US4596243A — Surgical methods and apparatus for bone removal

Claim 1

Independent Claim 73 words

A method of removing bone comprising the steps of: oscillating an abrasive grit core drill with a high speed, low amplitude drive; placing said drill against the bone, about the bone area to be removed; drilling into the bone; detecting slowing of cutting by said core drill as penetration of the bone area is approached and terminating said drilling based upon said detection; and removing the bone plug created by the drilling operation.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 73 words

A method of removing bone comprising the steps of: oscillating an abrasive grit core drill with a high speed, low amplitude drive; placing said drill against the bone, about the bone area to be removed; drilling into the bone; detecting slowing of cutting by said core drill as penetration of the bone area is approached and terminating said drilling based upon said detection; and removing the bone plug created by the drilling operation.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 1 wherein light pressure on the order of one-half that required for a fluted drilling operation is applied during the drilling step.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of removing the bone plug includes the step of prying said plug from the surrounding bone area.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the bone plug removed is removed from the spinal area.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the bone plug is removed in the process of anterior surgical fusion.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the plug is removed from the cranium.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the plug is removed from the cranium and reused to close the skull after performance of a surgical procedure.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 7 wherein light pressure is applied during drilling.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the speed of oscillation is 15,000 to 25,000 oscillations per minute.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the bone plug is removed in the process of anterior surgical fusion and a replacement plug is thereafter cut using a second core drill.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the length of the arc of travel of said core drill is in the range 0.020 to 0.2 inches.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 108 words

A method of craniotomy flap removal comprising the steps of: oscillating an abrasive grit core drill with a high speed, low amplitude drive; placing said drill against a portion of skull to be removed; drilling through at least a portion of the cranium, thereby forming a unitary bone plug; detecting slowing of cutting by said core drill as penetration of the bone area is approached and terminating said drilling based upon said detection; removing the unitary bone plug created by the drilling operation; performing a surgical operation through the opening created by removal of the unitary bone plug; and closing the opening by reinserting the unitary bone plug.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 108 words

A method of craniotomy flap removal comprising the steps of: oscillating an abrasive grit core drill with a high speed, low amplitude drive; placing said drill against a portion of skull to be removed; drilling through at least a portion of the cranium, thereby forming a unitary bone plug; detecting slowing of cutting by said core drill as penetration of the bone area is approached and terminating said drilling based upon said detection; removing the unitary bone plug created by the drilling operation; performing a surgical operation through the opening created by removal of the unitary bone plug; and closing the opening by reinserting the unitary bone plug.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 12 wherein said bone plug is removed by prying it away from the skull.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 12 wherein said drill is placed against the skull with light pressure.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 14 further including the step of flushing the cutting area with water during cutting operations.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 12 wherein the speed of oscillation is 15,000 to 25,000 oscillations per minute.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 16 wherein the linear displacement is within the range of 0.020 to 0.2 inches.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 12 wherein said drill is applied to skull portions of varying thicknesses.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 12 further including a rocking action of the drill to engage the skull.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 69 words

A method of anterior surgical fusion including the steps of: oscillating a core drill with a high speed low amplitude drive; applying said core drill to the vertebrae region; detecting slowing of cutting by said core drill as penetration of the bone area of the vertebrae region is approached and terminating said drilling based upon said detection; and removing the bone area to which said core drill is applied.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 69 words

A method of anterior surgical fusion including the steps of: oscillating a core drill with a high speed low amplitude drive; applying said core drill to the vertebrae region; detecting slowing of cutting by said core drill as penetration of the bone area of the vertebrae region is approached and terminating said drilling based upon said detection; and removing the bone area to which said core drill is applied.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 20 including the further step of removing a replacement plug with an oscillating core drill for insertion into said vertebrae region.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 74 words

A method of removing bone comprising the steps of: oscillating an abrasive grit core drill with a high speed, low amplitude drive; placing said drill against the bone, about the bone area to be removed; drilling into the bone; detecting slowing of cutting by said core drill as completion of penetration of the bone area is approached and terminating said drilling at that point; and removing the bone plug created by the drilling operation.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 74 words

A method of removing bone comprising the steps of: oscillating an abrasive grit core drill with a high speed, low amplitude drive; placing said drill against the bone, about the bone area to be removed; drilling into the bone; detecting slowing of cutting by said core drill as completion of penetration of the bone area is approached and terminating said drilling at that point; and removing the bone plug created by the drilling operation.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 22 wherein light pressure on the order of one-half that required for a fluted drilling operation is employed in the step of drilling.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 22 wherein said step of removing the bone plug includes the step of prying said plug from the surrounding bone area.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 22 wherein the bone plug removed is removed from the spinal area.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 22 wherein the bone plug is removed in the process of anterior surgical fusion.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 22 wherein the plug is removed from the cranium.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 22 wherein the plug is removed from the cranium and reused to close the skull after performance of a surgical procedure.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 28 wherein light pressure is applied during drilling.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 22 wherein the speed of oscillation is 15,000 to 25,000 oscillations per minute.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 22 or 30 wherein the length of the arc of travel of said core drill is in the range 0.020 to 0.2 inches.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 22 wherein the bone plug is removed in the process of anterior surgical fusion and a replacement plug is thereafter cut using a second core drill.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 64 words

A method of removing bone comprising the steps of: oscillating an abrasive grit core drill; placing said drill against the bone, about the bone area to be removed; drilling into the bone; detecting slowing of cutting by said core drill as completion of penetration of the bone area is approached; terminating the drill operation; and removing the bone plug created by the drilling operation.

Claim 38

Independent Claim 64 words

A method of removing bone comprising the steps of: oscillating an abrasive grit core drill; placing said drill against the bone, about the bone area to be removed; drilling into the bone; detecting slowing of cutting by said core drill as completion of penetration of the bone area is approached; terminating the drill operation; and removing the bone plug created by the drilling operation.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 33, wherein the length of arc of travel of said core drill is in the range of 0.020 to 0.2 inches.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1989-06-23	1989-12-23	1990-06-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1993-06-23	1993-12-23	1994-06-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1997-06-23	1997-12-23	1998-06-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Surgical methods and apparatus for bone removal

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