Introduction:
Angled Craniotomy Drill
Introduction & Summary
Instruments designed to perform the craniotomy are called craniotomes. Craniotomes typically include a cutting bit with a footplate disposed axially perpendicular to the cutting bit. The footplate protects the underlying tissue from contacting the cutting bit when a cut is made perpendicular to the surface of the skull. However, a problem arises when a cut is made at an angle relative to the surface of the skull because the underlying tissue can contact the cutting bit, causing damage to the tissue. Additionally, a perpendicular cut also risks damage to the underlying tissue because the bone flap can become recessed and contact the underlying tissue. Reattachment of the bone flap is typically accomplished using titanium plates that are placed on the surface of the skull and the surface of the bone flap, spanning the distance there between. These plates are affixed to the bone using screws that extend perpendicular to the surface of the skull. These plating systems require a large number of components to be combined to reattach the bone flap. Additionally, current plating systems cause cosmetic defects in the skin overlying the plate because the skin is visibly raised. Further, the plating systems can increase the amount of pain and trauma experienced by the patient, prolong the duration of the surgical procedure, lead to unnecessary and avoidable scarring, erode the overlying skin, increase the risk of infection, and inconvenience the patient with time-consuming return visits to the surgeon to have the fixation means removed. Thus, it would be desirable to develop a system that overcomes the problems and limitations associated with procedures and devices used in traditional craniotomies.
Application and Advantages
• Decreased risk of infection.
• Decreased amount of pain and trauma patients endure during a traditional craniotomy.
• Protects underlying tissue from contacting the cutting bit.
Detailed Description
This is a device used for performing craniotomies in which within a single embodiment includes an elongate handle, a footplate, a stem, and an elongate cutting bit. The elongate handle extends in a vertical direction. The footplate is spaced apart from the elongate handle and defines a plane generally perpendicular to the vertical direction. The footplate is offset from the handle in a horizontal direction where the horizontal direction is perpendicular to the vertical direction. The stem has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is coupled to the handle and the distal end is coupled to the footplate. The stem extends from the handle at an oblique angle in the horizontal direction relative to the handle. The elongate cutting bit is coupled to the handle and extends from the handle toward the footplate at the oblique angle in the horizontal direction relative to the handle.
In accordance with another embodiment, a method for performing an angled craniotome includes forming a burr hole through a cranium of a patient, placing the craniotome in the burr hole, engaging an inside of the cranium with a guide surface of the craniotome and cutting an angled channel through the cranium. The craniotome includes an elongate cutting bit defining a first axis, a stem coupled to the cutting bit, and a footplate coupled to the stem. The stem extends generally parallel to the first axis. The footplate includes the guide surface. The engagement of the cranium with the guide surface causes the cutting bit to be disposed at an angle relative to the inside of the cranium.
In accordance with yet another embodiment, a head for being coupled to a handle to perform an angled craniotome includes an elongate cutting bit, a stem coupled to the cutting bit, and a footplate coupled to the stem. The elongate cutting bit defines a first axis. The stem extends generally parallel to the first axis. The footplate extends from the stem in a forward direction at a generally perpendicular angle. The footplate includes a guide surface disposed at an oblique angle relative to the first axis in a horizontal direction. The guide surface is configured to engage an inner surface of a cranium and dispose the cutting bit at the oblique angle relative to the inner surface. The forward direction extends generally from the stem toward the cutting bit and the horizontal direction is perpendicular to the forward direction.