Drill guide assembly

Abstract

To provide a drill guide for controlling a first metacarpal while maintaining an appropriate trajectory of a drill.SOLUTION: A drill guide 10 includes a guide rail 18 including an elongated shaft and a guide body 16 including an opening for penetrating the elongated shaft. The opening is configured to receive the elongated shaft of the guide rail. The drill guide further includes a distal ring connected to the elongated shaft. Both a spike and a hook are attached to the distal ring and extend from the distal ring. The hook and the spike extend from opposite positions along the distal ring. A trigger end part 34 of the guide body includes a trigger 58 that enables, at the time of being actuated, the guide body to slide in a proximal direction along the guide rail. A drill end part of the guide body includes a rotatable drill bullet extending at a distal portion from the drill end part. The drill bullet includes a pair of arms covered by teeth for engaging with a first metacarpal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 744,686, entitled "CMC Drill Guide," filed October 12, 2018.

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed generally to surgical systems and, more particularly, to a drill guide that maintains a specific positioning of the thumb bone while maintaining proper trajectory of the drill / drill bit. [Background technology]

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art The carpometacarpal (CMC) joint is located at the base of the thumb and is responsible for providing the thumb with a wide range of motion. CMC suspension is a procedure to repair damage to the CMC joint. During a CMC suspension procedure, the surgeon drills the base of the first metacarpal bone and the proximal end of the second metacarpal bone. By using a drill guide, the surgeon can drill both the first and second metacarpal bones in one step. However, the first metacarpal bone is loose due to the removal of the trapezoid before drilling, making the drilling process difficult at the desired location. Furthermore, accuracy is important when drilling smaller bones such as the first metacarpal bone.

[0004] Therefore, a need exists for a device configured to control the first metacarpal bone while maintaining proper trajectory of the drill / drill bit.

[0005] Description of Related Art Section Disclaimer: To the extent that specific patents / publications / products are discussed in this Description of Related Art section or elsewhere in this disclosure, these discussions should not be construed as an admission that the discussed patents / publications / products are prior art for purposes of patent law. For example, some or all of the discussed patents / publications / products may not be sufficiently early, may not reflect subject matter developed early enough, and / or may not be sufficiently authoritative to amount to prior art for purposes of patent law. To the extent that specific patents / publications / products are discussed above in this Description of Related Art section and / or throughout the application, the descriptions / disclosures thereof are incorporated herein by reference in their respective entireties. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a drill guide for controlling a first metacarpal bone while maintaining proper trajectory of a drill / drill bit. According to one aspect, the present invention is a drill guide. The drill guide includes a guide rail having an elongated shaft and a guide body with an opening therethrough. The opening is configured to receive the elongated shaft of the guide rail. The guide body of the drill guide also includes a trigger end. The trigger end has a locking mechanism movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. In the unlocked position, the guide body is slidable proximally along the guide rail.

[0007] According to another embodiment, a drill guide includes a guide rail having an elongated shaft and a guide body having an opening therethrough. The opening is configured to receive the elongated shaft of the guide rail. The guide body also includes a drill end having an opening therethrough, creating an interior volume therethrough. The interior volume allows for insertion of a drill bit therein. The drill end of the guide body is configured to receive a drill burette (which may be configured to fit within the drill end of the guide body). The drill burette is rotatable within the internal volume of the drill end of the guide body.

[0008] According to a further embodiment, the drill guide includes a guide rail having an elongated shaft extending along a first central longitudinal axis and a guide body having an opening therethrough. The opening is configured to receive the elongated shaft of the guide rail. The drill guide also includes a distal ring connected to the elongated shaft. A spike is attached to and extends from the distal ring. A hook is also attached to the distal ring. The hook extends from the ring such that the hook and spike extend from opposing positions along the distal ring.

[0009] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] One or more aspects of the present invention are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed as examples at the end of this specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective schematic view of a drill guide, according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side schematic view of a drill guide in a locked position, according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged side schematic view of a trigger in a locked position, according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side schematic view of the proximal end of the drill guide in an unlocked position, according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective schematic view of a drill buret of a drill guide, according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of an enlarged side view of the drill end of the guide body, according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a side schematic view of a drill guide in a locked position, according to one embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side schematic view of a drill guide in an unlocked position, according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Aspects of the present invention and its specific features, advantages, and details are more fully described below with reference to non-limiting examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Descriptions of well-known structures are omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the details of the invention. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific non-limiting examples, while indicating aspects of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, and not by way of limitation. Various substitutions, modifications, additions, and / or arrangements within the spirit and / or scope of the underlying inventive concept will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

[0013] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective schematic view of a drill guide 10, according to one embodiment. Drill guide 10 includes a proximal end 12 and a distal end 14. At proximal end 12, drill guide 10 includes a guide body 16. Guide body 16 is configured to slide along a guide rail 18 that extends to distal end 14.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the guide rail 18 extends toward the proximal end 12 of the drill guide 10. The guide rail 18 has an elongated shaft 20 extending in a central longitudinal direction y. 1 -y 1 The guide rail 18 includes a plurality of ridges 22 extending along at least a portion of a surface 24 of the guide rail 18. The guide rail 18 may have a distal ring 26 connected to the elongate shaft 20. The distal ring 26 has hooks 28 extending therefrom. In the illustrated embodiment, the hooks 28 are curved distally (but may be curved proximally) and extend substantially along the lateral x-axis. In the illustrated embodiment, the ring 26 is substantially planar along the lateral x-axis.

[0015] 1, the guide rail 18 further includes spikes 30 extending from the ring 26. In the illustrated embodiment, the spikes 30 extend substantially along a transverse x-axis. As shown in FIG. 1, the spikes 30 extend from the ring 26 in the opposite direction from the hooks 28 (although they may extend in the same direction as the hooks 28). In the illustrated embodiment, the transverse x-axis is substantially aligned with the central longitudinal y-axis. 1 -y 1 1 also shows that spike 30 includes a sharp tip 32 extending proximally.

[0016] At the proximal end 12 of the drill guide 10, the guide body 16 includes a trigger end 34 and a drill end 36. The drill end 36 of the guide body 16 includes an opening 38 that defines an interior volume 40 that extends from a proximal surface 42 of the guide body 16 to a distal surface 44 of the guide body 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the interior volume 40 is oriented along a central longitudinal direction y 1 -y 1 a central longitudinal direction y extending substantially parallel to the axis 2 -y 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the sharpened tip 32 of the spike 30 also extends along a central longitudinal direction y such that the sharpened tip 32 is substantially aligned with the opening 38 and / or interior volume 40 of the drill end 36 of the guide body 16. 2 -y 2 It extends along the axis.

[0017] The interior volume 40 of the drill end 36 of the guide body 16 is configured to receive a drill bullet 46. The drill bullet 46 extends in a central longitudinal direction y 2 -y 2 The drill end 36 of the guide body 16 includes a shaft 48 extending proximally along an axis and a pair of arms 50 extending distally from the shaft 48. The drill end 36 of the guide body 16 may also include a locking mechanism 52 that maintains the drill bullet 46 in a desired position. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking mechanism 52 includes a slug 54 (e.g., a post) and a spring 56, as described in detail below.

[0018] 1 , the trigger end 34 of the guide body 16 includes a trigger 58 having an opening 60 therethrough configured to slidably receive the guide rail 18. The trigger 58 is connected to a locking mechanism 62 for locking the position of the guide body 16 along the guide rail 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking mechanism 62 includes a spring 65 that maintains pressure on the trigger 58 and a trigger pin 64 that allows the trigger 58 to toggle between an unlocked position and a locked position, as described in detail below. As shown, the locking mechanism 62 is maintained within the guide body 16 by a cover plate 66.

[0019] 2-4, various schematic views of the trigger end 34 of the guide body 16 (with the cover plate 66 removed) are shown, according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a side view of the drill guide 10 in a locked position. As described above, the trigger end 34 of the guide body 16 includes a trigger 58 having an opening 60 configured to receive the guide rail 18 therethrough. In the locked position, the locking mechanism 62 is biased such that the trigger 58 is spaced apart from (or at least not positively engaged with) the spring 65 of the locking mechanism 62.

[0020] In the locked position (FIGS. 2-3), the guide body 16 can slide distally along the guide rail 18. However, the guide body 16 cannot slide proximally. Thus, a plurality of ridges 22 extending along surface 24 of guide rail 18 prevent trigger 58 (and consequently guide body 16) from moving proximally when trigger 58 is in the locked position. As shown in FIG. 3 , in its relaxed, natural (locked) position, trigger 58 engages ridges 22 when guide body 16 is pulled / pushed proximally along guide rail 18.

[0021] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the proximal end 12 of the drill guide 10 in the unlocked position (with the cover plate 66 removed). Pressure is applied to the trigger 58 to move the drill guide 10 from the locked position (FIGS. 2-3) to the unlocked position (FIG. 4). When the surgeon pulls the trigger 58, the trigger 58 rotates against the spring 65 of the locking mechanism 62, clear of the plurality of ridges 22. When the trigger 58 disengages from the ridges 22, the guide body 16 can be pulled / moved proximally without engaging the ridges 22. Thus, in the unlocked position, the guide body 16 can slide proximally and distally along the guide rail 18; in the locked position, the guide body 16 can slide only distally along the guide rail 18.

[0022] 5-6, various schematic views of the drill end 36 of the guide body 16 are shown. FIG. 5 shows an enlarged perspective view of the arms 50 of the drill burette 46. As mentioned above, a pair of arms 50 may be connected to and extend from the shaft 48 of the drill burette 46. In the illustrated embodiment, the arms 50 extend in a central longitudinal direction y to elevate the first metacarpal bone. 2 -y 2 The arm 50 has a curved, axially extending portion 70 that is curved toward the shaft. The embodiment of FIG. 5 may also include a plurality of teeth 68 (or ridges) along the inner surface 70 of the arm 50. The base of the first metacarpal bone rests on the teeth 68 when the patient's hand is in the desired position within the drill guide 10. Because the first metacarpal bone is typically loose within the joint after removal of the trapezoid, the arm 50 and teeth 68 may be important for supporting and maintaining the position of the first metacarpal bone. The distal end 49 of the shaft 48 may also include a plurality of spaced, sharpened tips 51 extending distally therefrom. The sharpened tips 51 are used for additional support in maintaining the position of the first metacarpal bone.

[0023] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged side view of the locking mechanism 52 on the drill end 36 of the guide body 16. As shown in FIG. 6, a channel 72 extends into the guide body 16 through a surface 74 of the drill end 36. The spring 56 and slug 54 reside within the channel 72, with the slug 54 extending at least partially into the interior volume 40 of the drill end 36 of the guide body 16. Within the interior volume 40, the slug 54 engages with the shaft 48 of the drill bullet 46. The proximal end 76 of the shaft 48 includes a plurality of grooves 78. The grooves 78 extend circumferentially around the shaft 48.

[0024] 6 , the tip 80 of the slug 54 extends into one of the plurality of grooves 78 at a time. The spring 56 is biased to apply sufficient force to maintain the tip 80 of the slug 54 in one of the plurality of grooves 78. The force applied by the spring 56 does not completely prevent rotation of the drill bullet 46 within the internal volume 40. In use, the surgeon may rotate the drill bullet 46 so that the arm 50 is in a desired position at the base of the thumb. The drill bullet 46 is automatically maintained in the desired position as the tip 80 of the slug 54 moves into another of the plurality of grooves 78 as the drill bullet 46 rotates. This saves time because there are no steps the surgeon needs to complete before rotating the drill bullet 46 and no steps to lock it in place once the desired position is reached.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 7, a side schematic view of drill guide 10 in a locked position is shown, according to one embodiment. Drill guide 10 may be operated using one hand. The surgeon positions sharp tip 32 of spike 30 at the desired drill location on the second metacarpal bone (as will be apparent from a reading of this disclosure). (This should also be understood by those skilled in the art.) Specifically, sharpened tip 32 is positioned on the bone from which the surgeon desires a drill with a drill bit (not shown) to emerge. Next, with ring 26 and hook 28 held between the surgeon's fingers and thumb on trigger 58, the surgeon clenches his or her hand and presses arm 50 of drill buret 46 tightly against the base of the patient's thumb (assuming the base of the thumb is the desired starting location for the drill hole). Thereafter, by releasing pressure on trigger 58, drill guide 10 automatically locks into place, maintaining the pressure applied by the surgeon.

[0026] 8, a side schematic view of drill guide 10 in an unlocked position is shown, according to one embodiment. After tunnel drilling through the first and second metacarpal bones, drill guide 10 is removed by first squeezing trigger 58 and then pulling sliding guide body 16 proximally away from the bone. Thereafter, while still squeezing trigger 58, guide body 16 can be withdrawn from guide rail 18. Once guide body 16 is removed, guide rail 18 can be easily removed from its position on the patient's hand.

[0027] All definitions defined and used herein should be understood to control for dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and / or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

[0028] While various embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those skilled in the art will readily envision various other means and / or structures for performing the functions and / or obtaining the results and / or one or more advantages described herein, and each of such variations and / or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are exemplary, and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and / or configurations will depend on the particular application or applications for which the teachings are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. Accordingly, the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only, and it will be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents, the embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and / or method described herein. Furthermore, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and / or methods is within the scope of the present disclosure, provided that such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and / or methods are not mutually inconsistent.

[0029] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprise" (and any form of comprise such as "comprises" and "comprising"), "have" (and any form of have such as "has" and "having"), "include" (and any form of include such as "includes" and "including"), and "contain" (and any form of contain such as "contains" and "containing") are open-ended linking verbs. Consequently, a method or device "comprises," "has," "includes," or "contains" one or more steps or elements. "ses," "has," "includes," or "contains" a method step or device element possesses one or more of those features, but is not limited to possessing only those features. Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a particular way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways not listed.

[0030] Corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or steps plus functional elements in the following claims are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing a function, if any, in combination with elements of other claims that are specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiments were chosen and described to best explain the principles and practical application of one or more aspects of the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to understand one or more aspects of the invention in various embodiments with various modifications suitable for the particular uses contemplated.

Claims

1. 1. A drill guide, comprising: a guide rail having an elongated shaft; a guide body having an opening therethrough, the opening configured to receive the elongate shaft of the guide rail; a trigger end of the guide body having a locking mechanism movable between an unlocked position and a locked position; A drill guide, wherein in the unlocked position, the guide body is slidable proximally along the guide rail.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein in the locked position, the guide body is slidable only distally along the guide rail.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a trigger attached to the trigger end of the guide body, the trigger having the opening in the guide body through which it extends.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of ridges on at least a portion of a surface of the guide rail.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein in the locked position, the trigger engages at least one of the plurality of ridges when the guide body is pulled proximally.

6. The device of claim 3 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a spring that is compressed by the trigger in the unlocked position.

7. 1. A drill guide, comprising: a guide rail having an elongated shaft; a guide body having an opening therethrough, the opening configured to receive the elongate shaft of the guide rail; a drill end of the guide body having an opening defining an interior volume therethrough, the interior volume configured to receive a drill bullet therein; A drill guide, wherein the drill buret is rotatable within the interior volume of the drill end of the guide body.

8. The drill guide of claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of grooves extending circumferentially around the drill bullet.

9. The drill guide of claim 8 , further comprising a locking mechanism within the drill end of the guide body configured to stop rotation of the drill burette.

10. The drill guide of claim 9 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a spring-biased slug such that at least a portion of the slug resides within one of the plurality of grooves.

11. The drill guide of claim 7 , wherein the drill burette includes a shaft connected to a pair of distally extending arms.

12. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of teeth along an inner surface of at least one of the arms. Drill guide.

13. The drill guide of claim 7 , wherein the distal end of the drill buret includes a plurality of spaced apart sharp points extending distally therefrom.

14. 1. A drill guide, comprising: a guide rail having an elongated shaft extending along a first central longitudinal axis; a guide body having an opening therethrough, the opening configured to receive the elongate shaft of the guide rail; a distal ring connected to the elongate shaft; a spike attached to and extending from the distal ring; and A drill guide including a hook attached to the distal ring and extending therefrom such that the hook and the spike extend from opposing positions along the distal ring.

15. The drill guide of claim 14 , wherein the spike extends along a central transverse axis and the first central longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the central transverse axis.

16. The drill guide of claim 14 , further comprising a sharpened tip extending proximally from the spike.

17. The drill guide of claim 16 , wherein the sharpened tip extends along a second central longitudinal axis parallel to the first central longitudinal axis.

18. The drill guide of claim 15 , wherein the ring is substantially planar with the central transverse axis.

19. 15. The drill guide of claim 14, further comprising a trigger end of the guide body having a trigger that, when actuated, allows the guide body to slide proximally along the guide rail.

20. 15. The drill guide of claim 14, further comprising a drill end of the guide body having a rotatable drill bullet extending distally therefrom, the drill bullet being substantially aligned with the sharp tip of the spike.

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