Bone milling module with locking mechanism and related systems
A milling module for converting bone stock into bone chips comprises a shell adapted for removeable attachment to a base module including a motor. The shell comprises a body, a milling element, a lid, and a locking element. The milling element for converting bone stock into bone chips is movably disposed in the shell. The lid is shaped for removeable attachment to the body to allow removal of residual bone chips from the milling element. The locking element is movable between an unlocked position wherein the locking element is positioned relative to the lid to allow removal of the lid from the body, and a locked position wherein the locking element is positioned relative to the lid to prevent removal of the lid from the body.
1 . A milling module for converting bone stock into bone chips, the milling module comprising:
a shell adapted for removeable attachment to a base module that includes a motor, the shell defining an inlet opening through which bone stock is introduced into the shell, the shell further comprising:
a body including a base plate having a top surface, with said base plate defining a control opening and with said body defining a channel extending from said control opening to a lock opening;
a milling element for converting bone stock into bone chips movably disposed in the shell above said base plate and below said inlet opening;
a lid adjacent said lock opening and shaped for removeable attachment to the body to allow removal of residual bone chips from the milling element, wherein said lid defines a locking recess; and
a locking element having a control surface with the control surface at least partially seated in the control opening of the base plate within the channel defined by the body inside the shell, the locking element movable via the control surface between:
an unlocked position wherein the locking element is positioned relative to the lid to allow removal of the lid from the body without requiring removal from the base module including the motor; and
a locked position wherein the locking element is positioned in said locking recess relative to the lid to prevent removal of the lid from the body;
wherein the control surface is inaccessible for actuation when the milling module is attached to the base module, and wherein the control surface is accessible from an underside of the base plate opposite the top surface for actuation when the milling module is not attached to the base module.
2 . The milling module for converting bone stock into bone chips as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the locking element defines a longitudinal axis and comprises a control surface at a first end and a locking portion at a second end.
3 . The milling module for converting bone stock into bone chips as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the locking element is movably mounted to the body and coupled to a biasing element.
4 . The milling module for converting bone stock into bone chips as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the locking element comprises a biasing surface that cooperates with the biasing element and the body to bias the locking element in a first or a second direction along the longitudinal axis of the locking element.
5 . The milling module for converting bone stock into bone chips as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the biasing surface is located at the first end of the locking element.
6 . The milling module for converting bone stock into bone chips as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the biasing element is disposed about an outer circumference of the locking element.
7 . The milling module for converting bone stock into bone chips as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the biasing element is disposed adjacent the locking element.
8 . The milling module for converting bone stock into bone chips as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the body defines a chamber and the locking element is movably disposed in the chamber.
9 . The milling module for converting bone stock into bone chips as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises an actuation guide disposed in the channel and the locking element is at least partially disposed in the actuation guide.
10 . The milling module for converting bone stock into bone chips as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the locking portion comprises a foot that is configured to be received within the locking recess in the lid.
11 . The milling module for converting bone stock into bone chips as set forth in claim 10 , wherein a force exerted on the control surface removes the foot from the locking recess to allow rotation and removal of the lid from the body.
12 . A modular system for converting bone stock into bone chips, the system comprising:
a base module including a motor;
a milling module comprising:
a shell adapted for removeable attachment to the base module, the shell defining an inlet opening through which bone stock is introduced into the shell, the shell further comprising:
a body including a base plate having a top surface, with said base plate defining a control opening and with said body defining a channel extending from said control opening to a lock opening;
a milling element for converting bone stock into bone chips movably disposed in the shell above said base plate and below said inlet opening;
a lid adjacent said lock opening and shaped for removeable attachment to the body to allow removal of residual bone chips from the milling element, wherein said lid defines a locking recess; and
a locking element having a control surface and a locking portion, with the control surface at least partially seated in the control opening of the base plate within the channel defined by the body inside the shell, the locking element is movable between:
an unlocked position wherein the locking element is positioned relative to the lid to allow removal of the lid from the body without requiring removal from the base module including the motor; and
a locked position wherein the locking element is positioned in said locking recess relative to the lid to prevent removal of the lid from the body;
wherein when the milling module is attached to the base module, the control surface is inaccessible for actuation and the locking element is in the locking position; and
wherein when the milling module is not attached to the base module, the control surface is accessible for actuation from an underside of the base plate opposite the top surface.
13 . The modular system for converting bone stock into bone chips as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the locking element in the locked position prevents rotation of the lid to prevent removal of the lid from the body.
14 . The modular system for converting bone stock into bone chips as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the locking portion comprises a foot that is configured to be received within the locking recess in the lid.
15 . The modular system for converting bone stock into bone chips as set forth in claim 14 , wherein a force exerted on the control surface removes the foot from the locking recess to allow the rotation and the removal of the lid from the body.