18562 results about "Drill bit" patented technology

Apparatus and a method of inserting spinal implants is disclosed in which an intervertebral space is first distracted, a hollow sleeve having teeth at one end is then driven into the vertebrae adjacent that disc space. A drill is then passed through the hollow sleeve removing disc and bone in preparation for receiving the spinal implant which is then inserted through the sleeve. Apparatus and a method of inserting spinal implants is disclosed in which an intervertebral space is first distracted to restore the normal angular relationship of the vertebrae adjacent to that disc space. An extended outer sleeve having extended portions capable of maintaining the vertebrae distracted in their normal angular relationship is then driven into the vertebrae adjacent that disc space. A drill is then passed through the hollow sleeve removing disc and bone in preparation for receiving the spinal implant which is then inserted through the sleeve.

An air powered wrench device with a pivotable head and associated method of using. The device comprises a handle pivotally attached to an arm. The handle comprises a housing, an air intake nozzle, an air driven motor, a drive shaft, a ball bearing collar, a universal joint, an on/off button, a trigger switch, a directional throw switch, a lock pin, a spring, and a pivot post. The arm is pivotally attached to the handle via the pivot post. The arm includes: an outer casing, an extension rod, a ball bearing sleeve, a first pawl gear, a second pawl gear, and a bit connector. The method of using the device comprises the steps of adjoining, affixing, aligning, allowing, enshrouding, getting, moving, obtaining, putting, rotating, shifting, squeezing, and tightening.

An actively controlled rotary steerable drilling system for directional drilling of wells having a tool collar rotated by a drill string during well drilling. A bit shaft has an upper portion within the tool collar and a lower end extending from the collar and supporting a drill bit. The bit shaft is omni-directionally pivotally supported intermediate its upper and lower ends by a universal joint within the collar and is rotatably driven by the collar. To achieve controlled steering of the rotating drill bit, orientation of the bit shaft relative to the tool collar is sensed and the bit shaft is maintained geostationary and selectively axially inclined relative to the tool collar during drill string rotation by rotating it about the universal joint by an offsetting mandrel that is rotated counter to collar rotation and at the same frequency of rotation. An electric motor provides rotation to the offsetting mandrel with respect to the tool collar and is servo-controlled by signal input from position sensing elements such as magnetometers, gyroscopic sensors, and accelerometers which provide real time position signals to the motor control. In addition, when necessary, a brake is used to maintain the offsetting mandrel and the bit shaft axis geostationary. Alternatively, a turbine is connected to the offsetting mandrel to provide rotation to the offsetting mandrel with respect to the tool collar and a brake is used to servo-control the turbine by signal input from position sensors.

A rotatable surgical instrument having a protective hood with articulating bendable distal end is provided to improve and enable various orthopedic surgical procedures such as arthroscopy. The protective hood surrounds the surgical tool bit exposing only a portion of the tool bit for removing bone or soft tissue material and protects the nerve from the surgical tool bit. The protective hood can be controllably rotated from the instrument's hand piece to control the orientation of the attack angle of the surgical tool bit. Additionally, the bending of the distal end of the instrument can be controlled from the hand piece.

A method and apparatus for fixation and correction of spondylolisthesis anteriorly includes a disk cage which is inserted into the space between adjacent vertebrae, a drill guide for guiding and aligning a drill bit to angle an opening anteriorly between adjacent vertebrae, a distractor for temporarily aligning the vertebrae to position a disk cage and an elongated hollow screw positioned in said drilled opening through one vertebra, said disk cage and into said adjacent vertebra.

The present invention provides a new family of ultrasonically powered medical devices and systems for powering such devices. Disclosed are methods for improving the overall power transfer efficiency of devices according to the present invention, as well as a wide variety of medical uses for such devices and systems. Devices of the present invention comprise a transducer that, during operation, converts electrical energy into high frequency, low amplitude mechanical vibrations that are transmitted to a driven-member, such as a wheel, that produces macroscopic rotary or linear output mechanical motions. Such motions may be further converted and modified by mechanical means to produce desirable output force and speed characteristics that are transmitted to at least one end-effector that performs useful mechanical work on soft tissue, bone, teeth and the like. Power systems of the present invention comprise one or more such handheld devices electrically connected to a power generator. Examples of powered medical tools enabled by the present invention include, but are not limited to, linear or circular staplers or cutters, biopsy instruments, suturing instruments, medical and dental drills, tissue compactors, tissue and bone debriders, clip appliers, grippers, extractors, and various types of orthopedic instruments. Devices of the present invention may be partly or wholly reusable, partly or wholly disposable, and may operate in forward or reverse directions, as well as combinations of the foregoing. The devices and systems of the present invention provide a safe, effective, and economically viable alternative source for mechanical energy, which is superior to AC or DC (battery) powered motors, compressed air or compressed gas, and hand powered systems.

In one embodiment, a method for drilling a wellbore includes an act of drilling the wellbore by injecting drilling fluid through a tubular string disposed in the wellbore, the tubular string comprising a drill bit disposed on a bottom thereof. The drilling fluid exits the drill bit and carries cuttings from the drill bit. The drilling fluid and cuttings (returns) flow to a surface of the wellbore via an annulus defined by an outer surface of the tubular string and an inner surface of the wellbore. The method further includes an act performed while drilling the wellbore of measuring a first annulus pressure (FAP) using a pressure sensor attached to a casing string hung from a wellhead of the wellbore. The method further includes an act performed while drilling the wellbore of controlling a second annulus pressure (SAP) exerted on a formation exposed to the annulus.

A system comprised of custom radiographically designed tibial and talar cutting guides, a tibial reaming guide and bit, and instrumentalities for use in total ankle replacement surgery and a computer-based system and method for making the custom radiographically designed tibial and talar cutting guides.

An apparatus for use in positioning an anchor includes a tubular outer member and an inner or pusher member. During use of the apparatus, a slot facilitates visualization of the position of the anchor relative to body tissue. An anchor retainer may be provided at one end of the tubular outer member to grip the anchor and hold the anchor in place during assembly. The anchor retainer also holds the anchor during movement of the apparatus from an assembly location to an operating room or other location where the apparatus is to be used. Indicia may be provided on the inner member to indicate the position of the anchor relative to body tissue. The tubular outer member may be utilized to guide a drill during formation of an opening in body tissue and may be subsequently utilized to guide movement of an anchor into the opening in the body tissue.

A drill for driving a drill bit into a solid object such as bone. The drill includes a rotor with a bore that transmits rotational movement to the drill bit. The drill bit extends through the rotor bore. A probe extends forward from the drill to measure bore depth. The probe is moveably mounted to the drill so as to extend into the rotor bore. As the drill and drill bit advance forward the probe remains static. As a result of the advancement of the drill the rotor extends over the proximal end of the probe.

A tool set for preparing a joint, inserting an implant or removing an implant from a joint in an open or less invasive procedure generally comprises a set of nested tools, pin guides, jigs, and/or immobilization elements. The nested tool set comprises at least one pin and at least one cannulated tool. In some embodiments, the cannula can comprise tangs that project from the distal end of the cannula. The tangs can be offset such that drilling would remove different amounts of bone relative to drilling through a centered drill guide. The cannulated tool kit generally can comprise at least one tool guide/cannula, drill bits/reamer, syringe, and/or inserter. With the pin positioned into the joint, at least one cannula is positioned over and around the pin. The channel of the cannula guides the other tools into the joint. A plurality of cannulae in a nested arrangement can be used to afford selectively sized channels for tools and/or implants based on selected cannulae configuration. Jigs can be used to facilitate the procedure. Multiple implants can be placed to immobilize the joint.

An acetabular instrument alignment guide for aligning at least one orthopaedic instrument relative to an acetabulum in a pelvis. The acetabular instrument alignment guide includes an interchangeable head configured for positioning within the acetabulum where the interchangeable head has a primary axis. A drill guide is releasably connected to the interchangeable head. The drill guide includes a drill bore offset from the primary axis, and the drill bore is configured for aligning a drill relative to the pelvis. The acetabular instrument alignment guide further includes at least one reference pin and an instrument guide connected to the at least one reference pin, the instrument guide being both rotatable and translatable relative to the at least one reference pin. The reference pin is configured for placement in at least one hole in the pelvis produced by the drill.

A system for performing a less invasive surgical procedure and, in particular, devices and methods for spinal fixation. The system comprises dilation tool(s), at least one working/insertion cannula, a plurality of screws, at least one fixation rod for connecting the screws, and a rod inserter. The dilation tool(s) may be used to dilate an incision made in a patient to form an opening. Thereafter, a drill may be used to form holes in the vertebrae. An insertion cannula may be attached to a screw and inserted into the opening. The screws may be polyaxial screws and may be inserted into the vertebrae using a screwdriver. An operator may then move the insertion cannula to manipulate a head portions of the screws such that the head portions may be aligned to receive a fixation rod. A rod inserter may be used to insert a fixation rod into the head portions. After the fixation rod is in place, it may be locked to the screws, thereby fixing the system in place on the spine.

A round-shank bit for a coal cutting machine or the like, having a bit head and a bit shank, wherein the bit head has a bit tip, maintained by a base element in a receptacle of the bit head. Starting at the base element, the bit tip tapers in a direction toward the free end of the bit tip, wherein the base element forms a maximum diameter of the bit tip, and wherein the bit tip has recesses on its outer contour. In order to assure good rotational behavior over the entire length of the operating time, the base element has the recesses on an outer circumference forming the maximum diameter.

A method for simulating the drilling performance of a roller cone bit drilling an earth formation may be used to generate a visual representation of drilling, to design roller cone drill bits, and to optimize the drilling performance of a roller cone bit. The method for generating a visual representation of a roller cone bit drilling earth formations includes selecting bit design parameters, selecting drilling parameters, and selecting an earth formation to be drilled. The method further includes calculating, from the bit design parameters, drilling parameters and earth formation, parameters of a crater formed when one of a plurality of cutting elements contacts the earth formation. The method further includes calculating a bottomhole geometry, wherein the crater is removed from a bottomhole surface. The method also includes incrementally rotating the bit and repeating the calculating of crater parameters and bottomhole geometry based on calculated roller cone rotation speed and geometrical location with respect to rotation of said roller cone drill bit about its axis. The method also includes converting the crater and bottomhole geometry parameters into a visual representation.

Formation engaging elements are moveably mounted onto a drill bit. Such elements may be used to protect other rigidly mounted formation engaging elements from impacts that occur during use of the drill bit, or they may be used to alter the aggressiveness of the drill bit when used in directional drilling operations.

A system and method that facilitates minimally invasive spine surgery. The system includes screw preparation instruments that include a targeted guide with a laser attached to a fluoroscope, at least one polyaxial screw and rod guidance instruments that selectively insert the at least one polyaxial screw within the spine. The screw preparation instruments include an awl, a hand-held drill or tap, a ball-tipped probe, a cannulated depth gauge ruler, and a hexagonal screwdriver. Each screw preparation instrument have respective handles marked with a targeting guide oriented along respective central axes of the instruments. The rod guidance instruments include a rod with a tapered tip, a T-handle rod holder, a T-handle alignment guide, an alignment marker sleeve, a flexible alignment marker with a polyaxial head, and a template rod.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for forming a bit body for an earth-boring bit. The bit body may comprise hard particles, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one carbide, nitride, boride, and oxide and solid solutions thereof, and a binder binding together the hard particles. The binder may comprise at least one metal selected from cobalt, nickel, and iron, and at least one melting point reducing constituent selected from a transition metal carbide in the range of 30 to 60 weight percent, boron up to 10 weight percent, silicon up to 20 weight percent, chromium up to 20 weight percent, and manganese up to 25 weight percent, wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the binder. In addition, the hard particles may comprise at least one of (i) cast carbide (WC+W2C) particles, (ii) transition metal carbide particles selected from the carbides of titanium, chromium, vanadium, zirconium, hafnium, tantalum, molybdenum, niobium, and tungsten, and (iii) sintered cemented carbide particles.

A bi-center drill bit includes pilot and reaming blades affixed to a body at azimuthally spaced locations. The blades have PDC cutters attached at selected positions. In one aspect, the pilot blades form a section having length along the bit axis less than about 80 percent of a diameter of the section. In another aspect, selected pilot blades and corresponding reaming blades are formed into single spiral structures. In another aspect, shapes and positions of the blades and inserts are selected so that lateral forces exerted by the reaming and the pilot sections are balanced as a single structure. Lateral forces are preferably balanced to within 10 percent of the total axial force on the bit. In another aspect, the center of mass of the bit is located less than about 2.5 percent of the diameter of the bit from the axis of rotation. In another aspect, jets are disposed in the reaming section oriented so that their axes are within about 30 degrees of normal to the axis of the bit. In another aspect, the reaming blades are shaped to conform to the radially least extensive, from the longitudinal axis, of a pass-through circle or a drill circle, so the cutters on the reaming blades drill at the drill diameter, without contact to the cutters on the reaming blades when the bit passes through an opening having about the pass-through diameter.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for setting concentric casing strings within a wellbore in one run-in of a casing working string. In one aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises a drilling system comprising concentric casing strings, with each casing string having a drill bit piece disposed at the lower end thereof. The drill bit pieces of adjacent casing strings are releasably connected to one another. In another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for setting concentric casing strings within a wellbore with the drilling system. In another aspect of the invention, the releasably connected drill bit pieces comprise a drill bit assembly.

Methods and systems are described for improved drilling operations through the use of real-time drilling data to predict bit wear, lithology, pore pressure, a rotating friction coefficient, permeability, and cost in real-time and to adjust drilling parameters in real-time based on the predictions. The real-time lithology prediction is made by processing the real-time drilling data through a multilayer neural network. The real-time bit wear prediction is made by using the real-time drilling data to predict a bit efficiency factor and to detect changes in the bit efficiency factor over time. These predictions may be used to adjust drilling parameters in the drilling operation in real-time, subject to override by the operator. The methods and systems may also include determining various downhole hydraulics parameters and a rotary friction factor. Historical data may be used in combination with real-time data to provide expert system assistance and to identify safety concerns.

With audio data reduction on the basis of ISO/IEC standard 11172-3, a frame length varying by 8 bits is used at a sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz in order to arrive, on average, at a particular fixed data rate. The lengthening of a data frame is signalled by a padding bit in the header of the frames. The invention dispenses with evaluation of the padding bit. Instead, the mean frame length L is calculated, L is rounded down to the next integer, for the subsequent frame it is first established whether the expected sync word for this frame appears, and, if this is so, this frame is decoded without taking into account the padding bit, but if the expected sync word for this frame does not appear, the decoding of the frame is started one 8-bit later without taking into account the padding bit.

A sternum closure device for securing parts of severed sternum, such as a human sternum following surgery. The device includes an anvil, capable of forming staples, a bracket positioned, opposite the anvil, an instrument for creating openings in the sternum a clamping mechanism and a mechanism for feeding, mounting and applying the staples. The bracket is joined with the anvil through a displacement mechanism. The instrument for forming opening is designed as a bit brace having a reducing gear and two chucks, to enable concurrent drilling of openings in both severed parts of the severed sternum. The mechanism for feeding and mounting the staples comprises a ribbed bed, a cartridge containing staples and an instrument for mounting the staples. The clamping means enables drilling of openings in both severed parts of sternum, and feeding and mount the stables. Specially designed pincers are also provided for mounting the staples and other special staples.

Ankle prosthesis apparatuses, systems and methods are provided as disclosed herein. Additionally, systems and methods for bone resection and implantation of prosthetics are provided, including surgical techniques and related instrumentation. An ankle prosthesis apparatus can include a talar component having a lower surface with a bone fixation portion for fixation to a talus bone and an upper surface designed for articulation with a bearing component. The bearing component can have a lower surface for articulation with the talar component and an upper surface for articulation with a tibial component. The tibial component can have a lower surface for articulation with the bearing component and an upper surface with a bone fixation portion for fixation to a tibia bone and/or a fibula bone. The bearing component can have a protrusion on its upper surface adapted for engagement with a recess on the tibial component to allow desired rotational and translational movement. Methods and systems can be used to prepare a bone surface for implantation of a prosthesis including determining a location for a curved cut line on the bone surface and drilling a series of holes tangent to the curved cut line to create a curved bone resection surface. Methods and systems can be used for the implantation of an ankle joint prosthesis including the use of an alignment guide, tibia and talus drill guides, tibia and talus saw guides, and tibia and talus broach guides, all components of which can be placed on and removed from a plurality of alignment anchor pins throughout the implantation procedure. A method for medially to laterally implanting an ankle joint prosthesis can include exposing tibia and talus bones from the medial side, resection of the tibia and talus bones, broaching the tibia and talus bones, and positioning and affixing the ankle joint prosthesis components.

A cannulated offset drill guide and surgical methods for repairing Bankart lesions. The cannulated offset drill guide comprising a shaft which is offset from the guide center line by about 1 to 3 mm, more preferably of about 1.5 mm. The cannulated offset drill guide is provided at its proximal end with a concave clear tip which allows a surgeon to visualize the drill and the insertion of an anchoring device, for example a suture anchor. The concave clear tip has beveled, smooth edges to prevent damage to adjacent bone and tissue, and to avoid damage to the rubber dam of the cannula through which the offset drill guide is inserted. The configuration of the concave clear tip is designed to engage and match the generally convex-curve articulating face of the glenoid, and to precisely aligning the offset drill guide with the glenoid face. The clear tip may also be employed in a standard drill guide having a shaft which is not offset from the center line of the guide.

The present invention is a bi-center drill bit designed to drill out the cement and other material in the casing and then proceed to drill out the full gauge drilling diameter borehole with a diameter greater than the inside of the casing. The bi-center drill bit is configured with non-drilling bearing elements that contact with the casing when the bit is drilling the cement without allowing the gauge cutting elements of the bi-center drill bit to contact the casing. The bi-center drill bit also has a cutting element configuration which prevents reverse scraping of the cutting elements when drilling both the cement and the formation.

The disclosure has application for use in conjunction with an operation of drilling an earth borehole using: a drilling rig, a drill string having its generally upper end mechanically coupleable with and suspendable from the drilling rig, and a bottom hole assembly adjacent the lower end the drill string, the bottom hole assembly including a drill bit at its lower end. A method is set forth for obtaining information about at least one parameter sensed at the bottom hole assembly, including the following steps: providing at least one measuring device in the bottom hole assembly, the at least one measuring device producing measurement data representative of a measured condition at the bottom hole assembly; providing an uphole processor system at the earth's surface; providing a drill string telemetry system coupled with the at least one measuring device and coupled with the uphole processor system; and transmitting the data from the measuring device to the uphole processor system via the drill string telemetry system.

A drilling system includes a steerable bottomhole assembly (BHA) having a steering unit and a control unit that provide dynamic control of drill bit orientation or tilt. Exemplary steering units can adjust bit orientation at a rate that approaches or exceeds the rotational speed of the drill string or drill bit, can include a dynamically adjustable articulated joint having a plurality of elements that deform in response to an excitation signal, can include adjustable independently rotatable rings for selectively tilting the bit, and/or can include a plurality of selectively extensible force pads. The force pads are actuated by a shape change material that deforms in response to an excitation signal. A method of directional drilling includes continuously cycling the position of the steering unit based upon the rotational speed of the drill string and/or drill bit and with reference to an external reference point.

The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and method of forming a wellbore. In one aspect, an expandable bit for use in a wellbore is provided. The expandable bit includes a body and a blade assembly disposed on the body. The blade assembly is movable between a closed position whereby the expandable bit has a smaller outer diameter and an open position whereby the expandable bit has a larger outer diameter. The expandable bit further includes a release assembly for providing a secondary means to move the blade assembly from the open position to the closed position. In another aspect, a method of forming a wellbore is provided. In yet another aspect, an expandable apparatus for use in forming a wellbore is provided.

A cutting element is provided including a substrate and a TSP material layer over the substrate. The TSP material layer includes at least a property having a value that varies through the layer.