Modular tapered reamer for bone preparation and associated method

1. A kit for use with a driver in performing joint arthroplasty, said kit comprising:

a first trial;

a second trial having at least one dimension different than said first trial; and

a reamer for preparing a cavity in the intramedullary canal of a long bone to assist in performing a trial reduction, the reamer including a first portion for placement at least partially in the cavity of the long bone and a second portion operably connected to the first portion, said second portion being removably connectable to the driver, said first and second trials being removably attachable to said second portion of said reamer, wherein the first portion of the reamer includes flutes having cutting edges adapted to cut into the long bone, the first portion further including reliefs to provide a path for the removal of cut bone;

wherein said reamer includes a part thereof having a tapered external periphery;

wherein the driver includes a part thereof having a tapered internal periphery; and

wherein said first and second trials include a portion thereof having a tapered internal periphery thereof;

wherein the reamer includes a locking feature having a J-channel and the driver includes pins adapted to engage the J-channel and lock the driver to the reamer.

2. The kit of claim 1 :

wherein the driver defines a longitudinal axis thereof;

wherein said reamer defines a longitudinal axis thereof, the longitudinal axis of said reamer being coincident with the longitudinal axis of the driver when said reamer is connected to the driver; and

wherein the driver is separable and connectable to said reamer along the longitudinal axis of the driver.

3. The kit of claim 1 , wherein said first and second trials and said reamer are packaged in a common container.

4. A kit for use in performing hip joint arthroplasty, said kit to be utilized to prepare a cavity in the femoral canal of a femur with the use of a driver and to assist in performing a trial reduction, said kit comprising:

a first hip femoral component trial;

a second hip femoral component trial having at least one dimension different than the first hip femoral component trial; and

a reamer for preparation of the cavity in the femoral canal, said reamer including a first portion for placement at least partially in the cavity of the femur and a second portion connectable to the driver, said first and second trials and the driver being removably attachable to said second portion of said reamer, so that the said reamer and the driver can be assembled to prepare the cavity and so that said reamer and one of said first and second trial can be assembled to form a hip femoral component trial assembly without the removal of said reamer from the cavity, wherein the first portion of the reamer includes flutes having cutting edges adapted to cut into the long bone, the first portion further including reliefs to provide a path for the removal of cut bone;

wherein said reamer includes a part thereof having a tapered external periphery;

wherein the driver includes a part thereof having a tapered internal periphery; and

wherein said first and second trials includes a portion thereof having a tapered internal periphery thereof;

wherein the reamer includes a locking feature having a J-channel and the driver includes pins adapted to engage the J-channel and lock the driver to the reamer.

5. A method for providing joint arthroplasty comprising:

resecting a long bone;

opening a medullary canal of the long bone;

using a reamer having an externally tapered shaft and including a surface for the removal of bone, the reamer having a first portion for placement at least partially in the cavity of the femur and a second portion opposite the first portion, wherein the first portion of the reamer includes flutes having cutting edges adapted to cut into the long bone, the first portion further including reliefs to provide a path for the removal of cut bone;

attaching a driver having an internally tapered shaft to the externally tapered shaft of the reamer;

positioning the reamer in the canal;

reaming a cavity in the canal with the reamer by activating the reamer, causing the reamer to rotate about the longitudinal axis;

detaching the driver from the reamer;

selecting a trial from at least two trials, one of the at least two trials having at least one dimension different than a dimension of another of the at least two trials and the selected trial having an internally tapered shaft fitted to the externally tapered shaft of the reamer;

attaching the selected trial to the second portion of the reamer; and

performing a trial reduction.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

removing the reamer and the selected trial;

using a joint prosthesis; and

implanting the joint prosthesis in the cavity.