Oscillating decortication burr assembly

Abstract

An oscillating decorticating burr assembly for decortication of the articular surfaces of joints of the human body is disclosed. The oscillating decorticating burr assembly comprises a burr, a burr-support post, and a handle. Power is imparted to the assembly by way of a user input on the handle causing oscillation of the burr.

Claims

1. An oscillating decorticating assembly for removing cortical material, comprising: a longitudinal body having a proximal end and a distal end; a burr positioned at a distal-most end of the longitudinal body and configured to remove cortical material from within at least one joint of a human foot and hand, said burr including a flexible burr wall comprising a concave shape, wherein the burr is sized and shaped to fit within the at least one joint of a human foot and hand such that, during use, the flexible burr wall is configured to flex and conform to a shape of the at least one joint of a human foot and hand and is configured to fit around one or more bones of the at least one joint of a human foot and hand; and a handle located at the proximal end of the longitudinal body and comprising a user input for selectively powering and imparting an oscillating motion to the burr, wherein the oscillating motion of the burr is configured to be adjusted to an oscillation speed by manipulating the user input on the handle, and wherein the oscillation speed is selected based on a material to be removed.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle is configured to house a power supply and a piezoelectric transducer.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the burr is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, acrylic, and polyester, and wherein the at least one joint of a human foot and hand is an interphalangeal joint.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the burr is configured to remove the cortical material due at least in part to an elastic force of the burr returning the burr from a deformed configuration to a default position.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle has a generally cylindrical shape.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the burr is permanently attached to a burr-support post.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the burr-support post is selectively attached to the handle.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the burr has a diameter in the range of 5 millimeters to 100 millimeters and a thickness in the range of 1 millimeter to 10 millimeters.

9. An oscillating decorticating assembly for removing articular cartilage and subchondral bone, comprising: a burr selectively attached to a burr-support post and configured to remove cortical material from a bone, wherein the burr-support post comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the burr is disposed at a distal-most end of the burr-support post, wherein the burr includes a flexible burr wall comprising a concave shape, wherein the burr is sized and shaped to fit within at least one joint of a human foot and hand such that, during use, the flexible burr wall is configured to flex and conform to a shape of the at least one joint of a human foot and hand and is configured to fit around one or more bones of the at least one joint of a human foot and hand; and a handle disposed at the proximal end of the burr-support post, wherein the handle comprises a user input for selectively powering and imparting an oscillating motion to the burr, and wherein the user input is configured to allow the user to select an oscillation speed based on the cortical material to be removed.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the burr is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, acrylic, and polyester, wherein the at least one joint of a human foot and hand is an interphalangeal joint.

11. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the burr is configured to remove the cortical material due at least in part to an elastic force of the burr returning the burr from a deformed configuration to a default position.

12. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the selected oscillation speed is in the range of a maximum of 10,000 Hertz and a minimum of 100 Hertz.

13. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the handle comprises a proximal end and a distal end relative to a practitioner, and wherein the handle is tapered from the proximal end to the distal end.

14. A method for removing cortical material in an interphalangeal joint of a patient by decortication comprising: providing an oscillating decorticating assembly as recited in claim 1; powering the burr to oscillate by manipulating the user input on the handle; setting an oscillation speed based on a cortical material to be removed; fully inserting the burr into the interphalangeal joint of the patient; placing the burr against a joint surface; and removing the cortical material from the interphalangeal joint.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: incising a patient's skin; and pulling the patient's skin back allowing access to the interphalangeal joint and at least partially exposing the interphalangeal joint to prevent collateral trauma to surrounding tissue.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: removing the burr from the interphalangeal joint and stopping power to the burr; irrigating and aligning and fixating the interphalangeal joint; and suturing the incision in the patient's skin.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the burr is secured to the handle by attaching a burr-support post to the burr and then attaching the burr-support post and the burr to the handle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

(1) Embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the oscillating decorticating burr;

(3) FIGS. 2A and 2B depict an exemplary burr with a concave shape;

(4) FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the decorticating burr;

(5) FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the decortication burr assembly;

(6) FIG. 5 depicts a skeletal hand displaying the operating joints; and

(7) FIG. 6 depicts a method for implementing the decorticating burr assembly.

(8) The drawing figures do not limit embodiments the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) The following detailed description of embodiments of the invention references the accompanying illustrations that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

(10) In this description, references to one embodiment, an embodiment, embodiments, various embodiments, certain embodiments, some embodiments, or other embodiments mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to one embodiment, an embodiment, embodiments, various embodiments, certain embodiments, some embodiments, or other embodiments in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the current technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

(11) As shown in FIG. 1, the oscillating decorticating burr 100 generally includes a burr 102, a burr-support post 104, and a handle 106. The burr 102 is configured to remove the cortical material from the bone at the joint. The burr 102 is configured to oscillate. The burr may be placed on the cortical material while oscillating so as to remove a portion of the material. The burr is secured to a burr-support post 104. The burr-support post 104 attaches the burr 102 to the handle 106. The handle 106 provides the oscillating motion to the burr 102 (by any of the various power methods discussed below). The handle 106 is gripped by the medical practitioner to perform the procedure.

(12) As can be seen in FIG. 1, the burr 102 is secured on the burr-support post 104 to allow the burr 102 to be manipulated into the desired location and orientation. The burr 102 is a partially spherical, hemi-spherical, or other arcuate shape. As shown in FIG. 1, the burr 102 may be a generally flattened hemi-spherical shape. In some embodiments, the burr 102 may present a convex side (as visible in FIG. 1) and a concave side (from a view opposite of FIG. 1, not shown). This may allow the burr 102 to fit within the joint. Depending on the joint or joints, different sizes and shapes of burr 102 may be used. The radii of the burr may closely match the dimensions of the joint to be fused.

(13) The burr 102 presents a roughened surface on both faces. The roughened surface removes the cortical material by oscillating against the surface. The roughened surface is sufficiently durable to remove the cortical material without disintegrating. The burr 102 may also present a notch, a recess, or another structure for receiving and being secured to the burr-support post 104, such as shown in FIG. 1 and described below.

(14) The roughened surface of burr 102 may be formed of various hardened materials. The material used may be durable enough to be used in multiple operations without significant deterioration. The material in this scenario may be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized between operations as to avoid contamination. In embodiments, the material may be a low-cost material that may only last for the duration of one operation. This procedure allows for a disposable burr that does not significantly increase the cost. In this scenario, a new burr per procedure is used which ensures that there is no contamination from previous operations.

(15) In embodiments of the invention, the burr 102 will come in many different sizes and shapes that may be based upon the size and shape or other characteristics of the joint to be fused. For example, the burr 102 may substantially match the size of the joint. This allows the medical practitioner to apply the burr 102 within the joint easily. The medical practitioner may select a burr 102 of a certain outer diameter, thickness and spherical radius. For example, a burr 102 may be 15 mm in diameter and 2 mm thick, such as shown in FIG. 2. Based upon the joint designed to be used with, the burr 102 may be 5-100 mm in diameter and 1-10 mm in thickness.

(16) The shape of burr 102 may be round, square, triangular, or any shape that may be beneficial to the efficiency of the procedure. In embodiments, the burr 102 may be pointed in the same manner as a dental scraper for better accuracy, or a brush for cleaning. It should therefore be appreciated that various embodiments of the invention may utilize burrs of various sizes, shapes, materials, and configurations to perform various functions.

(17) The burr-support post 104 secures the burr 102 to the handle 106. In embodiments of the invention, the burr 102 is permanently secured to the burr-support post 104. The medical practitioner therefore changes the burr 102 by removing the burr-support post 104 from the oscillating handle 106. In other embodiments, the burr 102 is selectively secured to the burr-support post 104. In these embodiments, the medical practitioner removes the burr 102 from the burr-support post 104 in order to use the correctly-sized burr. The burr 102 may be detachable from the burr-support post 104 and the burr-support post 104 may be detachable from the handle 106 in the same embodiment. In still other embodiments, the burr 102 is a cover configured to be emplaced over a portion of the burr-support post 104. In these embodiments, the burr is slipped onto and off of the burr-support post by the medical practitioner.

(18) It should be appreciated that various embodiments of the burr 102 may be utilized. The size and shape of the burr may depend on the task to be performed, the physical characteristics of the patient, the preferences of the medical practitioner, or other factors. A first exemplary embodiment of the burr 102 is shown in FIG. 1 and described above. This embodiment may be referred to as a convex shape. A second exemplary embodiment of the burr 102 is shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. This embodiment may be referred to as a concave shape. A third exemplary embodiment of the burr is shown in FIG. 3. This embodiment may be referred to as a notched shape. The notched shape may be concave (as shown in FIG. 3), convex, flat, or some other shape.

(19) Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a concave burr assembly 200 is shown. The concave burr assembly includes the burr 202 and the burr-support post 204. Like in FIG. 1, the burr 202 and the burr-support post 204 are configured to be secured to the handle 106. The burr 202 presents a recess 206 within the burr 202. The recess is configured to fit around one or more bones of the patient when the burr 202 is disposed within the joint, as discussed more below.

(20) The burr 202 includes a burr wall 208 disposed around the recess 206. The burr wall 206 presents a thickness that is configured to fit within the joint. Because the thickness is less in a concave burr assembly 200 than in the convex shape shown in FIG. 1, the exposure of the joint can be less drastic than prior art systems. In the shown example, the burr wall 206 presents a general arcuate shape. It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the burr wall 206 may present another shape. For example, the burr wall 206 may present a shape configured to complementarily fit into the joint. This may be in addition to the flexibility of the burr wall 206 that allows the burr wall 206 to flex and fit within the joint.

(21) The flexibility of the burr 202 may provide a benefit of not requiring the medical professional to specify the curvature and other shape characteristics of the joint. This can be advantageous as the joint is not displaced, such that the determination of the size and shape of the joint can be difficult. Thus a flexible burr 202 allows the burr 202 to conform to the shape of the joint, even if the medical professional does not know what that size and shape are.

(22) In embodiments of the invention, the burr 202 is formed of a sheet of polycarbonate, polyester, acrylic, or other polymer material. These materials make the burr 202 flexible with the recess 206. In some embodiments, the side opposite the recess with be disposed toward the distal end of the finger, such that the recess 206 is fit around the larger of the bones (e.g., the more proximal bone).

(23) FIG. 2A shows the burr 202 in a default position. FIG. 2B shows the burr 202 in a deformed or deflected position. In FIG. 2B a force (not illustrated) is being exerted on the burr 202 that is deforming and/or deflecting the burr 202. Additional external forces may further vary the shape of the burr 202. As such, the burr 202 is flexible so as to conform to external forces, external objects, and the like. For example, as the burr 202 is fit into the joint of the patient (as discussed below), the burr 202 will conform to the shape of the available space between the respective bones.

(24) In addition to flexibility, the burr 202 may include a natural elastic force that returns the burr 202 to the natural shape. For example, when the burr 202 is deformed, such as shown in FIG. 2B, the burr 202 has a tendency to return to the default position. This tendency to return is the elastic force. The elastic force produces a compressive force when disposed within the joint. deformations and deflections of the burr 202 by inserting the burr 202 into the joint provide an equal and opposite force on the joint. This force on the joint emphasizes the decortication at that location.

(25) Referring now to an exemplary embodiment depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, the interface between the burr 302 and the burr-support post 404 is represented on the burr 302 in FIG. 3 and the burr-support post 404 in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the burr 302 has two indentions 306. These indentions 306 correspond to hooks 408 on the burr-support post 404. The burr 302 is snapped into the hooks 408 on the burr-support post 404. As such, the burr 302 is retained within the burr-support post 404 and may be selectively removed such that another burr (such as of a different size or shape) may be added.

(26) In embodiments of the invention, various configurations of the burr-support post 404 may be used. As depicted in FIG. 4 a hook 408 may be utilized to grasp the burr. In some embodiments, as depicted, there are two hooks 408 that are each are two sided and configured horizontally, or perpendicular to the burr-support post. In other embodiments of the invention, the hooks 408 are be configured to attach the burr 102 to one side of the burr-support post and the attachments may be configured vertically, or parallel to the burr-support post, not illustrated. The attachment between the burr 302 and the burr-support post 404 may be, but is not limited to, fasteners, clamps, screws, and adhesive. The burr 302 may also be permanently attached to the burr-support post, or molded, or cast as one.

(27) The burr-support post 404 is generally elongated so as to present a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end has attachments for the burr 302 to be disposed thereon. The proximal end includes a handle interface for selectively securing to the oscillating handle 106. In embodiments of the invention, the burr-support post 104 is generally tapered from the proximal end to the distal end. The proximal end (as well as the handle 106) is relatively thick and wide so as to be easily grasped and manipulated by the medical practitioner. The distal end is relatively thin so as to not interfere with the application of the burr to the joint, while providing the structural support necessary to withstand the oscillations and allow for the medical practitioner to exert force again the joint. The distal end may also be telescoping. This may aid the practitioner in reaching the joints and allow the distal end of the burr support post to be slightly narrower.

(28) The burr-support post 404 can be attached to the handle 106 in different ways. In the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the burr-support post has a screw type attachment 410 for screwing into the handle 106 which has a corresponding attachment. The burr-support post 404 may also be attached to the handle 106 by a snapping mechanism, adhesive, or any other method that may be beneficial. The attaching mechanism may be adjustable within the handle 106 housing allowing the burr-support post 404 to be placed at different angles. This may help the practitioner to get the burr 302 into the correct orientation for the procedure. The burr-support post 404 and handle 106 may also be molded or cast as one unitary structure or permanently attached to one another such as via a chemical adhesive, a mechanical clip, or a mechanical fastener.

(29) Referring again to FIG. 1, the handle 106 is configured to be gripped by the medical practitioner and to provide the oscillations to the burr 102. The handle 106 provides a relatively large and stable structure to be gripped. In some embodiments, the handle 106 is generally cylindrical. The handle 106 may be tapered from a proximal end to a distal end, as discussed above, or the handle 106 may be linear (as shown in FIG. 1). The handle 106 may also integrate with a stand, a charger, or another support mechanism. This keeps the burr 102 from touching anything, so as to prevent contamination and foreign materials from being transferred to the joint from the burr 102. The handle may have a cord for connecting to a power supply or wall outlet. The battery may also be charged from the power supply or wall outlet.

(30) Referring again to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, the handle 106 is configured to receive the burr-support post 104 (and by extension, the burr 102) at a post interface. The post interface secures, captures, adheres, or otherwise attaches to the burr-support post. The post interface keeps the burr-support post 104 secured and aligned, so as to allow the medical practitioner to perform precise movements with the oscillating decortication burr assembly.

(31) The handle 106 is configured to be gripped by the user. In embodiments, the handle may be covered with a soft gripping material such as, foam, rubber, latex, or gel. This type of material may aid in gripping the handle without slipping. The handle may be shaped to fit a human hand with ridges where fingers can comfortably grip. These ridges and the size of the handle may be different for different sized hands or as preferred by the practitioner.

(32) The handle 106 may present a power button 108 or another input to begin operations. In some embodiments, the handle 106 is powered by a battery and a piezoelectric transducer. The battery and the transducer impart the oscillating motion on the burr 102 based upon the actuation of the power button 108 or other input. For example, the battery and transducer may create an oscillation of approximately 240 Hz. In other embodiments, the battery and transducer may create oscillations in the range of 100-10,000 Hz, depending on the consistency of the material to be removed, the strength of the underlying bone, the capabilities of the handle 106, and other factors. In other embodiments, the handle may be powered by alternating current electrical power, hydraulic power, pneumatic power, mechanical power, or other power source. The handle may therefore interface with a cable, line, or cord for supplying this power.

(33) In the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the user input is a button 108. This button provides power to the burr assembly 100 and begins the burr 102 oscillation. The oscillation may be a setting chosen prior to powering the assembly or it may be a one setting device. In other embodiments, the user input may be a knob, switch, or roller switch with multiple settings. The user input may be used to provide different levels of oscillation from fast to slow depending on the desired speed for the particular operation. This speed may be in the range of 100-10,000 Hertz as described above, or in another range based upon the application.

(34) A method of using the oscillating decortication burr assembly will now be discussed. The medical practitioner diagnoses arthritis of a joint. For example, FIG. 5 shows the bones 500 of the hand and fingers. Embodiments of the invention may be used to remove the articular cartilage and subchondral bone from between any of these bones. The joints of the finger (commonly known as a distal interphalangeal joint 502 and a proximal interphalangeal joint 504, located between the respective phalanges 506) may require the discussed procedure, for example.

(35) The medical practitioner applies an anesthetic. Following the anesthetic, the medical practitioner will incise the skin and expose the joint to allow access to the joint. The medical practitioner will then retract the tissue from around the joint, such as muscles, tendons, fat, and the like. The medical practitioner is ensuring that the joint is fully exposed so as to prevent collateral trauma to the surrounding tissue. The medical practitioner may then manipulate or distract the joint to expose the space between the joint surfaces as much as necessary. While not requiring as much physical manipulation or surgical exposure as in the procedures of the prior art, some manipulation and/or compression may be necessary to expose the interior of the joint.

(36) The medical practitioner also selects the burr 102 based upon the size and shape of the joint. In some instances, the medical practitioner may select the burr 102 before beginning the procedure, relying on standard joint sizes, approximations, X-ray scan information, external measurements, or other information. In other instances, the medical practitioner may select the burr 102 after the joint is exposed such that the medical practitioner has a more precise understanding of the size and shape of the joint. Once the burr 102 is selected, the practitioner will secure the burr-support post 104 of the selected burr 102 to the handle 106.

(37) With the joint exposed and the burr 102 installed, the medical practitioner grasps the handle 104 of the oscillating decortication burr assembly and applies power using by manipulating the user input 108. The oscillating decortication burr assembly will then begin oscillating. In some embodiments, the medical practitioner may select the speed of oscillation. This speed may be applied by the user input 108. In other embodiments, the speed of oscillation may be the same for all instances. The medical practitioner then places the oscillating burr 102 against the joint surfaces to begin removing the articular cartilage and subchondral bone therefrom. In some embodiments, the medical practitioner may insert the burr 102 into the joint surface and then apply the power so as to allow the burr 102 to be fully within the joint. The oscillating burr 102 will then remove the articular cartilage and subchondral bone in a slow and controlled manner. The medical practitioner may adjust the angles and compression placed on the burr 102 and the affected digit to remove material and achieve the alignment as desired. The flexibility and elasticity of the burr 202 may also influence the amount of articular cartilage and subchondral bone that is removed.

(38) Upon completion, the medical practitioner will remove the burr 102 from the joint, stop the power, irrigate the joint, align the joint, and then fixate the arthrodesis site and suture the wound. When the arthrodesis site has fused successfully, the patient will experience decreased pain and increased functionality in their daily activities.

(39) In an embodiment, a method for removing the articular cartilage and subchondral bone by decortication is disclosed. A practitioner incises the skin to allow for pulling the skin back and exposing a joint to be decorticated. When the skin is pulled back the joint is fully exposed to allow full access and to prevent collateral trauma to the surrounding tissue.

(40) Referring to FIG. 6, exemplary steps of a method 600 are shown. In Step 602 the practitioner first selects a burr based on a size and a shape of a joint to be decorticated. In this particular embodiment, the burr is secured to a burr-support post however, this is exemplary only and the burr and post may be separate and selectively attachable. Next, in Step 604, the practitioner completes the assembly by securing the burr to the handle. This may be performed using any of the attachments described above.

(41) In Step 606 the practitioner provides power to the assembly by manipulating the user input on the handle. The power starts the burr oscillating. In Step 608, the practitioner sets the speed of the oscillation based on the material to be removed. In Step 610, the practitioner places the oscillating burr against the joint surface. The oscillation of the burr against the material, in this case articular cartilage, causes the material to break apart from the bone. Once the operation is complete the practitioner removes the burr and stops power to the burr. The joint is then irrigated and re-aligned and the wound sutured.

(42) It should be noted that the decortication of joints is used in this application as an exemplary field and that joints other than hand joints may be decorticated. The oscillating decortication burr assembly may be used in other fields, such as for the removal articular cartilage and bone or other materials.

(43) Although the invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention.