Cannulated hammer drill attachment

Abstract

A hammer drill attachment is provided for attachment to a bi-directional surgical drill. The hammer drill attachment is configured to provide a rotating output in a first direction of rotation when the drill is operated in its first direction of rotation, and the hammer drill attachment is configured to provide a hammering output when the drill is operated in its second direction of rotation.

1 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . An attachment for a drill, the attachment comprising:
 an input shaft configured to receive rotary motion from an output member of the drill in each of a first direction of rotation and a second direction of rotation;   a transmission portion comprising:
 a first transmission member coupled to the input shaft; and 
 a second transmission member disposed in conjunction with the first transmission member; and 
   an output shaft coupled to the second transmission member;   wherein the transmission portion is configured to convert rotary motion of the input shaft to pulsed axial percussions on the output shaft.   
     
     
         36 . The attachment of  claim 35 , wherein the input shaft is configured to rotate in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction. 
     
     
         37 . The attachment of  claim 35 , wherein the second transmission member is configured to transfer rotary motion of the first transmission member to the output shaft during rotation of the input shaft in the first direction of rotation, 
     
     
         38 . The attachment of  claim 35 , wherein the second transmission member is configured to convert the rotary motion of the first transmission member to the pulsed axial percussions and transfer the pulsed axial percussions to the output shaft during rotation of the input shaft in the second direction of rotation. 
     
     
         39 . The attachment of  claim 35 , wherein the first transmission member comprises a first plurality of teeth, and wherein the second transmission member comprises a second plurality of teeth slidingly engaged with the first plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         40 . The attachment of  claim 39 , wherein the first transmission member comprises a first disc-shaped member, wherein the first plurality of teeth extend from a first surface of the first disc-shaped member around a periphery of the first surface, wherein the second transmission member comprises a second disc-shaped member, and wherein the second plurality of teeth extend from a second surface of the second disc-shaped member around a periphery of the second surface. 
     
     
         41 . The attachment of  claim 40 , wherein the teeth of the first plurality of teeth comprises a right-triangular cross-section with a face portion disposed at an angle to the first surface and a leg portion disposed axially to the first surface. 
     
     
         42 . The attachment of  claim 41 , wherein the second transmission member comprises a projection configured to engage with at least one of the leg portions of the teeth during rotation of the input shaft in the first direction of rotation. 
     
     
         43 . The attachment of  claim 42 , further comprising a biasing member configured to provide a biased engagement between the first plurality of teeth and the at least one projection. 
     
     
         44 . The attachment of  claim 35 , wherein the first transmission member comprises a first fixed attachment to the input shaft, and wherein the second transmission member comprises a second fixed attachment to the output shaft. 
     
     
         45 . The attachment of  claim 35 , wherein the output shaft is axially aligned with the input shaft and has a first end disposed adjacent the second end of the input shaft and a second end spaced apart from the first end. 
     
     
         46 . The attachment of  claim 35 , further comprising a housing surrounding the input shaft, the transmission portion, and the output shaft. 
     
     
         47 . The attachment of  claim 46 , wherein the input shaft and the first transmission member are axially fixed within the housing, and wherein the output shaft and second transmission member are axially displaceable within the housing. 
     
     
         48 . The attachment of  claim 46 , wherein the housing comprises an engagement portion configured to engage with a body portion of the drill to prohibit rotation of the attachment with respect to the drill. 
     
     
         49 . The attachment of  claim 46 , further comprising a unidirectional bearing disposed around the output shaft between the output shaft and the housing, wherein the unidirectional bearing is configured to permit rotation of the output shaft in the first direction and prohibit rotation of the output shaft in the second direction of rotation. 
     
     
         50 . A method for drilling a bone, the method comprising:
 connecting a hammer drill attachment to a surgical drill, wherein the connecting comprises connecting an output member of the surgical drill to an input shaft of the hammer drill attachment, wherein the output member of the surgical drill is rotatable in a first direction of rotation and in a second direction of rotation opposite the first direction;   operating the surgical drill in the first direction of rotation to rotate the input shaft in the first direction of rotation and output rotary motion to the output shaft and a drill implement to rotatably drill the implement into a bone; and   operation the surgical drill in the second direction of rotation to rotate the input shaft in the second direction of rotation and output pulsed axial percussions to the output shaft and the drill implement to hammer drive the drill implement into the bone.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the input shaft of the hammer drill attachment is connected to a first transmission member that is disposed in conjunction with a second transmission member of the hammer drill attachment, and wherein the second transmission member is coupled to an output shaft. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the output member includes a bore extending there through, and wherein each of the input shaft and the output shaft is cannulated, the method further comprising:
 inserting the drill implement through the bore in the output member and through the input and output shafts of the hammer drill attachment; and   fixedly retaining the drill implement within the output shaft to receive rotary motion or pulsed axial percussions from the output shaft.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the drill implement comprises a drill wire, the drill wire comprising a distal tip end disposed at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the drill wire, the method further comprising turning the bent tip in a desired direction and axially hammering the drill wire to direct the drill wire in a direction of the bent tip to provide a curved path of the drill wire. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising:
 turning the bent tip in a second direction 180 degrees from the desired;   axially hammering the drill wire; and   intervally repeating the axial hammering in the first and second directions to provide a substantially straight path of the drill wire.