Radial impaction bone tamp and associated method

1. An instrument for compacting bone material in preparation for inserting an implant, the implant having an outer periphery, said instrument comprising:

a first component defining a longitudinal axis thereof, the first component including angled walls; and

a second component and a third component, each of said second and third components moveably associated with said first component, said second component and said third component moveable at least partially in a radial direction outwardly from the longitudinal axis of said first component, wherein either said conical portion of said first component or both said second and third components define a groove and wherein the other of said conical portion of said first component said second and third components comprises a protrusion for cooperation with said groove, such that the protrusion extends into said groove, thereby coupling said first component to said second component and said third component, said second and third components slidingly engaged to said first component along said angled wall, such that as said angled wall is moved downwardly, said second and third components are pushed outwardly by said angled wall, said second component and said third component are completely separated from one another, such that said second component and said third component can move independently of one another;

wherein said second and third components define an outer periphery, said outer periphery having a shape that generally replicates the outer periphery of the implant.

2. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein said first component comprises:

a body; and

a stem extending from said body, said second component slidably mounted to said body.

3. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first component and said second component is tapered along the longitudinal axis.

4. The instrument of claim 1 :

wherein said first component defines a restraining portion thereof; and

wherein said second component defines a cooperating portion for cooperating with the restraining portion of said first component to provide restrained motion of said second component with respect to said first component.

5. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein said second component defines a first surface for cooperation with the first component and a second surface opposed to the first surface for contact with the bone material.

6. The instrument of claim 5 , wherein the second surface of said second component is adapted to urge the particles radially from the longitudinal axis as the first component is rotated about the longitudinal axis in a first direction.

7. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein said first component and said second component are adapted to provide for motion of said second component away from the longitudinal axis of said first component as the first component is advanced axially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said first component with respect to the second component.

8. An instrument for compacting bone material in a medullary canal of a long bone in preparation for inserting an implant, the implant having an outer periphery, said instrument comprising:

a first component defining a longitudinal axis thereof said first component having an outer periphery having angled walls, the outer periphery of said first component defining a restraining portion thereof; and

a second component and a third component, each of said second and third components moveably associated with said first component, said second component and said third component defining a cooperating portion for cooperating with the restraining portion of said first component to provide restrained motion of said second component and said third component with respect to said first component, wherein one of said restraining portion of said first component and said second and third components defines a groove and wherein said other of said restraining portion of said first component and said second and third components comprises a protrusion for cooperation with said groove, such that the protrusion extends into said groove, thereby coupling said first component to said second component and said third component, said second and third components slidingly engaged to said first component along said angled wall, such that as said angled wall is moved downwardly, said second and third components are pushed outwardly by said angled wall, said second component and said third component are completely separated from one another, such that said second component and said third component can move independently of one another;

wherein said second component and third component define an outer periphery, said outer periphery having a shape that replicates the outer periphery of the implant.

9. The instrument of claim 8 , wherein said first component comprises:

a body; and

a stem extending from said body, said second component slidably mounted to said body.

10. The instrument of claim 8 , wherein said second component defines a first surface for cooperation with the first component and a second surface opposed to the first surface for contact with the bone material.

11. The instrument of claim 10 , wherein the second surface of said second component is adapted to urge the particles radially from the longitudinal axis as the first component is rotated about the longitudinal axis in a first direction.

12. The instrument of claim 8 , wherein said first component and said second component are adapted to provide for motion of said second component away from the longitudinal axis of said first component as the first component is advanced axially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said first component with respect to the second component.