Tapping devices, systems and methods for use in bone tissue

Abstract

A soft tapping device for preparing a bone hole that includes a substantially cylindrical insert that is sized to enter into a compressed woven retention device. The substantially cylindrical insert has protrusions that are adaptable to expand portions of a compressed woven retention device inside the bone hole. The substantially cylindrical insert is also configured to exit from the compressed woven retention device without changing the expanded portions of the compressed woven retention device.

1 . A soft tapping device, comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical insert sized to enter into a compressed woven retention device, the substantially cylindrical insert having protrusions that are adaptable to expand portions of a compressed woven retention device inside a pilot hole, the substantially cylindrical insert being configured to exit from the compressed woven retention device without changing the expanded portions of the compressed woven retention device.   
     
     
         2 . The soft tapping device of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are a non-cutting thread having a gradually increasing pitch in a proximal direction along the substantially cylindrical insert. 
     
     
         3 . The soft tapping device of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are expanding balloon members that expand in an outward direction when the substantially cylindrical insert is compressed in a longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         4 . The soft tapping device of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially cylindrical insert includes slots which form tensioned protrusion slats, wherein the protrusions are the tensioned protrusion slats; and the protrusions expand in an outward direction when the substantially cylindrical insert is compressed in a longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         5 . The soft tapping device of  claim 1 , wherein the expanded portions of the compressed portions of the compressed woven retention device allow for a self-tapping screw to insert into the woven retention device without damaging the woven retention device. 
     
     
         6 . The soft tapping device of  claim 1  further comprising a shaft with a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the distal portion is configured with a non-cutting thread and a rounded end. 
     
     
         7 . The soft tapping device of  claim 1  further comprising a shaft with a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein distal portion is configured with a first thread portion and the proximal portion is configured with a second thread portion with a coarser pitch than first thread portion of the distal portion, and wherein the second thread portion is rounder than the first thread portion. 
     
     
         8 . A soft tapping device, comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical insert configured and sized to expand portions of a substantially cylindrical hole, the substantially cylindrical insert being configured to exit from the hole without changing the expanded portions of the hole.   
     
     
         9 . The soft tapping device of  claim 8  further comprising a shaft with a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the distal portion is configured with a non-cutting thread. 
     
     
         10 . The soft tapping device of  claim 8 , wherein the non-cutting thread has a radially spiral configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The soft tapping device of  claim 8 , wherein the non-cutting thread has a base and a radially outward-most peak in between the proximal portion and a distal end of the distal portion. 
     
     
         12 . The soft tapping device of  claim 8 , wherein the hole is a bone hole. 
     
     
         13 . The soft tapping device of  claim 8 , wherein the hole is a woven retention device configured to be disposed in a bone hole. 
     
     
         14 . The soft tapping device of  claim 8 , wherein the hole is a combination of a bone hole and a woven retention device in the bone hole. 
     
     
         15 . The soft tapping device of  claim 8 , further comprising a spring-loaded deburring tool on the shaft. 
     
     
         16 . A method of creating a mantle in a bone, comprising:
 inserting a compressed woven retention device into a pilot hole of a bone;   inserting a soft tapping device into the compressed woven retention device, wherein the soft tapping device has ridges that, when inserted into the compressed woven retention device, expand the woven retention device with lead in edges; and   inserting a self-tapping screw into the expanded woven retention device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of: expanding the inserted woven retention device with a leading edge of a ridge on the soft tapping device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of: removing the soft tapping device without cutting the expanded woven retention device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of: inserting one of a screw and a self-tapping screw into the pilot hole after the soft tapping device is removed. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of: inputting a slurry into the pilot hole before inserting the screw. 
     
     
         21 - 28 . (canceled)