Dental Cutting Tool

Abstract

A tool holder and cutting tool having a handle with a recess at one end, a wedge means which fits in the recess, a blade which is held between the recess and the wedge means, and a locking rod connected at one end to the wedge means and engaging a locking nut on its opposite end whereby the wedge means may be tightened in the recess to securely hold the blade. A double-ended embodiment incorporating these elements is also described.

Description

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates to tool holders and cutting tools. More specifically, it relates to tool holders having particular application in surgical procedures comprising a handle with a recess in one or both ends thereof, a wedge means which is received in the recess, and a locking means interconnecting the wedge means and the handle whereby the wedge means is held in the recess; and it relates to cutting tools comprising the aforementioned elements plus blade means having a terminal portion rigidly secured between the wedge means and the recess.

The prior art includes many tool holder and cutting tool designs. Among the many prior art designs, the design of H. Laurence (U.S. Pat. No. 115,070, issued May 23, 1871) and L. Kalvin (U.S. Pat. No. 2,043,831,issued June 9, 1936) are of interest. The Laurence patent teaches a tool holder employing two finger-like members to grip the tool and a locking rod and locking nut to pull the finger-like members tightly together. The Kalvin patent teaches a tool holder employing a ball and socket head member holding a U-shaped tool and a locking rod and locking nut to hold the tool firmly.

A need exists for a tool holder which can utilize inexpensive, readily-available, easily insertable, shapable blades which can be adjustably positioned relative to the longitudinal axis of the tool holder. The blades should be so inexpensive that worn-out blades can be discarded, thus eliminating the necessity of sharpening equipment and special sharpening procedures. The blades should be either readily available (i.e., they are not difficult to purchase) or easy to fabricate from stock material which is readily available.

A tool holder of this invention comprises a handle with a recess at one end thereof, wedge means received in the recess, and locking means interconnecting the wedge means and the handle whereby the wedge means is held in the recess. A cutting tool of this invention comprises the tool holder described plus blade means having a terminal portion rigidly secured between the wedge means and the recess. An alternate embodiment of the tool holder provides a double-ended tool holder comprising a handle with a recess at each end thereof, wedge means received in each of the recesses, and locking means interconnecting each of the wedge means and the handle whereby the respective wedge means are held in their respective recesses. An alternate embodiment of the cutting tool provides a double-ended cutting tool comprising the double-ended tool holder described plus blade means in one or both ends having a terminal portion of the blade means rigidly secured between the wedge means and the recess.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide tool holders and cutting tools which can utilize inexpensive, readily-available, easily insertable, shapable blades, which can be adjustably positioned relative to the longitudinal axis of the tool holder.

It is another object of this invention to provide tool holders and cutting tools which can utilize blades so

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a tool holder;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment providing a double-ended tool holder;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a head of a tool holder showing the wedge means extended outward from the recess to allow insertion of a blade's terminal portion and also showing the locking rod connected to the wedge means;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a head with blade inserted between the wedge means and the recess;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a head with blade inserted showing alternate adjustable positions of a blade.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This invention satisfies the long-felt need for a tool holder which can utilize inexpensive, readily-available, easily insertable, shapable blades which can be adjustably positioned relative to the longitudinal axis of the tool holder. As will be described in greater detail below, the tool holder of this invention can use blades fabricated from common, double-edged stainless steel razor blades. A pair of scissors may be used to cut a rectangular strip from such a razor blade and the strip may then be utilized as a blade for the cutting tool of this invention.

With reference specifically to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows tool holder 10 comprising a handle 11 with head 12 having a wedge seat or recess 16 forming a bifurcated member, a wedge means 15 which fits between the branches of recess 16, a locking rod 14 connected to wedge means 15, and a locking nut 13 engaging the opposite end of locking rod 14. Wedge means 15 may be forced into recess 16 by any number of mechanisms ranging from a flexible cable to a threaded locking collar acting upon lugs projecting from the wedge means. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, wedge means 15 is drawn into recess 16 by locking rod 14 attached to wedge means 15. Locking rod 14 passes through a hole in the bottom of recess 16 and then through handle 11. The distal end of locking rod 14 threadedly engages locking nut 13 which bears against the end of handle 11. Locking nut 13, by screw action, adjusts tension on locking rod 14, thereby tightening or loosening wedge means 15 in recess 16. FIG. 1 shows the wedge means and recess at the end of a hollow, round handle, but they may be attached to a handle of any convenient shape, length or description. Locking nut 13 is drilled through as an assist in cleaning but this is not essential to the present invention. Locking rod 14 is shown threadedly engaged to wedge means 15, but any method of connection would serve the purpose and these two parts could be made as one piece, as by casting. The exterior surfaces of handle 11 and locking nut 13 may be coarsely ground to provide a gripping surface.

FIG. 2 shows an alternate embodiment of this invention in the form of a double-ended tool holder 20 comprising a two-part handle 11, 11 having recesses 16, 16 forming bifurcated members in each head 12, 12, wedge means 15, 15 which fit between the branches of the respective recesses 16, 16, locking rods 14, 14 connected to the respective wedge means 15, 15, and modified locking nut 13' engaging the ends of the locking rods 14, 14. Either end can be tightened or loosened independently of the other and each functions essentially in the manner of a single-ended instrument.

FIG. 3 shows head 12 of a tool holder with wedge means 15 loosened or extended outward from recess 16 to allow insertion of a blade or some other desired tool.

FIG. 4 shows head 12 with blade means 17 in place between wedge means 15 and the branches of the bifurcated member formed by recess 16. Wedge means 15 grips by friction and wedge action whatever is placed between it and recess 16. The gripping surfaces of wedge means 15 and recess 16 may be specially shaped, coated, or finished to provide special gripping characteristics. The wedge means and recess can be fabricated in any size or configuration as specific applications may require.

Blade means 17 may be either bowed (U-shaped) having both terminal portions inserted between wedge means 15 and recess 16, or blade means 17 may have only one terminal portion inserted between wedge means 15 and recess 16. Blade means 17 may be flat material or it may be other types such as wire or cord, depending upon the application. One successful application for oral surgery uses flat rectangular strips of 0.005 in. thick stainless steel razor blade material. As previously mentioned, blade means may be fabricated from common, double-edge stainless steel razor blades by using a pair of scissors to cut a rectangular strip from such a razor blade. The terminal portions of the rectangular strips may be manually inserted between wedge means 15 and recess 16 to give the bowed blade means 17 seen in FIG. 4. Blade size and contour can be adjusted to meet a patient's special needs. An infinite variety of shapes and sizes of curved or flat cutting edges may be produced by altering the length, width, and curvature of blade means 17. Using only the fingers, bow curvature in the mounted blade may be "customized" to match oral contours, thus providing the ultimate in adaptability. Flat, unbowed blade strips can also be used, requiring only one side of the gripping mechanism. A valuable feature of this invention is the adjustability of the angle of blade means 17 seen in FIG. 5. Blade means 17 can be set as desired throughout a continuous range of adjustment before one tightens the wedge means.

The present invention has been used successfully in the surgical removal of palatal papillary hyperplasia, and for obtaining oral free graft tissue from donor sites. The tool holder and cutting tool of this invention have obvious application in a variety of other medical and nonmedical professional and hobby fields.

Claims

I claim:

1. A tool holder adapted to hold a cutting member comprising: a. a handle with a bifurcated member having outwardly diverging branches at one end thereof; b. a wedge-shaped member receivable between said outwardly diverging branches of said bifurcated member, said wedge-shaped member having at least two opposed inwardly directed surfaces, so that a bowed cutting member adapted to be inserted between said outwardly diverging branches of said bifurcated member and said inwardly directed surfaces of said wedge-shaped member may be adjustably positioned through an arcuate range; and c. locking means interconnecting said wedge-shaped member and said handle, whereby said wedge-shaped member is held in said bifurcated member, so that a bowed cutting member may be rigidly secured between said bifurcated member and said wedge-shaped member.

2. The tool holder of claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises a locking rod disposed longitudinally within said handle and a locking nut on said locking rod.

3. The tool holder of claim 2 wherein said locking rod has screw threaded portions at opposite ends thereof and said locking rod threadedly engage said wedge-shaped member and said locking nut.

4. A cutting tool comprising: a. a handle with a recess at one end thereof, wherein said recess forms a bifurcated member; b. wedge means received in said recess between the branches of said bifurcated member; c. locking means interconnecting said wedge means and said handle whereby said wedge means is held in said recess; and d. blade means having a terminal portion rigidly secured between said wedge means and said recess.

5. The cutting tool of claim 4 wherein said locking means comprises a locking rod disposed longitudinally within said handle and a locking nut on said locking rod.

6. The cutting tool of claim 5 wherein: a. said locking rod has screw threaded portions at opposite ends thereof and said locking rod threadedly engages said wedge means and said locking nut; and b. said blade means comprises a thin strip of shapable material positionally adjustable when said locking means is loosened.

7. A tool holder adapted to hold a cutting member comprising: a. a handle with a bifurcated member having outwardly diverging branches at each end thereof; b. wedge-shaped members receivable between said outwardly diverging branches of each of said bifurcated members, said wedge-shaped members having at least two opposed inwardly directed surfaces, so that a bowed cutting member adapted to be inserted between each of said outwardly diverging branches of said bifurcated members and said inwardly directed surfaces of said wedge-shaped members may be adjustably positioned through an arcuate range; and c. locking means interconnecting each of said wedge-shaped members and said handle whereby said wedge-shaped members are held in said bifurcated members, so that a bowed cutting member may be rigidly secured between each of said wedge-shaped members and said bifurcated members.

8. The tool holder of claim 7 wherein said handle includes a first and a second portion and an intermediate portion, and wherein said locking means connects each of said wedge-shaped member to said intermediate portion.

9. The tool holder of claim 7 wherein said locking means comprises locking rods having screw threaded portions at opposite ends thereof and each of said locking rods threadedly engages one of said wedge-shaped member and said intermediate portion.

10. A cutting tool comprising: a. a handle with a recess at each end thereof, wherein each of said recesses forms a bifurcated member; b. wedge means received in each of said recesses between the branches of said bifurcated member; c. locking means interconnecting each of said wedge means and said handle whereby said wedge means are held in said recesses; and d. blade means having a terminal portion rigidly secured between said wedge means and said recess.

11. The cutting tool of claim 10 wherein said handle includes a first and a second portion and an intermediate portion, and wherein said locking means connects each of said wedge means to said intermediate portion.

12. The cutting tool of claim 10 wherein: a. said locking means comprises locking rods having screw threaded portions at opposite ends thereof and each of said locking rods threadedly engages one of said wedge means and said intermediate portion; and b. said blade means comprises a thin strip of shapable material positionally adjustable when said locking means is loosened.