Patent ID: 7815649
Filing Date: 2010-10-19
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A cortical bone wall probe comprising a sheath extending along an axis and having a distal end, a shaft having a distal end with a distal opening and being sized and configured for passage through the sheath, a stylet having a blunt distal end and sized and configured to extend within the shaft, the blunt distal end extending at least in part outwardly beyond the distal end of the sheath and the distal opening of the shaft, wherein the blunt distal end is sized to prevent entry of the blunt distal end into the distal opening of the shaft, and an expandable structure carried by the shaft proximally of the distal end of the shaft, whereby when the stylet is operatively positioned within the shaft the blunt distal end of the stylet is distally spaced apart from and prevented from forcibly engaging the expandable structure, wherein the blunt distal end of the stylet is sized and configured to engage the distal end of the sheath when the expandable structure is in an expanded configuration,