Cutting Blade For Use With An Oscillating Cutting Device

Abstract

A cutting blade for use in cutting off fracture-fixation pins with an oscillating cutting device. At least one elongated aperture with a plurality of hollow-ground saw teeth located on its periphery is provided on the blade to smoothly cut off the fracture-fixation pins. An attachment member is provided on the cutting blade to attach it to the oscillating cutting device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention:

This invention relates generally to oscillating cutting devices and more specifically to cutting blades for use in cutting off fracture-fixation pins with such oscillating cutting devices.

2. Description of the Prior Art:

The following U.S. Pat. Nos. disclose oscillating cutting devices: Stryker, 2,427,580; Cecere, 3,044,171; Cummins, 3,091,851; Gary, 3,103,069; and Shaheen, 3,199,194. None of the above references disclose or suggest the present invention.

Previously, fracture-fixation pins have been cut off by devices based upon the principle of shearing. See, for example, the Richards Manufacturing Company's Orthopedic and Orthological Instrument Catalogue, 1967, pp. 97-99. These prior devices are disadvantageous in that they leave a rough edge on the pin after it is cut off. It should be pointed out that such fracture-fixation pins are for use in anchoring bone fractures so that the bone will grow back together properly. The part of the pin which protrudes through the patient's skin must be cut or broken off.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed towards overcoming the problems and disadvantages in previous devices for cutting off fracture-fixation pins. The concept of this invention is to provide a cutting blade for use with an oscillating cutting device that will smoothly cut off fracture-fixation pins without leaving a rough edge on the pins after they are cut off.

The cutting blade includes a body portion having an attachment member for mounting the body portion onto the oscillating cutting device. At least one elongated aperture is provided on the body portion about a curved center line every point of which is equally distant from the center of the attachment member. The cutting blade also includes a cutting portion located on the periphery of the elongated aperture for cutting off the fracture-fixation pins. The cutting portion consists of a plurality of hollow-ground saw teeth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the cutting blade of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the cutting blade of the present invention shown mounted on a portion of an oscillating cutting device.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of the cutting blade of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the cutting blade of the present invention as taken on line IV--IV of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the cutting blade of the present invention similar to FIG. 4 showing a fracture-fixation pin after it has been cut off.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The cutting blade 11 of the present invention is for use with an oscillating cutting device 13. The oscillating cutting device 13 is of any suitable type such as that disclosed in the heretofore mentioned Stryker patent. The cutting blade 11 includes a body portion 15 and a cutting portion 17.

The body portion 15 includes an attachment member 19 for mounting the body portion 15 onto the oscillating cutting device 13. The attachment member 19 preferably consists of a triangular stud 21 for mounting onto the oscillating cutting device 13 by means of a triangular chuck 23 of the oscillating cutting device 13 known to those skilled in the art. At least one elongated aperture 25 is provided on the body portion 15 of the cutting blade 11 about a curved center line every point of which is equally distant from the center of the attachment member.

The cutting portion 17 preferably consists of a plurality of hollow-ground saw teeth 27. In other words, the cutting portion 17 differs from normal saw teeth 28 as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 4 by the hollowed portion 27' of the hollow-ground saw teeth 27. The hollowed portion 27' allows a fracture-fixation pin P to be cut off with a smooth, rounded portion P' on the ends thereof. The cutting blade 11 preferably includes a trough-like member 29 located on the periphery of the body portion 15 beneath the elongated aperture 25 for catching any metal filings produced when the fracture-fixation pin P is being cut off. In addition, the trough-like member 29 acts as a bumper means to protect the skin of the patient having the fracture-fixation pin P cut off.

In one embodiment of the cutting device blade 11 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the body portion 15 includes one elongated aperture 25 and is in the shape of a segment of a circle. In a second embodiment of the cutting blade 11 as shown in FIG. 3, the body portion 15 is circular and includes three elongated apertures 25. In this second embodiment, the cutting blade 11 is mounted to the oscillating cutting device 13 in one of three positions provided by the triangular stud 21 and the triangular chuck 23. By use of the three apertures 25, the life of the cutting blade 11 is greatly extended. That is, when the cutting portion 17 of one aperture 25 is dulled by use, the cutting blade 11 may be rotated to provide a new cutting portion 17 of one of the other apertures 25. In addition, each of the plurality of elongated apertures 25 may be of a different size as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The cutting blade 11 can thereby efficiently accommodate a wide range of different sizes of fracture-fixation pins P.

The use of the cutting blade 11 of the present invention is quite simple. First, the cutting blade 11 is mounted onto the oscillating cutting device 13. The head of the fracture-fixation pin P to be cut off is passed through an elongated aperture 25 in the body portion 15 of the cutting blade 11. When the cutting device 13 is activated to oscillate the cutting blade 11, it is preferably manually maneuvered to allow the cutting portion 17 to contact all portions of the circumference of the fracture-fixation pin P being cut off. In this manner, the plurality of hollow-ground saw teeth 27 of the cutting portion 17 provides a rounded portion P' on the edge of the fracture-fixation pin P being cut off as shown in FIG. 5. Thus, the fracture fixation pin P is cut off smoothly so that no rough edge is left on the pin P after it has been cut off.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A cutting blade for use with an oscillating cutting device in cutting off fracture-fixation pins, said cutting blade comprising:

a. a body portion having an attachment member for mounting said body portion onto the oscillating cutting device and having an elongated aperture spaced away from said attachment member; and

b. a cutting portion located around the entire periphery of said elongated aperture for allowing said cutting portion to selectively contact all portions of the circumference of the fracture-fixation pin being cut off to smoothly cut off the fracture-fixation pin.

2. The cutting blade of claim 1 in which said cutting portion consists of a plurality of hollow-ground saw teeth.

3. The cutting blade of claim 2 in which said aperture s located about a curved center line every point of which is equally distant from the center of said attachment member.

4. A cutting blade for use with a oscillating cutting device in cutting off fracture-fixation pins, said cutting blade comprising:

a. a body portion having an attachment member for mounting said body portion onto the oscillating cutting device and having an elongated aperture spaced away from said attachment member and located about a curved center line every point of which is equally distant from the center of said attachment member;

b. a cutting portion located on the periphery of said elongated aperture for cutting off the fracture-fixation pin, said cutting portion consisting of a plurality of hollowground saw teeth; and

c. a trough-like member located on the periphery of said body portion beneath said elongated aperture for catching any filings produced when the pin is being cut off.

5. The cutting blade of claim 4 in which said body portion is circular and includes a plurality of elongated apertures.

6. The cutting blade of claim 5 in which said body portion includes three elongated apertures and in which said attachment member consists of a triangular stud for mounting onto the oscillating cutting device in one of three positions by means of a triangular chuck of the oscillating cutting device.

7. A cutting blade for use with an oscillating cutting device in cutting off fracture-fixation pins, said cutting blade comprising:

a. a body portion having an attachment member for mounting said body portion onto the oscillating cutting device and having an elongated aperture located about a curved center line every point of which is equally distant from the center of said attachment means;

b. a plurality of hollow-ground saw teeth located on the periphery of said elongated aperture; and

c. a trough-like member located on the periphery of said body portion beneath said elongated aperture for catching any filings produced when the pin is being cut off.

8. The cutting blade of claim 7 in which said body portion is circular and includes a plurality of said elongated apertures.

9. The combination with an oscillating cutting device of a cutting blade for use in cutting off fracture-fixation pins, said cutting blade comprising:

a. a body portion having an attachment member mounting said body portion onto the oscillating cutting device and having an elongated aperture spaced away from said attachment member;

b. a cutting portion located around the entire periphery of said elongated aperture for allowing said cutting portion to selectively contact all portions of the circumference of the fracture-fixation pin being cut off to smoothly cut off the fracture-fixation pin.

10. The combination of claim 9 in which said cutting portion consists of a plurality of hollow-ground saw teeth.

11. The combination with an oscillating cutting device of a cutting blade for use in cutting off fracture-fixation pins, said cutting blade comprising:

a. a body portion having an attachment member mounting said body portion onto the ocillating cutting device and having an elongated aperture located about a curved center line every point of which is equally distant from the center of said attachment means;

b. a plurality of hollow-ground saw teeth located on the periphery of said elongated aperture; and

c. a trough-like member located on the periphery of said body portion beneath said elongated aperture for catching any filings produced when the pin is being cut off.

12. The combination of claim 11 in which said body portion is circular and includes a plurality of elongated apertures.