Tool driver

Claim 2

A patella cutter comprising a shaft with an axis of rotation having a tool end and a collet end, a boss secured to said tool end, said boss having a debris cavity extending axially therein, a cutting lid with cutting edges and debris passages, said cutting lid being detachably secured to said boss to close said debris cavity, whereby said shaft and said cutting lid can be rotatably driven as a unit and bone debris removed from the patella can be retained in said debris cavity.

Claim 3

The tool of claim 1 wherein said cutting edges are substantially parallel to said top of said cutting lid and are disposed to cut upon rotation of said shaft.

Claim 4

The tool of claim 1 wherein said cutting edges are spirally arranged.

Claim 5

The tool of claim 1 wherein said cutting edges upon rotation of said cutting lid about said axis each sweep an area overlapped by other of said cutting edges a total of about one and one-half times.

Claim 6

The tool of claim 1 wherein said cutting lid is disk shaped.

Claim 7

The tool of claim 1 wherein said cutting lid disposable.

Claim 8

The tool of claim 1 wherein said cutters extend from said top of said cutting lid angular to said axis a height of about 0.03 inches, said cutting edges being parallel to said cutting lid having length of about 0.25 inches whereby said tool resists blunting and cuttings can be collected in said bore.

Claim 9

The tool of claim 1 wherein said cutting edges are radial of said lid.

Claim 10

The tool of claim 1 wherein said cutting edges are on radii about 45° apart.

Claim 11

A patella cutter comprising a shaft having an axis of rotation and a tool end and a collet end, a boss on said tool end, a thumb trigger, said thumb trigger being slidable on said shaft between an extended position and a retracted position, a cutting lid with cutting edges and debris passages, a debris cavity extending axially into said boss, said shaft and said boss and said debris cavity being adjusted to be rotatably driven as a unit from said collet end, said cutting lid being detachably secured to said boss, a pair of oppositely disposed pins extending from said thumb trigger axially of said boss, said pins having upwardly extending throats secured to their ends, said throats having enlarged distal ends secured thereto, said boss having a pair of pin bores, said pins being in said pin bores, said enlarged distal ends and said pins and said pin bores having about equal radii, said throats having a smaller radius, said pin ends being flush with said debris cavity top and said throat and said enlarged distal ends upwardly extending from said top when said boss is in said extended position.

Claim 12

A patella cutter comprising a shaft having an axis of rotation and a tool end and a collet end, a boss on said tool end, a thumb trigger, said thumb trigger being slidable on said shaft between an extended position and a retracted position, a cutting lid with cutting edges and debris passages, a debris cavity extending axially into said boss, said shaft and said boss and said debris cavity being adjusted to be rotatably driven as a unit from said collet end, said cutting lid being detachably secured to said boss, a pair of oppositely disposed pins extending from said thumb trigger axially of said boss, said pins having upwardly extending throats secured to their ends, said throats having enlarged distal ends secured thereto, said boss having a pair of pin bores, said pins being in said pin bores, said enlarged distal ends and said pins and said pin bores having about equal radii, said throats having a smaller radius, said pin ends being flush with said debris cavity top and said throat and said enlarged distal ends upwardly extending from said top when said boss is in said extended position.

Claim 13

The patella cutter of claim 10 wherein a coil spring is circumferentially positioned about said shaft between said boss and thumb trigger, said coil spring biasing said thumb trigger into its retracted position.

Claim 14

The patella cutter of claim 10 wherein said cutting lid has a plurality of cutters with cutting edges extending therefrom, a pair of first bores extending through said cutting lid, pins being in said bores, said cutting edges being staggered to cover the entire area of said cutting lid, said cutting lid having debris passages therein whereby said cutting lid may be retained on said boss and securely fastened to said shaft and the debris collected in said debris cavity.

Claim 15

The patella cutter of claim 10 wherein said cutting lid has a top, said top having a pair of oppositely disposed first bores extending therethrough, said first bores having smaller portions extending therefrom, said smaller portions being larger than said throats and smaller than said enlarged distal ends, said smaller portions being deformed, whereby said smaller portions are congruous with the circular shape of said top and said cutting lid.

Claim 16

The patella cutter of claim 13 Wherein said pair of first bores have enlarged ends around their perimeter, said enlarged ends extending into said top a depth equal to the height of said enlarged distal ends, whereby said distal ends are flush with said top of said cutting lid when said boss is in said locking position.

Claim 17

The tool of claim 14 whereing said lock comprises said pins having enlarged distal ends and throat, said bores having an enlarged portion and a smaller portion, said enlarged portions being larger than said distal ends, said smaller portion being larger than said throat and smaller than said distal ends, whereby said distal ends may be passed through said enlarged portion and said lid rotated with respect to said boss positioning said throat in said smaller portions.

Claim 18

The tool of claim 10 wherein said cutting edges are substantially parallel to said top of said cutting lid and are disposed to cut upon rotation of said shaft.

Claim 19

The tool of claim 10 wherein said cutting edges are spirally arranged.

Claim 20

The tool of claim 10 wherein said cutting edges upon rotation of said cutting lid about said axis each sweep an area overlapped by other of said cutting edges a total of about one and one-half times.

Claim 21

The tool of claim 10 wherein said cutting lid is disk shaped.

Claim 22

The tool of claim 10 wherein said cutting lid is disposable.

Claim 23

The tool of claim 10 wherein said cutters extend from said top of said cutting lid angular to said axis a height of about 0.03 inches, said cutting edges being parallel to said cutting lid having length of about 0.25 inches whereby said tool resists blunting and cuttings can be collected in said bore.