Cutting Apparatus for Bioprocessing Bone

Abstract

A bone cutting assembly includes a manually actuated upper cutting element that carries a plurality of cutting blades configured to cut through frozen bone segments. A lower cutting element supports a bone segment to be cut and can include cutting blades aligned with the cutting blades of the upper cutting assembly. A pivoting linkage or a rack and pinion arrangement can be provided between the upper cutting element and a manually operated handle to provide sufficient mechanical advantage or leverage to allow an operator to manually cut through the bone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bone cutting apparatus comprising:
 a lower cutting element configured to support a bone segment to be cut;   an upper cutting element including a plurality of upper cutting blades facing said lower cutting element;   a frame supporting said upper cutting element above said lower cutting element for movement toward and away from said lower cutting element;   a manually operable handle; and   a force transmission mechanism connecting said handle to said upper cutting element to move said upper cutting element toward said lower cutting element with sufficient force to cut through the bone segment supported on said lower cutting element.   
     
     
         2 . The bone cutting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said lower cutting element includes a plurality of lower cutting blades facing said upper cutting element and corresponding to said plurality of upper cutting blades. 
     
     
         3 . The bone cutting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of upper cutting blades are arranged in a radial pattern. 
     
     
         4 . The bone cutting apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of upper cutting blades are separated from each other by a uniform angle in said radial pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The bone cutting apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of upper cutting blades includes four cutting blades separated by 90 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The bone cutting apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of upper cutting blades includes six cutting blades separated by 60 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The bone cutting apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of upper cutting blades includes eight cutting blades separated by 45 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The bone cutting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of upper cutting blades define a cutting edge configured to cut through the bone segment, the cutting edge of at least a number of said plurality of upper cutting blades being perpendicular to the direction of movement of said upper cutting element. 
     
     
         9 . The bone cutting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of upper cutting blades define a cutting edge configured to cut through the bone segment, the cutting edge of at least a number of said plurality of upper cutting blades being at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the direction of movement of said upper cutting element 
     
     
         10 . The bone cutting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said lower cutting element includes a plurality of slots corresponding to said plurality of upper cutting blades, each of said slots configured to receive a portion of a corresponding one of said upper cutting blades when said upper cutting element is moved toward said lower cutting element. 
     
     
         11 . The bone cutting apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a shroud configured to encircle the upper cutting element and the bone segment to be cut when the upper cutting element is moved toward the lower cutting element. 
     
     
         12 . The bone cutting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
       said frame includes;
 a base supporting said lower cutting element; 
 a plurality of vertical columns supported on said base; 
 a top plate supported at the top of said plurality of columns; and 
 an intermediate plate supported by said plurality of columns between said base and said top plate; and 
 
       said force transmission mechanism includes:
 a plate connected to the manually operated handle, the plate pivotably mounted at one end of said plate to said top plate to pivot downward toward said lower cutting element; 
 a linkage pivotably mounted at one end of the linkage to an end of said plate opposite said one end; and 
 a shaft pivotably connected at an upper end thereof to an end of said linkage opposite said one end, and connected at a lower end thereof to said upper cutting element, said shaft slidably supported between said upper end and said lower end by said intermediate plate. 
 
     
     
         13 . The bone cutting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
       said frame includes;
 a base plate supporting said lower cutting element; 
 a vertical post supported at a lower end of the post on said base plate; 
 a mounting element supported at an upper end of said vertical post; and 
 
       said force transmission includes;
 a gear rack slidably supported by said mounting element for vertical movement toward and away from said lower cutting element, said gear rack carrying said upper cutting element; 
 a pinion gear rotatably supported within said mounting element in meshed engagement with said gear rack; and 
 pinion shaft carrying said pinion gear and connected to said manually operable handle, said handle configured to rotate said pinion shaft with said pinion gear on downward movement of said handle, whereby rotation of said pinion gear drives said gear rack and said upper cutting element downward. 
 
     
     
         14 . The bone cutting apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said upper cutting element includes:
 an upper mounting plate connected to said pinion shaft;   an upper cutter base removably mountable to said upper mounting plate facing said lower cutting element; and   a number of cutting blades carried by said upper cutter base facing said lower cutting element.   
     
     
         15 . The bone cutting apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said frame includes at least two guide posts and said upper mounting plate is slidably guided by said at least two guide posts for vertical movement toward and away from said lower cutting element. 
     
     
         16 . The bone cutting apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said number of cutting blades includes replaceable cutting blades that are removably mounted to said upper cutter base. 
     
     
         17 . The bone cutting apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said replaceable cutting blades and said upper cutter base include a T-slot and mating rib. 
     
     
         18 . The bone cutting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said lower cutting element includes a lower base defining a collection cavity and a cutting tray above said collection cavity configured to support the bone segment, said cutting tray configured for bone fragments to pass into said collection cavity. 
     
     
         19 . The bone cutting apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a collection container removably disposed within said collection cavity beneath said cutting tray.