Patent ID: 7951163

Claim:
An excision tool for removing a portion of a patient's articular surface, said excision device comprising: a cutter comprising a ball coupling and a first and a second longitudinal member extending generally between said ball coupling and a first and second opposite end, respectively, of said cutter, wherein at least a portion of each of said first and second longitudinal member comprises a cutting edge and wherein said ball coupling has a cross-sectional dimension which is greater than a cross-sectional dimension of said first and said second longitudinal members; and a shaft comprising a proximal and a distal end, wherein said shaft comprises: an opening adjacent to said distal end of said shaft, said opening having a cross-sectional dimension greater than said cross-sectional dimension of said ball coupling such that said opening is configured to receive said first end and said ball coupling of said cutter; an internal passageway extending from said opening towards said distal end of said shaft, said internal passageway having an internal diameter less substantially corresponding to said cross-sectional dimension of said ball coupling and less than said cross-sectional dimension of said opening; and a slot extending along said internal passageway and having a cross-sectional dimension less than said cross-sectional dimensions of said ball coupling and said opening and greater than said cross-sectional dimensions of said first and second longitudinal members such that said first and second longitudinal members are configured to extend through said slot and beyond an outer surface of said shaft; wherein said ball coupling of said cutter is configured to be received through said opening and into said internal passageway and translated towards said distal end of said shaft such that said ball coupling engages said internal passageway and said cutter is rotatable within a longitudinal axis of said shaft and tiltable relative to said longitudinal axis of said shaft when said cutter is disposed against said patient's articular surface.