| CPC A61B 18/1492 (2013.01) [A61B 17/1615 (2013.01); A61B 17/1642 (2013.01); A61B 18/1206 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00309 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00367 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00455 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00867 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00077 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00083 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00202 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00208 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00339 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00565 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00946 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00952 (2013.01); A61B 2018/126 (2013.01)] | 16 Claims |
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1. A curveable introducer drill configured to access a target treatment region within hard bone along a curved trajectory, the drill comprising:
a drive shaft comprising a proximal rotational paddle, a distal drill tip, and an elongate shaft portion extending from the proximal rotational paddle to the distal drill tip,
wherein the distal drill tip is pointed and comprises top and side cutting flutes;
an outer tube surrounding the drive shaft, the outer tube comprising a proximal housing at its proximal end,
wherein the outer tube comprises a shape memory material that is shape set to have a straight configuration when unconstrained,
wherein the proximal rotational paddle extends out of a proximal end of the proximal housing of the outer tube;
wherein one and only one side of a distal end portion of the outer tube comprises a segmented tube section comprised of tube segments and slits configured to facilitate controlled bending of the segmented tube section of the outer tube in a single known direction;
a lever operably coupled to the drive shaft and adapted to apply tension to the drive shaft which, in turn, exerts a lateral force on the segmented tube section of the outer tube to cause the controlled bending of the segmented tube section in the single known direction;
a compression spring mechanically coupled to a proximal end of the outer tube; and
a bushing positioned between a distal edge of the outer tube and a proximal edge of the distal drill tip.
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