Low profile reamers and methods of use

摘要

Low profile reamers and methods of use are provided which can, in general, allow a hole to be drilled in bone. In one embodiment, a low profile retractable bone reamer is provided having an elongate shaft with a cutting element disposed on a distal end of the elongate shaft that can be configured to drill a hole in bone. The elongate shaft and cutting element can have first and second longitudinally separated portions that are movably coupled to each other. The reamer can be configured to move between a retracted configuration, in which a the reamer has a reduced, low profile configuration, and a non-retracted configuration, in which both longitudinally separated portions of the cutting element can be positioned adjacent to one another to form a single cutting element.

主权项

1. A surgical bone reamer, comprising:
a first elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, the distal end having a first cutting element formed thereon and positioned offset from a central axis of the first elongate shaft; and a second elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, the distal end having a second cutting element formed thereon and positioned offset from a central axis of the second elongate shaft, the second elongate shaft being moveably coupled to the first elongate shaft such that the first and second cutting elements can be positioned adjacent to one another to form a single cutting element extending substantially symmetrically about a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second elongate shafts, wherein the first elongate shaft includes a male mating element formed thereon and the second elongate shaft includes a female mating element formed thereon for slidably mating with the male mating element on the first elongate shaft.