Patent ID: 7338494

Claim:
An awl apparatus for penetrating bone, comprising: a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, with a cutting edge formed on the distal end; an outer sleeve having a wall, a proximal end, and a distal end, wherein the outer sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the shaft and is movable with respect to the shaft, the outer sleeve including a plurality of openings to facilitate cleaning and sterilization of the awl; an inner sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein at least a portion of the inner sleeve is located in between the shaft and the outer sleeve; and a biasing member configured to bias the shaft to an initial position within the outer sleeve, wherein the biasing member surrounds at least a portion of the shaft and is located in between the outer sleeve and the distal end of the inner sleeve; wherein the shaft is movable in the axial direction with respect to the outer sleeve by a predetermined distance to limit the depth of penetration of the cutting tip into a bone; and wherein the shaft can be rotated within the outer sleeve to aid in penetrating a bone.