Tooling for creating tapered opening in tissue and related methods

1. A tool for creating a wedge opening within a bone tissue, comprising:

an outer member comprising a first end and a second end, a cylindrical interior extending from the first end to the second end and having openings at the first and second ends, the first end comprising a tapered portion configured to be inserted within a cylinder-shaped opening created within the bone tissue;

a cutting member comprising an inner passage, positioned within the cylindrical interior of the outer member near the first end of the outer member and coupled to the outer member, the cutting member comprising at least one cutter configured to be radially expanded outward; and

an inner member configured to be moved within the inner passage of the cutting member, wherein when the inner member is moved within the inner passage of the cutting member, the at least one cutter is configured to radially expand,

wherein the at least one cutter is configured to radially expand at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the tool so as to create the wedge opening within the bone tissue when the at least one cutter is expanded and rotated relative to said tissue.

2. The tool of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one cutter comprises a sloped inner surface, such that when the inner member is advanced within the inner passage of the cutting member, the inner member engages and urges the at least one cutter radially outward.

3. The tool of claim 2 , wherein the at least one cutter is configured to radially retract once the inner member is retracted from the inner passage of the cutting member.

4. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the inner member is configured to engage the outer member and move relative to the outer member.

5. The tool of claim 4 , wherein the inner member comprises a threaded portion configured to engage a corresponding threaded portion provided on the interior of the outer member.

6. The tool of claim 4 , wherein engagement of the inner member relative to the outer member is configured to move the inner member relative to the outer member, in a longitudinal or axial direction of the tool.

7. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool is configured to be rotated manually to create the wedge opening.

8. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cutter is resiliently biased radially inwardly, and wherein advancement of the inner member within an interior of the cutting member urges the at least one cutter radially outwardly.

9. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cutter comprises two cutters that are oriented opposite of each other.

10. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the outer member comprises a tapered portion sized, shaped and configured to fit within a cylindrical opening of tissue.

11. The tool of claim 10 , wherein the tapered portion of the outer member comprises a cylindrical shape.

12. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the cutting member is secured to the outer member using at least one of a press-fit connection and a mechanical connection.

13. The tool of claim 1 , wherein the inner member and the cutting member are cannulated, thus forming an axial opening through the tool to permit the passage of a guide pin or other device through the axial opening.

14. A tool for creating a wedge opening within a bone tissue, comprising:

an outer member comprising a first end and a second end, a cylindrical interior extending from the first end to the second end and having openings at the first and second ends, the first end comprising a tapered portion configured to be inserted within a cylinder-shaped opening created within the bone tissue;

a cutting member comprising an inner passage, positioned within the cylindrical interior of the outer member near the first end of the outer member and coupled to the outer member, the cutting member comprising at least one cutter configured to be radially expanded outward; and

an inner member configured to be moved within the inner passage of the cutting member, wherein when the inner member is moved within the inner passage of the cutting member, the at least one cutter is configured to radially expand,

wherein the at least one cutter is configured to radially expand at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the tool so as to create the wedge opening within the bone tissue when the at least one cutter is expanded and rotated relative to said tissue, and

wherein the outer member comprises a first outer member portion and at least a second outer member portion, wherein the first outer member portion is configured to couple and secure to the second outer member portion prior to use.

15. The tool of claim 14 , wherein the first outer member portion is configured to couple to the second outer member portion using a threaded connection.

16. The tool of claim 14 , wherein the cutting member is configured to be secured relative to the outer member when the first outer member portion is coupled to the second outer member portion.

17. The tool of claim 16 , wherein the cutting member comprises at least one protruding member, wherein the at least one protruding member is configured to move within at least one corresponding slot provided in the at least one of the first outer member portion and the second outer member portion when the first outer member portion is coupled to the second outer member portion.

18. The tool of claim 14 , wherein the at least one cutter comprises a sloped inner surface, such that when the inner member is advanced within an interior of the cutting member, the inner member engages and urges the at least one cutter radially outwardly.

19. The tool of claim 14 , wherein the at least one cutter is configured to radially retract once the inner member is retracted from an interior of the cutting member.

20. The tool of claim 14 , wherein the inner member and the cutting member are cannulated, thus forming an axial opening through the tool to permit the passage of a guide pin or other device through the axial opening.