Patent Description:
Conventionally, various devices have been used for shaping of objects, such as cutting, drilling, milling, sawing, polishing and/or grinding. For instance, these devices may include burrs, drill bits, saw blades and cutting disks. Typically, such devices find applications in carpentry, machining, plastics industry and medical sector. Generally, the shaping and processing of the objects require immense control of operator over the hand-held device. Further, targeted action of the device is crucial to minimise unintended damage, especially in medical applications.

The shaping and processing of hard tissues in the medical sector primarily comprises processing of bones or cartilages of a patient undergoing surgery. While soft tissues, such as blood vessels or nerves, can be located in proximity to the processed hard tissue, surgical devices may cause accidental damage to the soft tissues of the patient. For instance, surgical devices may cause damages such as dural tears in spinal surgery, facial nerve paralysis during ENT surgery (ear-nose-throat surgery) or lingual nerve paralysis during dental procedures. Subsequently, the damage to the soft tissues may cause swelling, pain, numbness, bleeding and several other complications. Additionally, the damage to the soft tissues may prolong the recovery of the patient.

One possible tool used to perform a surgical procedure is a burr. A burr generally consists of a head formed from rigid material, typically metal and tungsten carbide. There typically exists two types of burrs, cutting burrs and grinding burrs. A cutting burr has a head shaped to have a number of flutes. The flutes are formed to define tissue cutting edges, and each flute has a rake surface and a clearance surface. The rake and clearance surfaces meet to form a cutting edge that extends along the length of the flute, as is shown in more details in the Figures below. In other words, the rake surface is a face in front of the cutting edge which shaves the material and the clearance surface is the surface behind a cutting edge which extends toward an adjacent flute. A grinding burr has a head having a surface typically coated with an abrasive coating, such as diamond or hard carbon coating.

Furthermore, in a burr, a shaft extends rearwardly from the head. The free end of the shaft has a feature that facilitates locking the shaft to a powered handpiece. The actuation of the handpiece results in the rotation of the burr. During a surgical procedure, the burr head is placed against a surgical site where a section of tissue is to be removed, i.e. processed. The rotating cutting edges typically excise tissue away from the surgical site, while the burrs can also be used for processing foreign objects, such as implants, within the body. Burrs of various shapes and sizes are used in procedures such as orthopedic surgery, neuro and spinal surgery, ear, nose and throat surgery and in other surgical procedures in which a sub-procedure is to selectively remove a section of tissue.

In patent document <CIT>, titled "Perforator", there is described a drill bit with a centrally disposed sharp guide pin to penetrate a material (such as, a bone structure), while the drill bit is a hollow cylindrical wall with cutting edges formed in its bottom end to remove/cut a bone plug after drilling is complete. Therefore, the document does not provide a method to prevent unintended drilling of material by the sharp cutting edges of a conventional twist drill bit, which are located at the tip of the drill bit.

A burr is thus different from a hollow drill bit, as having a head in burrs differentiates it from such hollow drill bit. A hollow drill bit has cutting edges in its bottom side, which is not the case for a burr. In a twist drill bit, spiral flutes are ground in to the body of the shaft, and the flutes at the tip form cutting edges on the bottom end, not on the circumference of the drill bit. In a burr, in case there are flutes, they form cutting edges on the circumference of the burr head. Furthermore, the geometry and application of drills and burrs are substantially different. Burrs are used for milling and grinding, i.e. removing material with a rotary cutter from a workpiece by advancing in any direction (as cutting occurs on the circumference of the burr), while drill bits are used for drilling, i.e. removing material along their rotation axis (as drilling occurs at the bottom end of the drill bit). A further difference is that a burr removes material from a material to be processed, instead of making a hole into the material as a drill bit does.

In recent past, advances have been made to improve surgical devices such as high-speed drills and ultrasonic cutting devices. However, there has not been a substantial change in the surgical devices to minimise unintended damage to the surrounding tissues. For example, the risk of damaging soft tissues during the processing of hard tissues is still prevalent. Additionally, the ultrasonic cutting devices require purchasing completely new equipment and also require training of a new type of surgical procedure, which is inconvenient for the user.

Various industrial tools such as table saws or disc cutters may present a risk for the user, such as for the user's fingers or hands. Different protection means exists, but it may still be beneficial to try to improve these safety devices.

Therefore, in light of the foregoing discussion, there exists a need to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks associated with conventional devices for processing of object.

Document <CIT> discloses a surgical saw according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

The present disclosure seeks to provide a surgical saw for processing of a material. The present disclosure also seeks to provide a solution to the existing problem of unintended damage caused to soft tissues during processing of hard tissues. An aim of the present disclosure is further to provide a solution that overcomes at least partially the problems encountered in prior art, and provides a safe, precise and reliable burr to achieve better control, safety and targeted action for processing of a material in medical applications. A still further object is to decrease chattering of the burr when in use.

In one aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a surgical burr comprising.

wherein the saw is an oscillating saw blade and the outer member is a comb-like structure configured to protrude in between working teeth of the oscillating saw blade.

Embodiments of the present disclosure substantially eliminate or at least partially address the aforementioned problems in the prior art, and enables safe and targeted processing of a material.

However, the present disclosure is not limited to specific instrumentalities disclosed herein. Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following figures, among which only <FIG> shows the invention as claimed and in which:.

The present disclosure provides a surgical burr for processing of material. A primary advantage of the device is that when used to process hard tissue, adjacent soft tissues are protected, thanks to the prevention means. Indeed, the device substantially lowers the risk of processing of unintended objects adjacent to the object undergoing processing, such as soft tissue adjacent to a hard tissue being processed (for example drilled). The device also enables an operator to exercise better control over the processing of the object. Indeed, the prevention means significantly increases the controllability as it prevents the cutting tool from unwanted and/or excessive penetration to the work material. In other words, it does not allow a sudden penetration of the tool to the work material. When that happens, the tool starts to aggressively vibrate (called chattering) and sometimes the tool goes out of control (jumping). Besides that, the prevention means allows the operator to adjust the depth of cut according to the amount of the pushing force he/she applies. This increase the precision of cut. Consequently, the device achieves precise processing on a desired portion of the object. Therefore, a device which relates to a medical sector, provides safer operation and significantly reduces risk of soft tissue damage in surgical operations.

Also, the device enables processing of the object in a time efficient manner. Additionally, the device is adaptable according to the type of processing the object requires, i.e. adaptable to conventional and existing shaping and processing devices, irrespective of their type. Indeed, the "shaping and processing" in this specification relates to all kinds of working of hard tissues, such as cutting, grinding, milling, drilling, polishing, sawing and so on, while in connection with the embodiment of a surgical burr, processing means cutting, milling and grinding. Furthermore, in this specification, the term "working surface" relates to the part of the working part that actually processes the object, and it can be only a part of the working part or in some cases, the whole of the working part can be the working surface.

The present disclosure provides a surgical burr that can be made in several different manners, some of which are explained in more detail below. A main feature of the device is that the prevention means has two different positions, a first position and a second position. In the first position, the prevention means protrudes from the working part to at least partly, preferably fully, prevent the working means from processing the material. This first position is the one the prevention means takes when a force applied to it is less than a predetermined amount of force. This means that the user will need for example to press the device against the material to be processed in order to start the processing, i.e. to overcome the limit of force required. The second position of the prevention means is the position in which it retracts to allow the working means to process the material. This position is taken by the prevention means when the force applied to it is equal or higher than the predetermined amount of force. The predetermined amount of force thus forms a limit which defines the position of the prevention means. The prevention means may be actioned into its first position by an attachment means, for example by means of an inner part, centrifugal forces, or the outer part deformation (elastomeric or flexible moving part). These different embodiments will be explained in more detail below.

The surgical burr comprises prevention means for preventing the working means from processing the material. The prevention means is thus a mechanism, that can have one or more parts. For example, the prevention means may consist of an outer moving part and an inner spring (for example a canted coil spring or an elastomer functioning as a spring). Alternatively, the prevention means may consist of a moving part which has an outer and an inner portion (for example an integrated spring and ring), either as integral parts or as separate parts. Still further, the prevention means may consist of a resilient part attached to an outer surface of the working part, for example flaps or elastomeric sections. In this context, by the term resilient are meant parts made of a material that is capable of changing shape, for example by bending or compressing under force (such as pressure) and to return to its original shape once the force is no longer applied on the part.

According to an embodiment, the prevention means is arranged to protrude from the working part in its first position and to retract from the working means in its second position. According to another embodiment, the prevention means is arranged, in its first position, to push soft tissue away from the cutting edge, and, in its second position, to allow the working means to be in contact with hard tissue.

The prevention means is/are thus configured to have two different positions depending on the force applied to the prevention means, when the working part is interacting with the material to be processed. There are different forms of relevant forces, such as friction, normal force and shear force. By force we mean normal force applied to the prevention mechanism at the contact point between outer surface of prevention means and the material (which is the reaction of the material to the pushing force applied by the user and the motor torque). The force may thus be the contact force.

According to an embodiment, the working part comprises at least one indentation into which the prevention means can retract, i.e. for arranging the prevention means therein. In this embodiment, the prevention means is partially arranged in the indentation when it is in its first position, and essentially fully arranged therein, when the prevention means is in its second position. According to another embodiment, the indentation is a groove or a hole in the working part. Such an embodiment is preferably used when the prevention means is arranged on the same level of the working part as the working means, such that the prevention means retracts into the indentation to allow the working means to process the objects. According to an embodiment, the indentation has a V-shape or a stepped shape profile. By V-shape it is meant that the width of the indentation at its bottom is smaller than the width of the indentation near the surface of the working part. By stepped shape profile it is meant that the width of the indentation is not uniform but rather it has different widths and the changes in width are not continuous but sharp. Such stepped shape profile allows only limited radial movement of the prevention means (in the form of a ring or partial ring, for example) related to the working part.

This description concerns mainly a surgical burr. However, the same principle is fully applicable to twist drills and saws used in surgery. Thus, the various embodiments and alternatives described herein are fully applicable to the twist drills and saws as also explained in this description. Therefore, the term working means of the surgical burr is equivalent to the term working surface when the surgical twist-drill and/or surgical saw are used. Likewise, the terms material and object can be interchanged when it is question of what the device described is aimed to process.

In other embodiments, such as when a saw is used, no indentation is needed as the prevention means can be arranged on top of the working part such that it is essentially parallel to it. Indeed, in such a case, the working surface is for example the teethed side surface of the saw, and the prevention means is arranged to at least partly cover that surface when it is in its first position. By covering it is here meant that when the device is looked at from above or below, the cutting surface (the teeth) are not fully visible.

According to an embodiment, the present description relates to the device comprising prevention means; attachment means; and a working part comprising at least one working means (or, at least one working surface) for the processing of a material (or, an object) and at least one indentation for arranging the prevention means therein. The prevention means is configured to protrude from the working part when a force applied to the prevention means is less than a predetermined amount of force, and retract to the at least one indentation when the force applied to the prevention means is equal or higher than the predetermined amount of force.

The different parts of the device can be connected to each other in different ways. For example, there might be a prominent part on the inner surface of the prevention means, which rests against the indentation and acts as pivot point. A spring installed at one end of the prevention means applies the required force to protrude the prevention means from the indentation to provide protection during use of the device.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the prevention means may also have more than two positions, i.e. intermediate positions between the first position and the second position. These intermediate positions (which can be in any discrete number, such as one, two, three, four or five) are used to control the depth of the cut. Indeed, for example a first intermediate position allows a depth of <NUM> (micrometer) per revolution for the cut, while a second intermediate position allows a depth of <NUM> per revolution for the cut, and the third position allows a depth of <NUM> per revolution for the cut. These positions are selected by the user with the force applied to the device and thus the force the device is pushed against the material under processing and can be achieved with various technical means, such as spring. There may also be different limitation means in the device, that lock the prevention means into the selected intermediate position, and a slightly higher force is needed to overcome the lock and to move to a next position. It is also possible to design the device in such a manner that when pressure (i.e. the contact force) is released, the prevention means automatically returns to its first position.

Depending on the flexibility of the prevention means, the retraction to the indentation might happen in forms of deformation of the (flexible) prevention means, lever type movement of the (rigid) prevention means, or a combination of them (semi-flexible prevention means). Hence, the existence of a spring (as described below in connection with one embodiment) might not be crucial when the prevention means is a spring itself or is made of an elastomer. The spring may thus be made for example of silicone, or it may be a canted coil or a wave spring. In addition, the prevention means may be configured to have a hook shaped form at the end, to allow only limited radial movement of the prevention means in relation to the working part.

The prevention means may be made in one part or it may be made in several parts, such as an inner part and an outer part (or several of either or both), as explained in more detail below. The shape of the prevention means may also vary, depending on the working surface, for example. The prevention means may also be in one part while having the same form as a prevention means in two parts, as the inner and outer parts can be made integral with one another.

In an implementation of the present disclosure, the device is a surgical burr. The surgical burr comprises a working part comprising at least one working means for the processing of a material. The material is selected from a bone, a cartilage, a calcified tissue, a tooth and a foreign object within a patient body (such as an implant). In an embodiment, the surgical burr may be a burr suitable for cutting, milling, polishing and/or grinding. For instance, the surgical burr may be used for performing surgical operations for the treatment of various pathologies, injuries, disabilities, bone misalignments or dental conditions.

In an embodiment, the device, such as the surgical burr, may be attached to a rotating mechanism using an attachment means. For example, the rotating mechanism may be powered by a motor, which may be coupled to the device using a coupling means, such as a chuck, a bearing and a gear arrangement. In one embodiment, the rotating mechanism may provide a rotary motion to the device. In another embodiment, the rotating mechanism may be adapted to provide an oscillatory motion to the device. For example, the rotating mechanism may be associated with a suitable motion changing mechanism (a gear arrangement) that converts a rotary motion into the oscillatory motion.

In an embodiment, the working means for processing of the material is selected from a cutting surface or a grinding surface (also called abrasive surface). Specifically, each configuration of the working part may process the material differently according to requirement of operator of the surgical burr. The working part may also comprise more than one type of working means, if need be.

In an embodiment, the surgical burr may comprise a working part attached to a shank. Specifically, the working part is a spherical body configured for cutting, grinding and shaping of work material such as bones or teeth. Naturally, the working part may also have other shapes, such as cylindrical shape, egg-like shape, pear-like shape, conical shape etc. The present device is also usable for other materials than hard tissues, such as wood, metal or ceramics. More specifically, the at least one working means of the surgical burr may be a protruding or an elevated surface on the spherical body, which may act as a cutting surface, a grinding surface or an abrasive surface etc. Further, the working part may be attached to a shank. The shank is operable to be attached to the rotating mechanism to provide rotary motion to the working part, through the attachment means designed in for example the shank of the surgical burr. Subsequently, the rotation of the working part of the surgical burr enables removal of material from the surface of the work material. In an example, the surgical burr may be configured to rotate in the range of hundreds or thousands (for example <NUM>,<NUM>-<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) of revolutions per minute for effortless removal of material from the surface of work material. In an example, the surgical burr may be used to shape or remove bone to treat conditions of the head or spine.

The prevention means is configured to protrude from the working part when a force applied to the prevention means is less than a predetermined amount of force and to retract when the force applied to the prevention means is equal or higher than the predetermined amount of force. In an embodiment, the predetermined amount of force is associated with (or based on) the composition of a material to be contacted by the working means for the processing thereof. Specifically, the material (or composition thereof) may be hard enough to provide a force (equal or higher than the predetermined amount of force) when the prevention means is allowed to contact and press against the object. Therefore, if the prevention means is allowed to contact and press against a material having a soft composition, the prevention means may not retract. Alternatively, if the prevention means is allowed to contact and press against a material having a hard composition, the prevention means may retract.

In an embodiment, the predetermined amount of force is selected to prevent the processing of a secondary material, when the secondary material is softer than the material. As explained herein above, the secondary material may include a soft composition. For example, the secondary material may be soft tissue such as a blood vessel or nerve tissue; and the material may be a bone or a tooth. Therefore, the force, exerted on the prevention means upon contact therewith, may be equal to or higher than the predetermined amount of force when the prevention means is allowed to contact and pressed against hard tissues such as bone or teeth.

According to an embodiment, the working part of the surgical burr may come in contact with the material to enable processing thereof when the prevention means retracts, optionally to the at least one indentation. Further, prevention means is operable to at least reduce the surface contact between the working part and soft tissues to avoid any unintended damage to the soft tissues thereof. In an example, the soft tissues such as nerves, blood vessels, and so forth may be located near the hard tissues such as bones and cartilages in human body. The soft tissue to be protected may be also the user's fingers or the material to be processed may be hard material such as a workpiece.

In an embodiment, the prevention means comprise at least one outer member and at least one inner member. In yet another embodiment, the prevention means comprises at least one outer part and at least one inner part, i.e. the inner and outer members are integral with one another. Thus, all the various embodiments and designs described with respect to the inner and outer members apply mutatis mutandis to the inner and outer parts.

In an embodiment, the inner member may be made of an elastomer and arranged in the at least one indentation between the working part and the outer member. The outer member may be a ring. According to an embodiment, when the device is a surgical burr, the outer member is a ring. Further, in such embodiment, the indentation may be a circular groove in the working part of the burr. Specifically, the indentation may be a groove in a spherical surface of the surgical burr. Also, a plane of the groove may be tilted at an angle as compared to central axis of the shank of the surgical burr, in order to provide protection all around the working part when it rotates about the axis of rotation. Further, the groove may be designed to limit the radial movement of the ring on the spherical surface of the burr. For example, the groove may be configured to have a V-shape or a stepped shape profile, which may only allow limited radial movement of the ring related to the working part.

In one embodiment, the ring has an opening arranged to be in contact with a notch in the working part for preventing the ring to rotate in relation to the working part. Specifically, core of the burr may be configured to have an additional piece of material attached inside a groove. Therefore, such protruding element may prevent the ring to rotate in relation to the working part. Furthermore, the notch may be arranged to fit into the opening of the ring. Therefore, the notch restricts relative movement of the ring to rotate in relation to the working part. This enables in precluding damage that may be caused by the relative movement of the ring to the inner member, particularly, elastomeric surface of the inner member. Likewise, the ring may have a protrusion arranged to be in contact with a notch in the working part for preventing the ring to rotate in relation to the working part. Still further, a closed ring can be used, where the ring is compressed to a specific shape and its ends are attached to one another to form a loop. The attaching can be done for example by laser welding.

In an embodiment, the inner member is a spring arranged between the working part and the outer member, for example in the at least one indentation. That is, the inner member (for example an elastomer) is configured to act as a spring. Specifically, the inner member is adapted to compress and expand, when subject to or released from equal to or more than the predetermined amount of force. Further, the dimensions and stiffness or composition of the inner member are selected in such a manner that the outer member protrudes at least partly from the working part when the force applied to the prevention means is less than a predetermined amount of force, and the outer member retracts into the at least one indentation when the force applied to the prevention means is equal or higher than the predetermined amount of force. In an embodiment, the inner member (for example the elastomer) may comprise cuts or slices on an outer surface thereof to provide enough space, which allows compression of the inner member. In another embodiment, the inner member may be a circular canted coil spring. Specifically, such spring may be closed loop that is stretched to be installed in the at least one indentation in the working part. In yet another embodiment, the inner member may be a circular wave spring. Furthermore, such spring may be welded to the inside of the at least one indentation in the working part or to the outer member.

According to an embodiment, the outer member (for example the ring) is configured to protect the soft tissues from unintended processing. Specifically, the inner member may undergo compression when the ring is pressed against a hard tissue such as teeth or bones to expose the outer surface of the working part of the surgical burr. Alternatively, the inner member may not undergo compression when the outer member is pressed against the soft tissues to prevent unintended contact between the working part of the surgical burr and the soft tissues.

In another embodiment, the prevention means may comprise an elastomer arranged in multiple indentations in the working part of the surgical burr. Further, the indentations may be in the form of segments on opposite sides of the surgical burr in which the elastomer may be arranged. The elastomer in the segments is configured to protrude or retract depending upon the force applied thereto. Alternatively, the surgical burr may have cutting edges in shape of flutes (i.e. the working means) in the working part of the surgical burr. The elastomer may be arranged in the alternate flutes thereof. Further, the elastomer may retract to the flutes (when subjected equal to or more than predetermined amount of force) to expose the cutting edges of the surgical burr to enable processing.

According to an embodiment, the prevention means is a moving part having an outer portion and inner portion, and the outer portion is configured to protrude from the working part to prevent the working surface from processing the material, when the prevention means is in its first position. Indeed, in this embodiment, the inner portion is configured to act as a spring, wherein the spring constant is dimensioned so that the outer portion protrudes at least partly from the working part when the force applied to the prevention means is less than a predetermined amount of force, and the outer portion retracts into the at least one indentation when the force applied to the prevention means is equal or higher than the predetermined amount of force.

In an embodiment, the working means are cutting edges and the prevention means comprises a number of flaps, each flap being arranged between two cutting edges. In this case, each flap is arranged, in its first position, to push soft tissue away from the cutting edge, thus preventing the cutting edge from touching the soft tissue. Therefore, each flap is arranged, in its second position, to allow the working means to be in contact with hard tissue.

In another embodiment, the working part of the surgical burr may be cylindrical in shape. In this embodiment, the working means are cutting edges on the cylindrical surface and the prevention means comprises a number of flaps, each flap being arranged between two cutting edges. In this case, each flap is arranged, in its first position, to push soft tissue away the cutting edge, and, in its second position, to allow the working means to be in contact with hard tissue. The flaps can be made from metal or plastic, for example from a thin sheet of stainless steel.

Thus, as mentioned above, the surgical burr may be attached to a rotating mechanism using the shank attached to the working part. Furthermore, the working part may comprise cutting edges on a surface of the working part. Additionally, the prevention means may be arranged between the cutting edges of the working part. Specifically, the prevention means may be resilient flaps arranged between the cutting edges. More specifically, the resilient flaps may be attached from a first end using spot or laser welding to the working part. Furthermore, in case of a plastic flaps, the resilient flaps may be attached using an adhesive. Alternatively, the working part may have a slot or similar into which an end of the flap or a protrusion (such as a rail) at one end of the flap can be arranged. In operation, the prevention means may push soft tissue away from the cutting edge, when the force applied thereto is less than the predetermined amount of force, thus preventing the cutting edge to come into contact with the soft tissue. Additionally, the prevention means may retract and is pressed against the working part when the force applied thereto is equal or higher than the predetermined amount of force.

In an embodiment, the prevention means, such as the resilient flaps, arranged between the cutting edges of the surgical burr may have a filler arranged on a second edge of the resilient flap. Specifically, the filler member may be an elastomeric member that may be compresses to allow retraction of the prevention means. Furthermore, the filler member may prevent accumulation of the processed material behind the resilient flaps. In yet another implementation of the present disclosure, the device is a twist-drill. The twist-drill is a cylindrical tool having a working part comprising at least one working surface for drilling of an object. Further, the twist-drill may include be attached to a rotating mechanism using an attachment means (such as, a shank) to enable the twist-drill for drilling of the object.

In an embodiment, the at least one working surface may be at least one cutting edge in the bottom end, and one flute for drilling of the object. In another embodiment, when the device is a twist-drill, the at least one indentation may be a hole in the working part. Specifically, the indentation is a longitudinal hole in the working part in proximity of the cutting edge of the drill bit for arranging the prevention means therein. In an embodiment, the indentation may comprise more than one hole in the working part of the drill bit for arranging more than one prevention means therein.

In an embodiment, the at least one prevention means comprises at least one outer member and at least one inner member, and the inner member is in the form of a spring. Specifically, the at least one inner member and the at least one outer member may both be configured to be arranged in the at least one indentation in the working part (such as, a hole), configured at the bottom end of the twist-drill. In one embodiment, the at least one outer member may look like a hook, i.e. it may have a stem and a hooked tip. Further, the at least one outer member may be mounted within the hole. For example, the at least one outer member may include a protruding part or a stop adapted to be received by a recess around the hole, such that at least one outer member does not come out of the hole. Alternatively, the at least one outer member may be coupled to the at least one inner member, and the at least one inner member may be further coupled to the hole, for example using a suitable adhesive. The at least one inner member is arranged in the hole between the twist-drill and the at least one outer member. In an embodiment, the at least one prevention means of the twist-drill, may include a pair of holes, each accommodating the at least one inner member and at least one outer member therein.

According to the embodiment, the inner portion may be a helical spring, and the spring is dimensioned so that the outer portion protrudes at least partly from the working part when the force applied to the prevention means is less than a predetermined amount of force. Further, the outer portion retracts into the at least one indentation when the force applied to the prevention means is equal or higher than the predetermined amount of force. Specifically, the outer portion may compress the inner portion, when pressed against hard tissues, such as bones, to expose the cutting edges of the twist-drill. Therefore, the outer portion prevents unintended contact between the at least one working surface and the soft tissues. Specifically, if the at least one working surface comes in contact with the soft tissue (or moved away from the hard tissue), a tip of the outer member may protrude due to lack of predetermined force and thereby prevent damage to the soft tissue.

In another aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure thus provides a twist-drill comprising.

wherein the at least one prevention means is configured to have.

In this embodiment, the working surface is located on a bottom end of the drill bit. the drill bit is attached to a drill from one end and the working surface, in this case cutting edges, are arranged in the other end, i.e. bottom end.

In yet another aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a saw as mentioned above. Such saw comprises.

wherein the prevention means is configured to have.

In yet another implementation of the present disclosure, the device may thus be a saw. Further, the working part of the saw may comprise at least one working surface for cutting of an object, in form of working teeth. Furthermore, the working part may be attached to an attachment means, optionally integral with the saw, adapted to be operatively coupled to a rotating mechanism to provide oscillatory motion to the saw.

The saw is an oscillating saw blade. The oscillating saw blade may comprise an indentation on the surface thereof. Further, the prevention means may be arranged in the indentation on a surface, of the oscillating saw blade, adjacent to working teeth. Furthermore, an inner member of the prevention means may be a spring that may be placed in the indentation to control protrusion and retraction of an outer member of the prevention means with respect to the indentation. The spring may be thus made of an elastomeric part or it may be a traditional metallic spring. The outer member is a comb like structure configured to protrude in between working teeth of the oscillating saw blade. The outer member is configured to prevent unintended contact between the working teeth and soft tissues. Further, the outer member of the prevention means may retract to the indentation, when the outer member is subject to hard tissue, and thereby exposing the working teeth of the oscillating saw blade to the hard tissue. In these embodiments, it is also possible to design the device without indentations on the working part, as has been described above.

The arrangement of working teeth described above can have different structures. For example, the working teeth can be divided into four sets of working teeth. These sets of working teeth can protrude from a middle plane, in opposite directions, depending on the position of the moving part adjacent to it. The number of working teeth sets may depend on the number of moving parts.

As has been described, the present device can have various forms. A still further possibility is any kind of burr, having various forms, some of which are illustrated below in connection with the Figures.

According to an embodiment, the object to be processed by the device (of the present disclosure) may include different compositions. For example, the object may be made of a material selected from a bone, a tooth, cartilage, a calcified tissue, a crust, a wood, a metal, a plastic. Specifically, the device of the present disclosure may be operable for processing of object in carpentry, metal machining and plastics industry.

Further, the crust may be a hardened layer, a deposit or a coating on the surface of an object. The device may be used for the processing of the crust on the surface of the object. Additionally, the device may be used in large-scale applications such as carpentry and metal machining to achieve better control for handheld devices, targeted processing and minimal damage of objects such as wooden planks, metal sheets, and so forth.

Referring to <FIG>, illustrated is a perspective view of a surgical burr <NUM>, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the surgical burr <NUM> comprises a working part <NUM> having at least one working means <NUM>. Furthermore, the working part <NUM> is spherical in shape. The working part <NUM> is attached to a shank <NUM>. The shank <NUM> comprises attachment means <NUM> at its other end, to allow the shank <NUM> to receive the rotary motion. Further, the working part <NUM> includes a prevention means <NUM>. Moreover, the prevention means <NUM> includes an outer member <NUM>, in this embodiment a ring. The surgical burr <NUM> is a cutting burr and the working means <NUM> are cutting edges. Furthermore, the axis A illustrates the axis for rotational motion of the surgical burr <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, illustrated is an exploded view of the surgical burr <NUM> of <FIG>, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the working part <NUM> comprises at least one indentation <NUM> for arranging the prevention means therein. The prevention means comprises the outer member <NUM> and the inner member <NUM>. Optionally, the inner member <NUM> is made of an elastomer and arranged in the at least one indentation <NUM> between the working part <NUM> and the outer member <NUM>. The inner member <NUM> includes cuts <NUM> on an outer surface of the inner member <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, illustrated is a bottom view of the surgical burr <NUM>, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the working part <NUM> comprises working means <NUM>, such as the cutting edges <NUM>. Furthermore, the prevention means <NUM> is arranged on the working part <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, illustrated are rear and front views of the surgical burr <NUM>, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The surgical burr <NUM> comprises the working part <NUM> comprising at least one working means, such as the working means <NUM>. Furthermore, the prevention means <NUM> is arranged on the working part <NUM>. The working part <NUM> is attached to the shank <NUM>. <FIG> also shows an angle α. Indeed, a plane of the groove is tilted at angle α as compared to axis of rotation A of the surgical burr.

Referring to <FIG>, illustrated is a cross-sectional view of the surgical burr <NUM> of <FIG> along B-B', in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the surgical burr <NUM> includes an indentation <NUM> present along surface of working part <NUM> of the surgical burr <NUM>. The indentation <NUM> includes a step shaped configuration. Further, the step shaped indentation <NUM> is shown to receive prevention means, particularly, an outer member <NUM> and an inner member <NUM>, therein.

Referring to <FIG>, illustrates is an enlarged view of an encircled section D of the surgical burr <NUM> of <FIG>, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the indentation <NUM> includes a stepped shape configuration shown to receive prevention means, particularly, an outer member <NUM> and an inner member <NUM>, therein. Furthermore, the stepped shape configuration only allows limited radial movement of the outer member <NUM> related to the working part <NUM>. In addition, the stepped shape configuration allows limited compression of the inner member <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, illustrated are cross-sectional views of the surgical burr <NUM> of <FIG> along C-C', in accordance with various embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the surgical burr comprises a working part <NUM>. Further, the working part <NUM> includes a prevention means <NUM>. The prevention means comprises the outer member <NUM> and the inner member <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the inner member <NUM> is made of an elastomer. The inner member <NUM> is arranged in an indentation between the core <NUM> of the working part <NUM> and the outer member <NUM>. Furthermore, the inner member <NUM> includes cuts <NUM> arranged on the outer surface of the inner member <NUM> to allow compression thereof. As shown in <FIG>, the inner member <NUM> is a circular canted coil spring. Furthermore in <FIG>, the inner member <NUM> is a circular wave spring. <FIG> and <FIG> also show a laser weld, indicated with reference number <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, illustrated is a perspective view of a surgical burr <NUM>, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the surgical burr <NUM> comprises a working part <NUM> having at least one working means, such as a working means <NUM>. Furthermore, the working part <NUM> is spherical in shape. The working part <NUM> is attached to a shank <NUM>. The shank <NUM> comprises attachment means <NUM> at its other end, to allow the shank <NUM> to receive the rotary motion. Further, the working part <NUM> includes a prevention means <NUM>. Moreover, the prevention means <NUM> includes an outer member <NUM>, such as a ring. The outer member <NUM> includes an opening <NUM> arranged to be in contact with a notch <NUM> in the working part <NUM>. The surgical burr <NUM> is a grinding burr and the working means <NUM> is a working surface. Furthermore, the axis E illustrates the axis for rotational motion of the surgical burr <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, illustrated is cross-sectional view of the surgical burr <NUM> of <FIG> along F-F', in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the prevention means <NUM> includes the outer member <NUM> and an inner member <NUM>. The inner member <NUM> includes cuts <NUM> on an outer surface of the inner member <NUM>. The inner member <NUM> is arranged in an indentation between the core <NUM> of the working part <NUM> and the outer member <NUM>. Moreover, the notch <NUM> is arranged to be in contact with the opening <NUM> in the outer member <NUM> of the prevention means <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, illustrated are schematic illustrations of the surgical burr <NUM> of <FIG> in utilized states, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Optionally, the surgical burr <NUM> of <FIG> may be utilized in a similar manner. As shown, the surgical burr <NUM> includes the prevention means <NUM> and the working part <NUM>, which working part <NUM> has a working means <NUM>. The prevention means <NUM> is configured to protrude when a force applied to the prevention means <NUM> by a secondary material (such as soft tissue) <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>) is less than a predetermined amount of force. Therefore, the secondary material <NUM> is not contacted by the working means <NUM> as shown by the distance P therebetween.

Referring now to <FIG>, the prevention means <NUM> is configured to retract to an indentation <NUM> when the force, applied to the prevention means <NUM> by a material (such as hard tissue) <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>), is equal or higher than a predetermined amount of force. This exposes the working means <NUM> of the working part <NUM> to the material <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, illustrated is a perspective view of a surgical burr <NUM>, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the surgical burr <NUM> comprises a working part <NUM> having at least one working means, such as a working means <NUM>. Furthermore, the working part <NUM> is cylindrical in shape. The working part <NUM> is attached to a shank <NUM>. The shank <NUM> comprises attachment means <NUM> at its other end, to allow the shank <NUM> to receive the rotary motion. Further, the working part <NUM> includes resilient flaps as a prevention means, such as a resilient flap <NUM>. Furthermore, the resilient flaps, such as a resilient flap <NUM>, are attached to the working part <NUM> from a first end <NUM> thereof using spot welding, laser welding or an adhesive. Additionally, optionally, the resilient flaps, such as the resilient flap <NUM>, may have a filler, such as a filler <NUM>, attached to a second end <NUM> of the resilient flap <NUM>. The surgical burr <NUM> is a cutting burr and the working means <NUM> are cutting edges.

Referring to <FIG>, illustrated is an exploded view of the surgical burr <NUM>, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The working part <NUM> of the surgical burr <NUM> comprises cutting edges as working means <NUM>. Furthermore, the axis G illustrates the axis for rotational motion of the surgical burr <NUM>. Additionally, the surgical burr <NUM> comprises resilient flaps as prevention means, such as the resilient flap <NUM>. The resilient flaps, such as the resilient flap <NUM>, are attached to the working part <NUM> from a first end thereof, such as the first end <NUM> of the resilient flap <NUM>. Furthermore, the filler, such as the filler <NUM>, is attached to the second end of the resilient flaps, such as the second end <NUM> of the resilient flap <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, illustrated is a bottom view of the surgical burr <NUM>, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the working part <NUM> comprises working means <NUM>, such as the cutting edges. Furthermore, the resilient flaps, such as the resilient flap <NUM> is arranged on the working part <NUM>. Additionally, a filler, such as the filler <NUM> is arranged between the resilient flaps, such as the resilient flap <NUM>, and the working part <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, illustrated are perspective views of a surgical burr, in accordance with different embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown, a surgical burr <NUM> includes a cutting edge <NUM> in shape of flute <NUM> as working means on the working part <NUM> (having a working surface <NUM>) of the device <NUM>. The surgical burr <NUM> includes prevention means, which includes a pair of elastomer segments <NUM> and <NUM> on opposite sides of a working part <NUM> of the device <NUM>. The elastomer segments <NUM> and <NUM> are configured to protrude or retract depending upon the force applied thereto. Further, as shown in <FIG>, a device <NUM> includes cutting edges <NUM> and <NUM> in shape of flutes <NUM> and <NUM> on the working part <NUM> (having a working surface <NUM>) of the surgical burr <NUM>. Further, the surgical burr <NUM> also includes prevention means, such as elastomers <NUM> and <NUM> arranged in alternate flutes on the working part <NUM>. In addition, the devices <NUM> and <NUM> are shown to include attachment means <NUM> and <NUM>, integral with the burrs, adapted to be operatively coupled to a rotating mechanism (not shown).

<FIG> show yet another embodiment of a device according to the present disclosure. In <FIG>, the device <NUM> comprises a working part <NUM> comprising a working surface <NUM>, prevention means <NUM> and in indentation <NUM> into which the prevention means <NUM> may enter. Furthermore, the device comprises a shank <NUM> and a spring <NUM> for applying a force to the prevention means <NUM>. The rotation axis H of the device is also indicated. In <FIG>, the device <NUM> is shown as a cross-section from <FIG>, and it can be seen that the prevention means <NUM> has a hook shape <NUM> at its end and a prominent part <NUM> at its other end. The spring <NUM> surrounds the shaft.

Referring to <FIG>, illustrated is a perspective view of a twist-drill <NUM>, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the device <NUM> includes a working part <NUM>, having at least one working surface, such as the working surface <NUM> having cutting edges <NUM> and flutes <NUM>. The twist-drill <NUM> also includes at least one prevention means, such as the prevention means <NUM>. In addition, the twist-drill <NUM> is shown to include an attachment means <NUM>, integral with the drill bit, adapted to be operatively coupled to a drill device (not shown). The rotation axis I of the device is also indicated.

Referring to <FIG>, illustrated is a cross-sectional view of the twist-drill <NUM> of <FIG>, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, an inner member <NUM> of the prevention means <NUM> is arranged between the working part (<NUM>, as shown in <FIG>) and an outer member <NUM> of the prevention means <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, illustrated is a front view of an oscillating saw blade <NUM>, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the oscillating saw blade <NUM> includes a working part <NUM> having working teeth <NUM> as the working surface and prevention means <NUM> arranged in an indentation <NUM> present on a surface of the device <NUM>. The prevention means <NUM> includes an outer member <NUM> and an inner member <NUM>. The protrusion and retraction of the outer member <NUM> is controlled by the inner member <NUM> of the prevention means <NUM>. Also, the device <NUM> is shown to include an attachment means <NUM>, integral with the oscillating saw blade, adapted to be operatively coupled to an oscillating mechanism (not shown).

Referring to <FIG>, illustrated is a perspective view of a circular saw <NUM>, associated with a cutting disk, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the saw <NUM> includes a circular saw blade <NUM> having working teeth <NUM> as the working surface. The saw <NUM> also includes prevention means <NUM> on each side of the circular saw blade <NUM>. The prevention means <NUM> includes two semi-circular outer members at each side of the circular saw blade <NUM>, depicted as outer members <NUM> and <NUM>, and a common inner member <NUM> arranged in an indentation <NUM> on a surface of the circular saw blade <NUM>. The outer members <NUM> and <NUM> are supported with the help of support tabs <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. Further, the common inner members <NUM> supported with the help of additional support tabs <NUM> and <NUM>. Also, the saw <NUM> is shown to include an attachment means <NUM>, integral with the circular saw blade <NUM>, adapted to be operatively coupled to a rotating mechanism (not shown). The rotation axis J of the device is also indicated.

Referring to <FIG>, illustrated is a side view of the saw <NUM> of <FIG>, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the saw <NUM> has two sides <NUM> and <NUM>. Further, the outer members <NUM> and <NUM> are shown to be arranged on the side <NUM>, and an outer member <NUM> is shown to be arranged on the side <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, illustrated is a cross-sectional view of a surgical round burr perpendicular to central axis of the burr. The burr includes flutes <NUM> and <NUM> having rake surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> and clearance surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>. The rake and clearance surfaces of each flute meet to form cutting edges <NUM> and <NUM> that extends along the length of the flute.

Claim 1:
A surgical saw comprising
- prevention means (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising
- an inner member (<NUM>) and
- an outer member (<NUM>);
- attachment means (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
- a working part (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising at least one working surface for cutting of an object, in the form of working teeth (<NUM>, <NUM>); wherein the prevention means is configured to have
- a first position in which it protrudes from the working part, to prevent the working surface from cutting the object, when a force applied to the prevention means is less than a predetermined amount of force, and
- a second position in which it retracts to allow the working surface to cut the object, when the force applied to the prevention means is equal or higher than the predetermined amount of force;
wherein the saw is an oscillating saw blade (<NUM>);
characterised in that
the outer member is a comb-like structure configured to protrude in between working teeth (<NUM>) of the oscillating saw blade.