Articulating surgical tool

Abstract

A surgical instrument for releasable connection to a surgical tool having two or more sections that are able to articulate 360 degrees in differing increments and directions. The articulation of the sections allows for the distal end to be spatially offset from the proximal, yet maintain parallel longitudinal axes. The surgical instrument includes a force disc at the proximal end upon which a surgeon can exert a linear force which is transmitted to the distal end having a second tool such as a broach firmly attached thereto.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An articulating surgical tool handle, comprising:
 a force disc;   two or more longitudinal sections;   one or more articulating means;   means for releasably attaching a tool, wherein the one or more articulating means allow each of the two or more sections to rotate 360 degrees with respect to the other sections.   
     
     
         2 . The articulating surgical tool handle of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more articulating means allows articulation of the two or more sections in discrete increments. 
     
     
         3 . The articulating surgical tool handle of  claim 1 , comprising four sections, Main, Center, Connecting Body and Broach Sections, and two articulating means allowing for a double offset configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The articulating surgical tool handle of  claim 3 , wherein in the double offset configuration, the Main Section is offset spatially from the Broach Section and maintaining parallel axes of the longitudinal Main and Broach Sections. 
     
     
         5 . The articulating surgical tool handle of  claim 4 , wherein the spatial offset of the Main and Broach Sections is adjustable by the two articulating means. 
     
     
         6 . The articulating surgical tool handle of  claim 2 , wherein the discrete increments are of the range of 22.5 degrees to 45 degrees of rotation. 
     
     
         7 . The articulating surgical tool handle of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is a broach. 
     
     
         8 . The articulating surgical tool handle of  claim 1 , wherein the articulating means comprises a cam mechanism,
 wherein the cam mechanism allows for the adjustment of the position of the two or more sections relative to each other, and   wherein the cam mechanism allows for the two or more sections to be in a fixed position relative to the other of the two or more sections.   
     
     
         9 . The articulating surgical tool handle of  claim 1 , wherein the articulating means comprises a circlet and locking pins. 
     
     
         10 . A method of using an articulating surgical tool handle to prepare a patient's femur for installing a prosthetic stem component into the medullary canal of the femur, comprising the steps of:
 providing an articulating surgical tool handle to attach a broach for installing a prosthetic stem component, comprising:
 a force disc, a main longitudinal section, a center longitudinal section, a connecting body longitudinal section, a broach section, a first articulating means connecting the main longitudinal section and the center longitudinal section, a second articulating means connecting the center longitudinal section and the connecting body section, and a broach section connected to the connecting body longitudinal section; 
   attaching a broach to the broach section;   adjusting the first and second articulating means to spatially offset the main longitudinal section from the broach section;   inserting the articulating surgical tool handle and broach into the medullary canal through a surgical incision;   positioning the articulating surgical tool handle and broach;   preparing the medullary canal by striking the force disc to create a femoral canal;   removing the articulating surgical tool handle and broach from the medullary canal.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the articulating surgical tool handle can be configured for either a left or right hip replacement surgery;   depending on the physical characteristics of a patient, the spatial offset between the main longitudinal section and the broach section can be adjusted using one or both of the articulating means.