US 11,779,349 B1
Flexible drill bit and angled drill guide for use with the same
Sudip Pandya, Fremont, CA (US); Jeremy Graul, Elk Grove, CA (US); and J. Brook Burley, Mountain View, CA (US)
Assigned to Stryker Puerto Rico, LLC
Filed by Stryker Puerto Rico, LLC, San Juan, PR (US)
Filed on Dec. 8, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/115,537.
Application 17/115,537 is a continuation of application No. 16/030,239, filed on Jul. 9, 2018, granted, now 10,856,889, issued on Dec. 8, 2020.
Application 16/030,239 is a continuation of application No. 15/231,180, filed on Aug. 8, 2016, granted, now 10,022,131, issued on Jul. 17, 2018.
Application 15/231,180 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/735,806, filed on Jan. 7, 2013, granted, now 10,582,935, issued on Mar. 10, 2020.
Application 13/735,806 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/764,565, filed on Feb. 11, 2013, granted, now 9,848,894, issued on Dec. 26, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/583,265, filed on Jan. 5, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/596,993, filed on Feb. 9, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/201,677, filed on Aug. 6, 2015.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/16 (2006.01); A61B 17/17 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/1631 (2013.01) [A61B 17/1615 (2013.01); A61B 17/1633 (2013.01); A61B 17/1664 (2013.01); A61B 17/17 (2013.01); A61B 17/1742 (2013.01); A61B 17/1764 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00526 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00867 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00946 (2013.01)] 39 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A flexible drill bit comprising:
a distal cutting tip portion for drilling into bone;
a proximal shaft portion for connecting to a source of turning; and
an intermediate shaft portion extending between the distal cutting tip portion and the proximal shaft portion;
wherein the distal cutting tip portion has an outer diameter, wherein the intermediate shaft portion has an outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter of the intermediate shaft portion is smaller than the outer diameter of the distal cutting tip portion;
and further wherein the intermediate shaft portion comprises at least one rigid enlargement.