Patent Description:
Hip replacement is a surgical procedure in which the hip joint is replaced by a prosthetic implant. As part of a hip replacement procedure, an acetabulum of the patient may be prepared for receiving an acetabular cup implant by reaming it to an appropriate size and depth. A surgical tool for reaming the acetabulum may include a reamer having a substantially hemispherical dome to be received in the acetabulum. The reamer may also include features located on an outer surface of the dome for grating the inner surface of the acetabulum as the reamer rotates. The reamer may be attached to a distal end of a tubular reamer handle, to allow the surgeon to manipulate it (e.g. to position the dome within the acetabulum and to apply a force for pressing the reamer against the inner surface of the acetabulum as the reamer rotates). A driveline may extend within the reamer handle for transmitting torque to the reamer.

Various kinds of reamer handles may be used.

One kind of reamer handle is an offset reamer handle. This kind of reamer handle may include a pair of bends in the tube, forming a dog-leg configuration, which may allow a surgeon to work more easily around soft tissue.

Another kind of reamer handle may include a single bend.

A further kind of reamer handle may be substantially straight (i.e. including no bends).

<CIT> describes a surgical device for holding and rotating an acetabular reaming head. The device comprises a shaft having a length which runs from a first end adapted for holding an acetabular reaming head to a second end. At least part of the shaft is divergent from the axis defined by the first and second ends of the shaft, for example the shaft may include a C-shaped divergent portion. A head held by the device can therefore access the acetabulum in its true anatomical position while avoiding encroachment of the shaft on surrounding body parts.

Visibility is generally rather limited during a hip replacement procedure. For example, when using a reamer handle, it may be difficult for a surgeon to inspect the dome of the reamer while it is located in the acetabulum (e.g. for assessing the reaming depth). While in-situ, the dome may, for instance, be at least partially obscured by soft tissue and/or by the reamer handle. In order to assess the reaming depth, the surgeon may remove the reamer handle and reamer from the incision site, or alternatively may detach the reamer handle from the reamer, so as to view the acetabulum and the reamer with the reamer still in-situ, but in either case this is inconvenient.

<CIT> describes an orthopaedic reamer driver that includes a tubular housing having at least one first positioning feature. A driveshaft within the housing has a drive end. A variable angle cap is pivotally coupled with the housing adjacent the drive end. The variable angle cap includes at least one leg extending along a side of the housing. Each leg has a second positioning feature selectively engaging and disengaging with a corresponding first positioning feature at a selected one of a plurality of angular positions. Each second positioning feature maintains the variable angle cap at the selected angular position when engaged with the corresponding first positioning feature. A variable angle joint is coupled to the drive end, and a reamer drive head is coupled to the variable angle joint.

<CIT> describes a positioning tool for a joint socket cutting instrument or a implant that is designed for use with a minimally invasive surgical procedure and in conjunction with a computer assisted surgical procedure. The positioning tool has a longitudinally extending drive shaft having a moveable joint at a first end and a drive coupling for connecting to a power source at a second end. A holder for mounting a cutting tool such a drill or as an acetabular cutting instrument or for mounting an acetabular implant is coupled to the moveable joint at the first end of the drive shaft for movement with respect to the drive shaft. The holder is rotatable about a central axis thereof when the drive shaft is rotated. The drive shaft includes a shaft bearing mounted thereon which is pivotally coupled to the shaft at a fixed longitudinal position and is pivotally coupled to a longitudinally extending first arm having a handle. A tracker system which is capable of being utilized by a computer-aided surgical system is mounted on the first arm. A second arm is provided which is pivotally connected to the holder at a first end and pivotally connected to the first arm at a second end. The resulting four bar linkage allows the holder and the cutting instrument/implant to be manipulated in any position while the known geometric relationship between the tracker and the holder allows the location of the holder to be displayed by the computer on a cathode ray tube with respect to a joint.

The disclosed reamer driver is an acetabular reamer handle comprising:.

<CIT> describes a surgical reamer driver device that provides a fully closed tube which prevents the invasion of debris and minimizes abrasion of soft tissue during use. The reamer device includes a minimum number of component assemblies, so as to permit easy replacement and minimize wear. The surgical reamer driver has a housing assembly in a stand-alone, assembled unit, a transmission drive train in a stand-alone, assembled unit enclosed in the housing assembly, and having at least one double universal joint and a surgical tool connector at the distal end thereof, a motor shaft coupling in a stand-alone, assembled unit at the proximal end thereof, and a handle assembly in a stand-alone, assembled unit at the proximal end thereof, these four basic components forming a driver which in a fully assembled state effectively prevents debris from access in the inner workings of the driver. A method for disassembling the reamer driver includes the steps of: a. actuating a sliding release sleeve to unlock the handle assembly from the housing assembly, thereby permitting the de-encapsulation of the drive train within the housing assembly; b. sliding the handle assembly off of the housing thereby effectively de-encapsulating the drive train; c. pulling the motor shaft coupling out of the housing thereby freeing the drive train from axial constraint on one end; d. unsnapping the drive train on the one end and lifting the one end out of the housing assembly thereby permitting removal of the drive train; and e. pulling the drive train out of the housing assembly, thus removing the drive train from the housing assembly.

<CIT> describes an orthopaedic reamer assembly for minimally invasive surgery including a reamer and a driver. The driver includes a shaft with a distal end and a longitudinal axis; and a driver head connected to the distal end. The driver head is pivotable about an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The reamer is connected to the driver head.

<CIT> describes an orthopaedic reamer handle, comprising: a reamer portion configured to transmit torque to a reamer head; a driver portion connected to said reamer portion and configured to receive and transmit torque from a driver; and a drive train connecting said reamer portion and said driver portion and configured to transmit torque from said driver portion to said reamer portion, said drive train including: a first drive shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end being connected to said driver portion, said first drive shaft defining a first axis; a first intermediate connector having a first intermediate end and a second intermediate end, said first intermediate end being connected to said second end; an offsetting member having a third end and a fourth end, said third end being connected to said second intermediate end at an acute angle relative to said first axis, said offsetting member defining a second axis; and a second intermediate connector connecting said fourth end to said reamer portion at an acute angle relative to said second axis.

Aspects of the invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims.

According to the invention, there is provided an acetabular reamer handle according to claim <NUM>.

Tilting of the shaft relative to the longitudinal axis of the neck part can allow a part of the acetabulum and/or reamer otherwise obscured by the reamer handle to be viewed. This may, for instance, allow the surgeon a better view for determining the depth to which the acetabulum has been reamed, without having to remove the reamer and reamer handle from the acetabulum or disconnect the reamer handle from the reamer. The locking mechanism can serve to prevent unwanted tilting of the shaft while the reamer is being operated. The locking mechanism may be simple to operate and may have a compact, robust construction that need not include complicated parts that would otherwise increase the cost of the reamer handle and/or reduce its reliability.

The surface of the proximal end of the neck part may have a surface normal that is oriented at an angle α with respect to the longitudinal axis of the neck part. Typically, α may be less than <NUM>°, to allow correct operation of the driveline. This angling of the neck part relative to the shaft may allow the surgeon to work more easily around soft tissue in the incision site. In some embodiments <NUM>° ≤ α ≤ <NUM>°. In some embodiments, α is about <NUM>°. In some embodiments, α is about <NUM>°.

The surface of the proximal end of the neck part is contained in a plane which may have a surface normal that is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the neck part. This can allow the acetabular reamer handle to operate as a straight reamer handle in some embodiments (notwithstanding the ability of the reamer handle to tilt as mentioned above).

The engagement member may be slideably mounted inside the hollow shaft. The engagement member may be configured to protrude from the distal end of the hollow shaft to urge the engagement surface against the proximal end of the neck part. In this way, the components of the locking mechanism may be protected by the wall of the shaft, in which case fluids and/or bone fragments in the incision site would not interfere with their operation.

The engagement member may be resiliently biased distally to urge the engagement surface against the proximal end of the neck part. To implement this, the locking mechanism may include a helical spring mounted coaxially with respect to the distal end of the hollow shaft and proximally with respect to the engagement member. The helical spring may be mounted inside the hollow shaft. Again, this may protect the spring from interference by fluids and/or bone fragments in the incision site.

The engagement member may include a handle part for manually retracting the engagement member in a proximal direction to release the engagement surface from the proximal end of the neck part. This can allow the surgeon selectively to release the shaft to allow it to be tilted, while keeping the shaft is locked down during operation of the reamer.

The acetabular reamer may include one or more locking members extending from the engagement surface to be received within one or more corresponding openings in the proximal end of the neck part. This arrangement can allow the locking of the engagement surface against the proximal end of the neck part to resist the tilting of the shaft relative to the longitudinal axis of the neck part. Where more than one such locking member is provided, they may be distributed (e.g. evenly) around the perimeter formed by the engagement surface of the engagement member. For instance, the acetabular reamer may include two locking member, one being located on either side of the plane containing the hollow shaft and the longitudinal axis of the hollow neck part.

The driveline may include a universal joint located at the pivot point between the distal end of the shaft and the proximal end of the neck part. This can allow an angle between the neck part (within which the head part my rotate) and the shaft to be accommodated.

The acetabular reamer handle may be an offset acetabular reamer handle in which the hollow shaft includes a proximal shaft section and a distal shaft section, and in which the shaft has a bend located at an interface between the proximal shaft section and the distal shaft section. The proximal shaft section and the distal shaft section may be rigidly formed whereby the angle between the longitudinal axis of the distal shaft section and a longitudinal axis of the proximal shaft section may be fixed.

The engagement surface may be substantially ring shaped, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal or hexagonal.

A surgical kit may be provided, comprising the acetabular reamer handle as set out above and one or more differently sized acetabular reamers connectable to the head part of the acetabular reamer handle.

A method not forming part of the invention is disclosed of reaming an acetabulum of a patient using a reamer connected to a reamer handle, the reamer handle comprising:.

Tilting of the shaft relative to the longitudinal axis of the neck part can allow a part of the acetabulum and/or reamer otherwise obscured by the reamer handle to be viewed without having to remove the reamer and reamer handle from the acetabulum or having to disconnect the reamer handle from the reamer.

The method may further include tilting the reamer handle about the longitudinal axis of the neck part to view a part of the acetabulum and/or reamer otherwise obscured by the reamer handle.

The method may further include viewing the part of the acetabulum and/or reamer otherwise obscured by the reamer handle to determine a depth of the reaming.

The method may further include operating a locking mechanism of the reamer handle to disengage an engagement member of the locking mechanism from the proximal end of the head part to allow tilting of the shaft relative to the longitudinal axis of the neck part.

The engagement member may be moveable distally to urge the engagement surface against the proximal end of the neck part to resist the tilting of the shaft relative to the longitudinal axis of the neck part.

The engagement member may be resiliently biased toward the proximal end of the head part. This may be implemented with a helical spring, as noted above.

The engagement member may be slideably mounted on or in the shaft. The method may further include manually retracting the engagement member in a proximal direction to release the engagement member from the proximal end of the neck part.

The engagement member may have an engagement surface located at the distal end of the shaft for engaging with the proximal end of the neck part to resist the tilting of the shaft relative to the longitudinal axis of the neck part. The engagement surface may be substantially perimetric to a longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft at the distal end of the shaft.

The reamer handle may be an offset reamer handle in which the hollow shaft includes a proximal shaft section and a distal shaft section, and in which the shaft has a bend located at an interface between the proximal shaft section and the distal shaft section.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter, by way of example only, wherein the acetabular reamer handle shown in <FIG> is an embodiment of the present invention, whereas the acetabular reamer handle shown in <FIG> does not fall within the scope of the appended claims, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like reference signs relate to like elements and in which:.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> show various views of an acetabular reamer handle <NUM> according to an embodiment of this invention.

The acetabular reamer handle <NUM> includes a shaft <NUM>. The shaft <NUM> has a proximal end <NUM> and a distal end <NUM>. The shaft <NUM> is substantially hollow (see, for example, the cross section of <FIG>).

In this embodiment, the shaft <NUM> includes a distal shaft section 20A and a proximal shaft section 20B. The shaft sections 20A, 20B are fixedly joined together at a bend <NUM> in the shaft <NUM>, whereby a longitudinal axis <NUM> of the distal shaft section 20A is oriented at an angle β (see e.g. <FIG>) to a longitudinal axis <NUM> of the proximal shaft section 20B. Each shaft section 20A, 20B may have a distal end and a proximal end. In the present embodiment, the proximal end of the distal shaft section 20A is joined at the aforementioned bend <NUM> to the distal end of the proximal shaft section 20B. The angle β may be in the range <NUM>° ≤ β ≤ <NUM>°. In particular, it is envisaged that in some embodiments, β = <NUM>° or β = <NUM>°.

It is also envisaged that the shaft <NUM> may be substantially straight, without a bend of the kind shown in the figures of the present embodiment.

The shaft <NUM> (including e.g. its constituent shaft sections 20A, 20B) may be generally elongate, cylindrical in shape and may have a substantially circular cross section.

One or more handle parts <NUM> may be provided on the shaft <NUM> to facilitate holding the acetabular reamer handle <NUM> and to allow an axial force to be applied by a surgeon, for urging a reamer attached to the distal end of the acetabular reamer handle <NUM> into the inner surface of the acetabulum of a patient during reaming. As shown in the figures, each handle part <NUM> may extend radially outward from the side of one of the shaft <NUM>. A handle part <NUM> may be located toward the proximal end of the shaft <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the acetabular reamer handle <NUM> includes a single handle part <NUM>, which extends radially outward from the side of the additional shaft section 20B.

The acetabular reamer handle <NUM> also includes a neck part <NUM>. The neck part <NUM> is substantially hollow. The neck part <NUM> may be substantially cylindrical and may have a substantially circular cross section. The neck part <NUM> has a proximal end <NUM>, a distal end <NUM> and a longitudinal axis <NUM>. As will be described in more detail below, the proximal end <NUM> of the neck part <NUM> is pivotally connected to the distal end <NUM> of the shaft <NUM>, to allow the shaft <NUM> to be tilted relative to the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the neck part <NUM>.

The acetabular reamer handle <NUM> also includes a driveline <NUM>. The drive line <NUM> is shown in full in the exploded view of <FIG> and parts of the drive line <NUM> are also visible in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>. For the purposes of clarity, only a head part <NUM> (to be described below) of the driveline <NUM> is shown in the cross sections of <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. The driveline <NUM> is elongate and dimensioned to fit inside and extend through the hollow shaft <NUM> and neck part <NUM>.

The driveline <NUM> may include a plurality of driveline sections. In general, in embodiments where the shaft <NUM> includes one or more bends such as bend <NUM>, the driveline <NUM> may include a respective driveline section for each shaft section of the hollow shaft <NUM>. In the present embodiment, these driveline sections include a distal driveline section 40A and a proximal driveline section 40B. To accommodate any bends in the shaft <NUM> (and also the angle between the shaft <NUM> and the neck part <NUM>, to be described below) the driveline <NUM> may include one or more universal joints positioned along its length. In the present embodiment, the driveline <NUM> includes a first universal joint 48A joining a proximal end of the head part <NUM> of the drive line <NUM> to a distal end of the distal driveline section 40A and a second universal joint 48B connecting a proximal end of the distal driveline section 40A to a distal end of the additional driveline section 40B.

The proximal end <NUM> of the shaft <NUM> of the acetabular reamer handle <NUM> (which is formed by the additional shaft section 20B in the present embodiment having two shaft sections) may have an opening through which a proximal end <NUM> of the driveline <NUM> may protrude. The proximal end <NUM> of the driveline <NUM> may include connection features for connection to a power tool such as a rotational driver for applying torque to the driveline <NUM>. In use, the driveline <NUM> rotates to transmit the torque through the hollow shaft <NUM> and neck part <NUM> to the distally located head part <NUM> of the drive line <NUM>. The head part <NUM> of the drive line <NUM> is connectable to a reamer <NUM>. <FIG> shows a side view of the acetabular reamer handle <NUM> of <FIG>, with an acetabular reamer <NUM> connected to the head part <NUM> of the driveline <NUM>. To implement the connection between the head part <NUM> and the acetabular reamer <NUM>, the head part <NUM> may include distally located connection features <NUM> for connection with corresponding connection features of the acetabular reamer <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the acetabular reamer <NUM> may, for instance comprise a hemispherical dome <NUM> for insertion into the acetabulum of a patient. An outer surface of the dome <NUM> may include features <NUM> for grating bone away from the inner surface of the acetabulum as the acetabular reamer <NUM> rotates with the driveline <NUM>.

The head part <NUM> is mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis <NUM> of the neck part <NUM>. The axis of rotation of the head part <NUM> may generally be coaxial with the longitudinal axis <NUM>. In the present example, a proximal end of the head part <NUM> is located inside the neck part <NUM>. An outer surface of the head part <NUM> (e.g. of the proximal end of the head art in the present embodiment) may form a snug fit with an inner surface of the neck part <NUM>, so that the head part <NUM> rides within the neck part <NUM>, to maintain the coaxial relationship between the axis of rotation of the head part <NUM> and the longitudinal axis <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the distal end of the head part <NUM> protrudes distally from the distal end <NUM> of the neck part <NUM> and includes the aforementioned connection features <NUM> for connection to an acetabular reamer. The distal end of the head part <NUM> may be generally cylindrical and may have a larger diameter than the proximal end of the head part <NUM>, which rotates within the neck part <NUM>. In this embodiment, the distal end of the head part <NUM> has the same outer diameter as the distal end <NUM> of the neck part <NUM>, so that the distal end of the head part <NUM> is flush with the outer surface of the distal end <NUM> of the neck part <NUM>.

In embodiments where the shaft <NUM> includes one or more bends, the shaft sections may be of different lengths (as measured along their longitudinal axes). For instance, in the present embodiment, the distal shaft section 20A is shorter than the additional shaft section 20B. The head part <NUM> may be shorter (as measured along its longitudinal axis <NUM>) than the shaft sections.

As mentioned previously, the proximal end <NUM> of the neck part <NUM> is pivotally connected to the distal end <NUM> of the shaft <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the pivotal connection <NUM> is formed by a pair of holes <NUM> located at the distal end <NUM> of the shaft <NUM> and a pair of corresponding holes <NUM> located on the neck part <NUM>, through which bolts <NUM> pass. The axis of rotation <NUM> provided by the pivotal connection <NUM> is generally perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the neck part <NUM> and the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the distal end <NUM> of (e.g. the distal shaft section 20A) the shaft <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the holes <NUM> may be located at the ends of a pair arms <NUM> that extend distally from the end of the shaft <NUM>. These arms <NUM> can provide clearance between the hollow cylindrical part of the shaft <NUM> and the proximal end <NUM> of the neck part <NUM>, to allow relative rotation of the shaft <NUM> and the neck part <NUM> about the pivotal connection <NUM>.

The pivotal connection <NUM> between the neck part <NUM> and the shaft <NUM> can allow the shaft <NUM> to be tilted relative to the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the neck part <NUM>. This tilting of the shaft <NUM> relative to the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the neck part <NUM> can allow a part of the acetabulum and/or reamer <NUM> otherwise obscured by the reamer handle <NUM> to be viewed. This may, for instance, allow the surgeon a better view for determining the depth to which the acetabulum has been reamed, without having to remove the reamer <NUM> and reamer handle <NUM> from the acetabulum or having to disconnect the reamer handle <NUM> from the reamer. <FIG> show the acetabular reamer handle <NUM> of the present embodiment in a non-tilted state. <FIG> show the shaft <NUM> tilted (in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed in those Figures) so that the angle between the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the neck part <NUM> and the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the distal shaft section 20A is increased in size. From comparison of <FIG> with <FIG>, it will be appreciated that the tilting of the shaft <NUM> in this way may allow parts of the acetabulum and/or reamer <NUM> laying beneath the shaft <NUM> to be revealed.

Note that the universal joint 48A of the driveline <NUM> is positioned to coincide with the pivotal connection <NUM> between the distal end <NUM> of the shaft <NUM> and the proximal end <NUM> of the neck part <NUM>. This can allow the angling of the shaft <NUM> relative to the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the neck part <NUM> to be accommodated. As described herein, this angling of the shaft <NUM> relative to the longitudinal axis of the neck part <NUM> may be present in an untilted state of the acetabular reamer handle <NUM> (e.g. due to the angling of the engagement surface <NUM> to be described below). The universal joint 48A can also accommodate relative rotation of the shaft <NUM> and the neck part <NUM> about the pivotal connection <NUM> for tilting the shaft as described above.

In addition to the tilting of the shaft <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, it is envisaged that the shaft <NUM> my be tilted about the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the neck part <NUM> (i.e. either in a clockwise or in an anti-clockwise direction when viewed along the longitudinal axis <NUM> from the point of view of the surgeon), again to view a part of the acetabulum and/or reamer otherwise obscured by the reamer handle <NUM>.

The pivotal connection <NUM> between the neck part <NUM> and the distal end <NUM> of the shaft <NUM> may include a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism can serve to resist unwanted tilting of the shaft <NUM> relative to the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the neck part <NUM>. In this way, the relative orientations of the neck part <NUM> and shaft <NUM> may be fixed in place while the acetabulum of the patient is being reamed. As will be described below, the locking mechanism may be simple to operate and may have a compact, robust construction that need not include complicated parts that would otherwise increase the cost of the reamer handle <NUM> and/or reduce its reliability.

In this embodiment, the locking mechanism includes an engagement member <NUM> having an engagement surface <NUM>. As may be appreciated from a comparison of, for example, <FIG> and <FIG>, the engagement surface <NUM> is substantially perimetric to a longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft at the distal end of the shaft (in the present embodiment, this axis corresponds to the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the distal shaft section 20A). The engagement member <NUM> is located at the distal end <NUM> of the shaft <NUM>. The engagement surface <NUM> in this embodiment is substantially ring shaped. It is also envisaged that the engagement surface may have a different shape (for example, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal or hexagonal). The engagement member <NUM> may be substantially tubular and may have a cross sectional shape that corresponds to the shape of the engagement surface <NUM>.

The driveline <NUM> may pass through a centre of the engagement member <NUM>. The engagement member <NUM> may be mounted inside or outside the shaft <NUM>. In one embodiment, the engagement member <NUM> may be mounted as a sleeve on an outer surface of the distal shaft section 20A.

In the present embodiment, the engagement member <NUM> is slideably mounted inside the shaft <NUM> and protrudes from the distal end <NUM> of the shaft <NUM> to engage with the proximal end <NUM> of the neck part <NUM>.

The engagement member <NUM> is moveable distally to urge the engagement surface <NUM> against the proximal end of the neck part <NUM> to resist tilting of the shaft <NUM> relative to the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the neck part <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the engagement member <NUM> may be mounted on a screw thread (including a first thread located on the shaft and a second thread located on the engagement member <NUM>), to allow the engagement member to be moved distally (by rotation of the engagement member <NUM> about the screw thread in a first direction) to urge the engagement surface <NUM> against the proximal end of the neck part <NUM>. By rotating the engagement member <NUM> in a second direction, opposite the first direction, the engagement member <NUM> may be moved proximally, to disengage the engagement surface <NUM> from the proximal end of the neck part <NUM>.

In other embodiments, the engagement member <NUM> may be resiliently biased distally to urge the engagement surface <NUM> against the proximal end of the neck part <NUM>. For instance, in the present embodiment, the locking mechanism includes a spring, such as a helical spring <NUM>. The helical spring <NUM> may be mounted coaxially with respect to the distal end <NUM> of the shaft <NUM> and proximally with respect to the engagement member <NUM>. In embodiments in which the engagement member <NUM> is mounted as a sleeve outside the shaft <NUM>, the helical spring <NUM> may also be mounted on the outside of the shaft <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the helical spring <NUM> is located inside the shaft <NUM> along with the engagement member <NUM>. As shown in the Figures, the helical spring <NUM> in this embodiment is located between the engagement member <NUM> and a circumferential lip <NUM> provided on an inner surface of the shaft <NUM> (e.g. <FIG>). The helical spring <NUM> is thus arranged to bias the engagement member <NUM> distally, so that it protrudes from the distal end <NUM> of the shaft <NUM> as mentioned above.

In use, the engagement surface <NUM> of the engagement member <NUM> is urged against the proximal end <NUM> of the neck part <NUM> (e.g. by the spring of the locking mechanism). This resists any pivotal movement of the neck part <NUM> relative to the shaft <NUM> (including the tilting of the shaft <NUM> discussed above).

The proximal end <NUM> of the neck part <NUM> is provided with an engagement surface <NUM> against which the engagement surface <NUM> of the engagement member <NUM> may urge to resist the above mentioned tilting of the shaft <NUM>. The engagement surface <NUM> and also the engagement surface <NUM> may be substantially flat, so as to provide stable and secure contact between them.

As can seen from the figures, in this embodiment, the engagement surface <NUM> of the neck part <NUM> may be set at an angle to the longitudinal axis <NUM>. In particular, the engagement surface <NUM> is contained in a plane which may have a surface normal that is oriented at a non-zero angle α with respect to the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the neck part <NUM>. Typically, α may be less than <NUM>°, to allow correct operation of the universal joint 48A, of the driveline <NUM>. This angling of the neck part <NUM> relative to shaft <NUM> may allow the surgeon to work more easily around soft tissue in the incision site. In its non-tilted position (e.g. <FIG>), the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the distal end <NUM> of the shaft <NUM> may be parallel with the surface normal of the engagement surface <NUM>.

In some embodiments <NUM>° ≤ α ≤ <NUM>°. In some embodiments, α is about <NUM>°. In some embodiments, α is about <NUM>°.

It is noted that in embodiments in which the shaft <NUM> includes a bend such as the bend <NUM>, the (untilted) angling of the neck part <NUM> with respect to the shaft <NUM> and the bend <NUM> may combine to configure the acetabular reamer handle <NUM> as an offset reamer handle. It is envisaged that angle α and β may be equal in size and opposite in direction, to form a dog-leg arrangement in which the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the neck part <NUM> is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the proximal shaft section 20B.

In accordance with an alternative embodiment, it is envisaged that the engagement surface <NUM> of the neck part <NUM> is contained in a plane which may have a surface normal that is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the neck part <NUM>. This can allow the acetabular reamer handle <NUM> to operate as a straight reamer handle (notwithstanding the ability of the reamer handle to tilt as discussed herein).

To release the engagement surface <NUM> from the proximal end <NUM> of the neck part <NUM>, the engagement member <NUM> may be retracted in an proximal, axial direction, against the bias provided by the spring <NUM>. The engagement member <NUM> may include, or be connected to, a handle <NUM>, which may include one or more gripping surfaces. The handle <NUM> can be gripped by the surgeon and retracted in the proximal direction in order to retract the engagement member <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the handle <NUM> is connected to the engagement member <NUM> by a pair of arms <NUM> that extend substantially parallel to the distal end <NUM> of the shaft <NUM>. The arms <NUM> extend through respective holes <NUM> located in the wall of the shaft <NUM>, whereby the handle <NUM> may be located outside the shaft <NUM> for operation by the surgeon.

When the proximal end <NUM> (e.g. the engagement surface <NUM>) is released from the engagement surface <NUM> by retraction of the engagement member <NUM>, the neck part <NUM> and the shaft <NUM> are able freely to pivot about the pivotal connection <NUM>, whereby the shaft <NUM> may be freely tilted as described herein to view parts of the acetabulum and/or reamer <NUM> that may otherwise be obscured. After having viewed the acetabulum and/or reamer, the surgeon may return the shaft <NUM> to its original position (e.g. with the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the distal end <NUM> of the shaft <NUM> laying parallel with the surface normal of the engagement surface <NUM>) and release the handle <NUM>, so that the engagement surface <NUM> re-engages with, and urges against the proximal end <NUM> of the neck part <NUM>. In this way, the surgeon may resume reaming, with the shaft <NUM> is locked down to prevent unwanted tilting.

<FIG> show the components located toward to the distal end <NUM> of the shaft <NUM> of an acetabular reamer handle <NUM> according to another embodiment, not according to the present invention. The embodiment of <FIG> is similar in many respects to the embodiment of <FIG>, and only the differences will be described below in detail. Note that, like <FIG>, and <FIG> and <FIG>, <FIG> show the acetabular reamer handle <NUM> in an untitled configuration (<FIG>) for reaming, and in a tilted configuration (<FIG>) for viewing parts of the acetabulum and/or reamer <NUM> that would otherwise be obscured by the acetabular reamer handle <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the acetabular reamer handle <NUM> includes one or more locking members <NUM>. The locking member(s) <NUM> extends distally from the substantially ring shaped engagement surface <NUM> of the engagement member <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the locking member(s) <NUM> can be received within corresponding respective opening(s) <NUM> located in the proximal end <NUM> of the neck part <NUM> (e.g. in the engagement surface <NUM>). The locking member(s) <NUM> and opening(s) <NUM> may cooperate to lock down the engagement surface <NUM> against the proximal end <NUM> of the neck part <NUM>. In particular, because of the distally protruding orientation of the locking member(s) <NUM>, when the locking member(s) <NUM> are located in their corresponding opening(s) <NUM>, any attempt to tilt the shaft <NUM> with respect to the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the neck part <NUM> causes the locking member(s) <NUM> to urge laterally against a sidewall of their corresponding opening(s) <NUM>. The locking member(s) <NUM> can therefore resist tilting of the shaft <NUM> when they are received within their corresponding opening(s) <NUM>. Conversely, when the engagement member <NUM> is retracted proximally as described above, the locking member(s) <NUM> are withdrawn from their corresponding opening(s) <NUM>, whereby the shaft <NUM> may be tilted as demonstrated in <FIG>.

The locking member(s) <NUM> may be triangular in cross section, with the apex of the triangle pointing distally. In the present embodiment, the apex of the substantially triangular locking member(s) <NUM> points distally along the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the distal shaft section 20A. The opening(s) <NUM> may have an inner surface that conforms to the shape of their corresponding locking member(s) <NUM>.

Where more than one such locking member <NUM> is provided, these locking members <NUM> may be distributed (e.g. evenly) around the perimeter formed by the engagement surface <NUM> of the engagement member <NUM>. For instance, the acetabular reamer <NUM> may include two locking members <NUM>, one being located on either side of the plane containing the hollow shaft <NUM> and the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the hollow neck part <NUM>.

An acetabular reamer handle <NUM> according to an embodiment of this invention may be included in a surgical kit. The kit may also include one or more differently sized acetabular reamers <NUM> connectable to the head part of the driveline of the acetabular reamer handle.

A method of reaming an acetabulum of a patient may include connecting an acetabular reamer <NUM> to a reamer handle <NUM> of the kind described above. The method may also include inserting the acetabular reamer <NUM> into the acetabulum of a patient. The method may also include operating the acetabular reamer <NUM> to remove bone from a surface of the acetabulum. The method may further include, with the acetabular reamer <NUM> located in the acetabulum, tilting the shaft <NUM> relative to the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the neck part <NUM> to view a part of the acetabulum and/or acetabular reamer <NUM> otherwise obscured by the reamer handle <NUM>. The method may also include tilting the reamer handle <NUM> about the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the neck part to view a part of the acetabulum and/or acetabular reamer <NUM> otherwise obscured by the reamer handle <NUM>. By viewing the part of the acetabulum and/or acetabular reamer <NUM> otherwise obscured by the reamer handle <NUM>, a depth of the reaming may be determined.

The method may also include operating a locking mechanism of the reamer handle <NUM> to disengage the engagement member <NUM> of the locking mechanism from the proximal end of the head part <NUM> to allow the above mentioned tilting of the shaft <NUM> relative to the longitudinal axis <NUM> of the neck part.

The method may further include manually retracting the engagement member <NUM> in a proximal direction to release the engagement member <NUM> from the proximal end <NUM> of the neck part <NUM>, as described in more detail above.

Accordingly, there has been described an acetabular reamer handle including a shaft having a distal end, a neck part having a longitudinal axis, a driveline extending through the shaft and the neck part, and a locking mechanism. A distally located head part of the driveline is mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the neck part and is connectable to a reamer. The distal end of the shaft and a proximal end of the neck part are pivotally attached to allow the shaft to be tilted relative to the longitudinal axis. The tilting can allow part of the acetabulum and/or reamer that is otherwise obscured to be viewed. The locking mechanism includes an engagement member having an engagement surface located at the distal end of the shaft. The engagement member is moveable distally to urge the engagement surface against the proximal end of the neck part.

Claim 1:
An acetabular reamer handle (<NUM>) comprising:
a hollow shaft (<NUM>) having a distal end (<NUM>);
a hollow neck part (<NUM>) having a longitudinal axis (<NUM>);
a driveline (<NUM>) extending through the shaft and the neck part, wherein a distally located head part (<NUM>) of the driveline is mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the neck part and is connectable to an acetabular reamer (<NUM>), and wherein the distal end of the shaft and a proximal end of the neck part are pivotally attached (<NUM>) to allow the shaft to be tilted relative to the longitudinal axis of the neck part; and
a locking mechanism comprising an engagement member (<NUM>) having an engagement surface (<NUM>) located at the distal end of the shaft, wherein the proximal end of the neck part includes a surface (<NUM>) for engagement with the engagement surface of the engagement member, wherein said surface of the proximal end of the neck part is contained in a plane, wherein the engagement surface is substantially perimetric to a longitudinal axis (<NUM>) of the hollow shaft at the distal end of the shaft, and wherein the engagement member is moveable distally to urge the engagement surface against the surface (<NUM>) at the proximal end of the neck part to resist said tilting of the shaft relative to the longitudinal axis of the neck part.