US 12,144,511 B2
Retrograde cutting instrument
Jerry Sterrett, Naples, FL (US); David C. Koogle, Jr., Bonita Springs, FL (US); Ronald C. Iannarone, Aiken, SC (US); and Ricardo Albertorio, Naples, FL (US)
Assigned to Arthrex, Inc., Naples, FL (US)
Filed by Arthrex, Inc., Naples, FL (US)
Filed on Jul. 21, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/356,304.
Application 14/516,084 is a division of application No. 12/397,263, filed on Mar. 3, 2009, granted, now 8,888,781, issued on Nov. 18, 2014.
Application 18/356,304 is a continuation of application No. 17/391,774, filed on Aug. 2, 2021, granted, now 11,744,596.
Application 17/391,774 is a continuation of application No. 15/349,128, filed on Nov. 11, 2016, granted, now 11,202,639, issued on Dec. 21, 2021.
Application 15/349,128 is a continuation of application No. 14/516,084, filed on Oct. 16, 2014, granted, now 9,526,510, issued on Dec. 27, 2016.
Application 12/397,263 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/114,599, filed on May 2, 2008, granted, now 8,652,139, issued on Feb. 18, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/033,252, filed on Mar. 3, 2008.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/915,607, filed on May 2, 2007.
Prior Publication US 2023/0355249 A1, Nov. 9, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/16 (2006.01); A61B 1/317 (2006.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 17/34 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/1617 (2013.01) [A61B 1/317 (2013.01); A61B 17/1635 (2013.01); A61B 17/1662 (2013.01); A61B 17/1675 (2013.01); A61B 17/32002 (2013.01); A61B 17/3472 (2013.01); A61B 90/06 (2016.02); A61B 2017/2927 (2013.01); A61B 2090/062 (2016.02)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of forming a bone socket in a first bone articulating with a second bone at an articular joint, comprising:
using a flip cutter/drilling instrument to drill a tunnel in the first bone into an articular joint space of the articular joint, the flip cutter/drilling instrument comprising a shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis, the shaft further comprising a cutting tip at the distal end, the cutting tip being pivotably engaged to the shaft and capable of movement from a straight position to a pivoted position, the flip cutter/drilling instrument being disposed in the straight position to drill the tunnel in the first bone by advancing the instrument distally through the first bone while rotating the shaft;
subsequently, when the cutting tip is within the articular joint space, pivoting the cutting tip from the straight position, where the cutting tip is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shaft, to the pivoted position, where the cutting tip is not aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shaft; and
pulling the retrograde cutting instrument proximally while rotating the shaft so that the cutting tip, in the pivoted position, forms the bone socket in the first bone in a retrograde manner from the articular joint space towards an outer surface of the first bone, and the formed bone socket faces the articular joint space.