Tunnel notcher and guidewire delivery device
View Patent ↗A tunnel notcher and guidewire delivery device is provided for creating a notch and positioning a guidewire within a bone tunnel. In general, the device includes an elongate member having proximal and distal ends with an inner lumen extending therebetween that is adapted to receive a guidewire. The device also includes a cutting element disposed on a distal portion of the elongate member that is adapted to remove bone within an opening of a bone tunnel. In use, the device 10 can be at least partially positioned within a bone tunnel containing a bone plug, and it can be manipulated to form a notch within or adjacent to an opening of the bone tunnel using the cutting element 18 . The device 10 is also effective to deliver a guidewire 16 to the bone tunnel at a location adjacent to the notch.
1. A tunnel notcher and guidewire delivery device, comprising:
an elongate member with proximal and distal ends and an inner lumen extending therebetween, the inner lumen being adapted to receive a guidewire; and
a cutting element having an arcuate distal bone cutting edge disposed proximal to a distal portion of the elongate member, the cutting edge being spaced away from and not normal to the elongate member, the cutting edge extending along a circumference that partially encircles the elongate member, the cutting element being adapted to remove bone within an opening of a bone tunnel, the cutting element being the only cutting element disposed on the elongate member and being substantially wedge-shaped and extending radially outward from the elongate member.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein a distal portion of the distal end of the elongate member is substantially tapered.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the cutting element is disposed proximal to the substantially tapered distal portion of the elongate member.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the cutting element includes a distal-facing surface that is disposed at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the elongate member.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the distal-facing surface is substantially concave.
6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the angle between the distal facing surface of the cutting element and the longitudinal axis of the elongate member is less than 90°.
7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the angle is in the range of about 20° to 70°.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the cutting element includes a base portion coupled to the elongate member and the cutting edge positioned a distance apart from the elongate member.
9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the cutting edge is positioned distal to the base portion.
10. The device of claim 8 , wherein the cutting edge that is positioned a distance apart from the elongate member has a length that is less than a diameter of the elongate member.
11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the cutting element is adapted to create a notch in bone having a substantially semi-circular shape.
12. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of indicia formed on a distal portion of the elongate member and adapted to indicate a depth of the elongate member within a bone tunnel.
13. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a handle disposed on a proximal portion of the elongate member.
14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the handle extends in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the elongate member.
15. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism adapted to lock the guidewire in a fixed position with respect to the elongate member.
16. The device claim 15 , wherein the locking mechanism is formed on a handle mated to the proximal end of the elongate member.
17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a threaded member disposed within a threaded bore formed in the handle, the threaded bore being in communication with the inner lumen of the elongate member.
18. A tunnel notcher and guidewire delivery device, comprising:
an elongate member with proximal and distal ends and an inner lumen extending therebetween, the inner lumen being adapted to receive a guidewire; and
a single cutting element disposed proximal to the distal end of the elongate member and adapted to remove bone within an opening of a bone tunnel, the cutting element being the only cutting element disposed on the elongate member and being substantially wedge-shaped and extending radially outward from the elongate member and having a bone cutting edge that has a substantially arcuate shape spaced apart from the elongate member and extending along a circumference that partially encircles the elongate member.