Patent ID: 8177788

Claim:
An in-line milling system for use with a cutting member, comprising: (a) a milling handle having a longitudinal axis; (b) a milling body adapted to be positioned at least partially within a bone, wherein the milling body comprises a channeled portion adapted to receive the milling handle such that the milling handle can translate within the milling body; (c) a securing system configured to lock the milling handle to the milling body in at least one pre-determined position to prevent relative translation between the milling body and the milling handle; and (d) a drill directing joint associated with the milling handle and comprising a drill receiving portion having an end adapted to receive a drill substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the milling handle and a cutting member receiving portion connected at an angle to the drill receiving portion and having an end adapted to receive the cutting member such that the cutting member extends along an axis that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the milling handle; wherein the drill receiving portion and the cutting member receiving portion remain connected at the angle to form an angled joint when the cutting member is not secured to the end of the cutting member receiving portion.