US 12,121,244 B2
Guide apparatus for surgical cutting tool
James Tyler Clevett, Bonita Springs, FL (US); Nicholas Clement Mealey, Naples, FL (US); and Timothy J. Thompson, Gilbert, AZ (US)
Assigned to Arthrex, Inc., Naples, FL (US)
Filed by Arthrex, Inc., Naples, FL (US)
Filed on Sep. 13, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/473,175.
Prior Publication US 2023/0085332 A1, Mar. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 17/17 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/17 (2013.01) [A61B 17/1735 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A guide apparatus for a surgical cutting tool comprising:
a plurality of plates arranged in parallel with a guide plane, the plurality of plates comprising opposing bearing surfaces spaced apart over a clearance distance defining a planar opening;
a sheath comprising a cylindrical portion extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein the sheath forms an interior passage extending through the cylindrical portion along the longitudinal axis; and
wherein the cylindrical portion of the sheath slidably engages the planar opening through the clearance distance, wherein the interior passage of the sheath receives a rotary cutting head of the surgical cutting tool and the rotary cutting head slidably engages the interior passage of the sheath along the longitudinal axis in an operating configuration, and wherein the rotary cutting head rotates about the longitudinal axis and the rotary cutting head is rotationally constrained to the sheath, such that the sheath and the rotary cutting head rotate synchronously within the planar opening.