VERTEBRAL DISC CUTTER AND METHOD
An improved surgical tool including a cutter that will accumulate cut disc material during operation. One form can form a bore while another form can be used as a side cutter. The tool can be used as a rotary and/or reciprocating cutter.
1 . A cutting tool for bone, cartilage, and disc removal comprising:
a body having distal end, a proximal end, an outer surface, and a hollow interior chamber, wherein the interior chamber is defined by an interior surface;
a plurality of cutting teeth extending inwardly from the interior surface and configured to engage and cut disc material during a surgical procedure;
a bore, disposed at the proximal end, configured to engage a power source; and
a through opening positioned adjacent to the proximal end configured to provide access from an exterior of the body into the interior chamber.
2 . The cutting tool of claim 1 , wherein at least the distal end is tubular.
3 . The cutting tool of claim 2 , wherein the outer surface is cylindrical.
4 . The cutting tool of claim 1 , wherein the distal end is a free end.
5 . The cutting tool of claim 4 , wherein the free end contains cutters.
6 . The cutting tool of claim 1 , wherein the bore is a female splined bore configured to engage a splined shaft of the power source.
7 . The cutting tool of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of teeth are triangular in shape.
8 . The cutting tool of claim 1 , wherein the through hole is configured to receive an implement to push collected disc material out of the distal end.
9 . The cutting tool of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end contains outwardly extending deflection tabs configured to assist in disc material removal.
10 . The cutting tool of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of teeth are spaced apart radially about the interior surface.
11 . The cutting tool of claim 6 , wherein the cutting tool is configured to be one or more of rotated or oscillated reciprocally by the power source.
12 . The cutting tool of claim 6 , wherein the power source is one of an electrically powered motor or an air-powered motor.
13 . The cutting tool of claim 8 , wherein the implement is a brush or rod.
14 . The cutting tool of claim 1 , wherein the cutting tool is configured to collect disc material during a disc removal procedure for later removal from the cutting tool.
15 . The cutting tool of claim 1 , comprising stainless steel.