Acetabular shell removal instrument

1. A powered apparatus for removing a prosthetic acetabular cup from an acetabulum of a patient comprising:

an elongate shaft having a first end and a second end and extending about a first axis, the first end capable of being received within said acetabular cup;

a cutting element pivotally attached to said elongate shaft adjacent the first end for pivotal movement with respect to said elongate shaft and about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis such that the cutting element moves towards the acetabulum, said cutting element being adapted for cutting bone of the acetabulum adjacent to an outer surface of said acetabular cup when the first end is within said acetabular cup;

a handle slideably engaged with and capable of at least partial rotation around said elongate shaft, wherein sliding of said handle along said elongate shaft pivots said cutting element, the sliding of said handle being independent of the partial rotation of said handle around said shaft, wherein said handle is capable of freely sliding in two longitudinal directions with respect to said shaft; and

a powered handpiece connected to the second end of said elongate shaft, said powered handpiece capable of providing a rotating cutting motion about the first axis to said cutting element.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the rotating cutting motion is an oscillating motion.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an engagement element attached to the first end of said elongate shaft for engaging said acetabular cup.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said engagement element is removably attached to the first end of said elongate shaft, such that differently sized engagement elements may be employed for differently sized acetabular cups.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said engagement element prevents pivoting of said apparatus in said acetabular cup.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein pivoting of said cutting element determines a depth of the cut of the bone surface adjacent to the outer surface of said acetabular cup.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said cutting element is curved to conform to the outer surface of said acetabular cup.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said cutting element is removably attached to said elongate shaft.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said powered handpiece is removably connected to the second end of said elongate shaft.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said powered handpiece provides the rotating cutting motion to said cutting element portion between four degrees in a clockwise direction and four degrees in a counter-clockwise direction.

11. An instrument for removing an implanted acetabular cup having a part-spherical outer surface from an acetabulum comprising:

an elongated shaft extending about a first axis, said elongated shaft having a first end for engaging with the implanted acetabular cup and an actuator mounted on said shaft for at least partial rotation therearound, wherein said actuator is capable of freely moving in two longitudinal directions with respect to said shaft;

a cutting element pivotally coupled to said shaft adjacent said first end at a point radially offset from said shaft, said cutting element pivotable with respect to said shaft and about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis towards said acetabulum along an arcuate path conforming to the part-spherical outer surface of the acetabular cup when the first end is within said acetabular cup;

a connector coupled to said actuator and said cutting element for pivoting said cutting element towards the acetabulum upon movement of said actuator, said movement of said actuator independent of the partial rotation of said actuator around said shaft.

12. The instrument as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said actuator has an inner bore for receiving said shaft and having a recess open to said bore for engaging a radially outwardly extending finger on said connector, said recess having a dimension greater than said finger to allow said at least partial rotation of said actuator or said shaft.

13. The instrument as set forth in claim 11 , further including a powered handpiece for providing a rotating cutting motion to said cutting element about the first axis.

14. The instrument as set forth in claim 13 , wherein said rotating cutting motion includes oscillating motion provided to said instrument.