Bone graft harvester and related methods

Abstract

A bone graft harvesting drill, comprising: an elongated flexible member and a hollow cylindrical drill bit mounted to a distal end of the elongated flexible member.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for creating a passageway within bone containing cortical bone and cancellous bone, said device comprising: 
 an elongated member having a distal end dimensioned to deflect off an inner wall of said cortical bone and maintain said elongated member and said distal end within said cancellous bone to create a passageway within said cancellous bone.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said elongated member is flexible.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said elongated member is hollow.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said elongated member is generally cylindrical in shape.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said distal end is hollow.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said distal end is generally cylindrical in shape.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said distal end has a beveled outer distal periphery.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said distal end has a plurality of teeth having outer surfaces tapering inwardly towards their distal ends.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said distal end comprises a drill bit.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said drill bit includes a hollow inner bore.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising a tissue removing insert received within said hollow inner bore of said drill bit.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said drill bit comprises an inner bore, and at least one projection facing inwardly into the inner bore of the drill bit and dimensioned to tear away tissues disposed within the inner bore of the drill bit.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one projection comprises a plurality of inwardly facing projections disposed equidistantly around the circumference of the drill bit.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one projection is formed from a C-shaped or L-shaped cut passing through the wall of the drill bit.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one projection comprises a blade spanning across the inner bore of the drill bit.  
     
     
         16 . A method of creating a passageway within bone containing cortical bone and cancellous bone, said method comprising: 
 providing an elongated member having a distal end dimensioned to deflect off an inner wall of said cortical bone and maintain said elongated member and said distal end within said cancellous bone to create a passageway within said cancellous bone;    inserting said distal end though an aperture formed in a patient's cortical bone; and    rotating said distal end such that, when advanced through said aperture, said distal end deflects off an inner wall of said cortical bone and thereby maintains said elongated member and said distal end within said cancellous bone, to create a passageway within said cancellous bone.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said elongated member is flexible.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said elongated member is hollow.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said elongated member is generally cylindrical in shape.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said distal end comprises a drill bit.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said distal end is hollow.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said distal end is generally cylindrical in shape.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said distal end is inserted in a percutaneous cannulated approach.  
     
     
         24 . A system for creating a passageway within bone containing cortical bone and cancellous bone, said system comprising: 
 a bone drill having an elongated region and a drill bit region, said elongated region having a proximal end and a distal end, said drill bit dimensioned to deflect off said cortical bone and thereby lead said distal end of said elongated region such that said bone drill creates a passageway within said cancellous bone.    
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said elongated region is flexible.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said elongated region is hollow.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said elongated region is generally cylindrical in shape.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said drill bit region is generally cylindrical in shape.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said drill bit region has a beveled outer distal periphery.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said drill bit has a plurality of teeth having outer surfaces tapering inwardly towards their distal ends.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said drill bit includes a hollow inner bore.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising a tissue removing insert received within said hollow inner bore of said drill bit.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said drill bit comprises an inner bore, and at least one projection facing inwardly into the inner bore of the drill bit region and dimensioned to tear away tissues disposed within the inner bore of the drill bit region.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one projection comprises a plurality of inwardly facing projections disposed equidistantly around the circumference of the drill bit.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one projection is formed from a C-shaped or L-shaped cut passing through the wall of the drill bit.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one projection comprises a blade spanning across the inner bore of the drill bit.