Method And Apparatus For Forming A Bone Hole

Abstract

A method and tool for creating a location for a fixation device to be secured to a bone. The method includes bringing a bone cutting tool extending along a longitudinal axis into engagement with an outer surface of the bone. The bone cutting tool is rotated about the longitudinal axis while driving it from the outer surface of the bone to a predetermined depth in the bone to form a bore. The bone cutting tool is then continuously rotated at the predetermined depth to establish an enlarged bone pocket at a distal end of the bore. The bone pocket defines a shoulder extending around a circumference between the bone pocket and bore. The bone cutting tool is removed from the bone pocket and bore. The fixation device is then inserted into the bone pocket through the bore, where it is seated against the bone pocket shoulder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bone cutting tool comprising:
 a body portion extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a central longitudinal axis, the body portion having a proximal shaft portion having a first diameter and a distal drill portion having a second diameter greater than the first diameter;   a drill extending from the distal end of the body portion and adapted to engage a bone; and   a sleeve member defining an elongated bore adapted to rotatably receive the proximal shaft portion, wherein the sleeve member is movable between a first location and a second location.   
     
     
         2 . The bone cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first location is adjacent to the distal drill portion and the second location is adjacent to the proximal end. 
     
     
         3 . The bone cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve member has a third diameter approximately equal to the second diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The bone cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion is formed from a rigid material. 
     
     
         5 . The bone cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion is formed from an elastic material. 
     
     
         6 . The bone cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the drill further includes transverse cutting flutes having the second diameter. 
     
     
         7 . The bone cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve member has a proximal shoulder. 
     
     
         8 . The bone cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first location is adjacent to the proximal end and the second location is adjacent to the distal drill portion. 
     
     
         9 . The bone cutting tool of  claim 8 , wherein the elongated bore is offset from a sleeve axis. 
     
     
         10 . The bone cutting tool of  claim 8 , wherein the sleeve member has a chamfered distal end. 
     
     
         11 . A bone cutting tool comprising:
 a body portion extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a central longitudinal axis, the body portion having an elongated proximal shaft portion having a first diameter and a distal drill portion having a second diameter;   a drill extending from the distal drill portion of the body portion and adapted to engage a bone, the drill including transverse cutting flutes extending along the drill and having the second diameter; and   a cylindrical sleeve member defining a cylindrical elongated bore adapted to rotatably receive the proximal shaft portion, where the sleeve member has a third diameter, which is approximately equal to the second diameter, and a predetermined length, where the sleeve member is movable axially along the shaft portion between a first location and a second location to enable the bone cutting tool to form a bone hole having a distal bone pocket.   
     
     
         12 . The bone cutting tool of  claim 11 , wherein the shaft portion is formed from an elastic material to allow the shaft portion to flex to enable the drill to form the pocket. 
     
     
         13 . The bone cutting tool of  claim 11 , wherein the elongated bore is axially offset from a sleeve axis. 
     
     
         14 . The bone cutting tool of  claim 11 , wherein the shaft portion is formed from a rigid material. 
     
     
         15 . The bone cutting tool of  claim 13 , wherein the sleeve member has a chamfered distal end. 
     
     
         16 . A bone cutting tool, comprising:
 a body portion extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis, the body portion having an elongated proximal shaft portion having a first diameter;   a cutting flute at the distal end of the body portion having a second diameter greater than the first diameter; and   a cylindrical sleeve member defining an elongated bore adapted to rotatably receive the proximal shaft portion, the sleeve member having a third diameter, wherein the sleeve member is movable axially along the shaft portion between a first location and a second location to enable the bone cutting tool to form a bone hole having a distal bone pocket.   
     
     
         17 . The bone cutting tool of  claim 16 , wherein the third diameter is approximately equal to the second diameter. 
     
     
         18 . The bone cutting tool of  claim 16 , wherein the elongated bore is offset from a sleeve axis. 
     
     
         19 . The bone cutting tool of  claim 18 , wherein the sleeve member has a chamfered distal end. 
     
     
         20 . The bone cutting tool of  claim 16 , wherein the cylindrical sleeve includes a proximal flange having a fourth diameter larger than the third diameter.