprises a ratchet and a pawl gear assembly.
14. The device of claim 11 , wherein said elongated force transducing member has a length of about 18 to about 20 inches providing a leverage ratio of at least 27:1.
15. The device of claim 11 , further comprising an upper cutting element and a lower cutting element.
16. The device of claim 15 , wherein said lower cutting element comprises an alignment notch, wherein said alignment notch is specific to said upper cutting element.
17. The device of claim 15 , wherein said upper cutting element, said lower cutting element, or both comprise one or more cutting blades wherein a cutting blade comprises one or more angles.
18. The device of claim 17 , wherein said cutting blades are arranged in a radial pattern.
19. The device of claim 18 , wherein said radial pattern comprises about a 60° angle formed between at least two cutting blades.