Tibial aiming jig

Abstract

Aiming fixture for a tibial plate, comprising: a head interface with the head of a tibial plate, comprising a screw guide hole corresponding to a screw hole in the head of the tibial plate, and a fixing projection that engages with a fixing opening in the head of the tibial plate, the engagement of the fixing projection with the fixing opening causing the head to align with the head of the tibial plate; and an arm extending from the head including a guide, the guide being configured to extend along the anterior portion of the tibia when the aiming fixture is fixed to the tibial plate, and the guide including a support screw guide hole that guides the placement of support screws to the tibia in a generally anterior-posterior direction, thereby preventing the support screws from interfering with plate screws positioned in the head of the tibial plate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross - Reference to Related Applications) This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 352,209, filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on July, 13, 2023, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] (Field of the Invention) Various exemplary embodiments disclosed herein relate to tibial alignment guides, specifically, proximal tibial alignment guides for anteroposterior screw insertion above the lateral plate rafting screw.

Background Art

[0003] Tibial plates have been developed to address tibial fractures, including proximal tibia fractures. Lateral proximal tibial plates may include a head and a body. The body may extend along the tibia and include screw holes to allow the tibial plate to be attached to the tibia. The head may include a row of screw holes at the end of the tibial plate. Once the screws are placed in these holes, they can be used to capture, reduce, and fix the fractured bone fragments. This row of screws is sometimes called rafting screws because it provides a raft-like support to the articular surface of the fractured tibia. In the clinical routine for addressing proximal tibial fractures, isolated screws are often placed anterior to posterior, directly above and very close to the most proximal row of rafting screws on the lateral proximal tibial plate. These screws are sometimes called support screws. The intention of support screws is to provide additional stability to the articular surface, which is often crushed or fractured into multiple small fragments. Furthermore, support screws allow for the fixation of posterolateral fracture fragments, which remains a clinical challenge. Furthermore, these support screws can provide support for the articular surface when the plate and rafting screws are further away from the articular surface (because the support screws are closer to the articular surface). Also, because there is a posterior horn of the tibia adjacent to the fibular head that is difficult to reach with the lateral proximal tibial plate, these support screws can reach this area and provide support for the tibia, allowing them to grasp, reduce, and fix other bone fragments when repairing a fracture. [Overview of the project] [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] Outlines of various exemplary embodiments are presented below.

[0005] Various embodiments relate to an aiming fixture for a tibial plate, the aiming fixture comprising: a head configured to interface with the head of a tibial plate, comprising a plurality of screw guide holes corresponding to a plurality of screw holes in the head of the tibial plate, and a fixing projection configured to engage with a fixing opening in the head of the tibial plate, the engagement of the fixing projection with the fixing opening causing the head to align with the head of the tibial plate; and an arm extending from the head, comprising a guide, the guide configured to extend along the anterior portion of the tibia when the aiming fixture is fixed to the tibial plate, and the guide comprising a support screw guide hole configured to guide the placement of support screws to the tibia in a generally anterior-posterior direction, thereby preventing the support screws from interfering with plate screws located in the head of the tibial plate.

[0006] Various embodiments are described in which the head further includes multiple guide holes corresponding to multiple plate guide holes of the tibial plate.

[0007] Various embodiments are described in which the arm is configured to avoid the guide coming into contact with the patient when the aiming jig is fixed to the tibial plate.

[0008] Various embodiments of the guide, including those with multiple guide holes, are described.

[0009] Various embodiments are described, further including a sleeve configured to be inserted into a support screw guide hole and to contact the anterior surface of the tibia.

[0010] Various embodiments are described that further include a retaining pin configured to be inserted into a retaining opening of the guide, the retaining pin holding the sleeve and securing the sleeve to the guide.

[0011] Various embodiments are described in which the support screw guide hole has a position and orientation such that the support screw is positioned between the plate screw and the articular surface of the tibia.

[0012] Various embodiments are described in which the support screw guide hole has a position and orientation such that the support screw is positioned such that a portion of the plate screw is located between the support screw and the articular surface of the tibia.

[0013] Various embodiments are described in which one end of the support screw is located inside the tibia.

[0014] Various embodiments are described in which the head includes a fixing screw hole, and the aiming jig includes a fixing screw configured to engage with a fixing opening in the tibial plate via the fixing screw hole.

[0015] Various embodiments are described, including a body in which the head has a first portion of a plurality of screw guide holes configured to guide a first portion of a plate screw positioned within the head of a tibial plate to support the articular surface of the tibia.

[0016] Various embodiments are described in which the head includes a flange extending from the body, having a second portion of a plurality of screw guide holes configured to guide a second portion of a plate screw located within the head of the tibial plate, the flange includes a fixing screw hole configured to receive a fixing screw, the fixing screw is configured to engage with a fixing opening in the tibial plate through the fixing screw hole.

[0017] Further various embodiments relate to a method for positioning support screws on the anterior surface of the tibia using a targeting jig for a tibial plate, the method comprising: positioning and aligning the tibial plate on the tibia; initially fixing the tibial plate to the tibia; positioning the targeting jig on the tibial plate; and using guides on the targeting jig to position the support screws on the tibia, generally from anterior to posterior, to avoid interference between the support screws and plate screws positioned on the head of the tibial plate.

[0018] Various embodiments are described for initially fixing the tibial plate to the tibia, which includes positioning the plate screws on the tibial plate using guide holes in a aiming jig.

[0019] Various embodiments are described for initially fixing the tibial plate to the tibia, which includes positioning the K-wire in the tibia through guide holes in the aiming jig and plate fixation holes in the tibial plate.

[0020] Various embodiments are described for positioning and aligning the tibial plate on the tibia, including positioning a fixing projection on the aiming jig within the fixing opening of the tibial plate.

[0021] Various embodiments are described for positioning the support screw, which include drilling a hole in the anterior surface of the tibia using a guide and driving the support screw into the drilled hole using the guide.

[0022] Various embodiments are described in which drilling holes involves using a first sleeve within the guide, and driving support screws involves using a second sleeve within the guide.

[0023] Various embodiments are described, further including the use of retaining pins within the guide to hold the first sleeve in place by the guide.

[0024] Various embodiments are described for positioning support screws, which include incising a minimally invasive surgical incision through the soft tissue to expose the anterior cortex of the tibia.

[0025] The aiming jig is a head configured to interface with the head of the tibial plate, including a plurality of screw guide holes corresponding to a plurality of screw holes within the head of the tibial plate, and a fixing protrusion configured to engage with a fixing opening of the head of the tibial plate, wherein the engagement of the fixing protrusion with the fixing opening aligns the head with the head of the tibial plate, the fixing protrusion, and an arm extending from the head including a guide, wherein the guide extends along the anterior portion of the tibia when the aiming jig is fixed to the tibial plate, and the guide includes a support screw guide hole configured to guide the placement of a support screw into the tibia in a generally anterior-to-posterior direction, and the arm is configured to avoid interference of the support screw with a plate screw disposed in the head of the tibial plate. Various embodiments are described.

[0026] The above fairly broadly outlines the features and technical advantages of embodiments according to the present disclosure so that the following detailed description may be better understood. Additional features and advantages are described below. The disclosed concepts and specific examples can be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. Such equivalent configurations do not depart from the scope of the appended claims. The features of the concepts disclosed herein, both their arrangement and the manner of operation, together with the associated advantages, will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. Each of the drawings is provided for purposes of illustration and description and is not provided as a definition for limiting the claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027] To better understand the above features of the present disclosure, a more specific description, briefly summarized above, can be obtained by referring to the aspects shown in some of the accompanying drawings. However, it should be noted that the accompanying drawings only illustrate specific exemplary aspects of the present disclosure and should not be considered as limiting the scope of the present invention. This is because the present disclosure can recognize other equally effective aspects. The same reference numbers in different drawings can identify the same or similar elements. [Figure 1A] Shows the application of the aiming jig to the tibia. [Figure 1B] Shows the application of the aiming jig to the tibia. [Figure 1C] Shows the application of the aiming jig to the tibia. [Figure 1D] Shows the application of the aiming jig to the tibia. [Figure 2A] Shows a tibial plate attached to the tibia. [Figure 2B] Shows a tibial plate attached to the tibia. [Figure 3] Shows an aiming jig engaged with the tibial plate. [Figure 4A] Shows a top perspective view of the aiming jig. [Figure 4B] Shows a top perspective view of the aiming jig. [Figure 4C] Shows a bottom perspective view of the aiming jig. [Figure 4D] Shows a bottom view, a top view, and a side view of the aiming jig. [Figure 4E] Shows a bottom view, a top view, and a side view of the aiming jig. [Figure 4F] Shows a bottom view, a top view, and a side view of the aiming jig. [Figure 4G] Shows two end views of the aiming jig. [Figure 4H] Shows two end views of the aiming jig. [Figure 5A] Shows the aiming jig and the retaining pin. [Figure 5B] Shows a perspective view of the retaining pin. [Figure 5C] Shows a perspective view of the retaining pin. [Figure 6A] This shows a triple sleeve system inserted through one of the guide holes in the aiming jig. [Figure 6B] This shows a triple sleeve system inserted through one of the guide holes in the aiming jig. [Figure 7A] A perspective view and a magnified view of one configuration of a triple-sleeve system are shown. [Figure 7B] A perspective view and a magnified view of one configuration of a triple-sleeve system are shown. [Figure 7C] Perspective and enlarged views of another configuration of the triple-sleeve system are shown. [Figure 7D] Perspective and magnified views of another configuration of the triple-sleeve system are shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0028] Various aspects of this disclosure will be fully described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, since this disclosure can be embodied in many different forms, it should not be construed as being limited to any particular structure or function presented throughout this disclosure. Rather, these aspects are provided to make this disclosure thorough and complete and to fully convey the scope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art. Based on the teachings of this specification, those skilled in the art should understand that the scope of this disclosure is intended to cover any aspect of the disclosure disclosed herein, whether implemented independently of other aspects of the disclosure or in combination with other aspects of the disclosure. For example, an apparatus may be implemented or a method may be carried out using any number of aspects described herein. Furthermore, the scope of this disclosure is intended to cover any other structure, function, or such apparatus or method carried out using other structures, functions, or structures and functions in addition to the various aspects of the disclosure described herein. It should be understood that any aspect of the disclosure disclosed herein may be embodied by one or more elements of the claims.

[0029] Several embodiments of bone plate fixture systems are presented below with reference to various devices and techniques. These devices and techniques are described in the following detailed description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by various blocks, modules, components, steps, processes, methods, etc. (collectively referred to as “elements”).

[0030] Tibial plates have been developed to address tibial fractures, including proximal tibia fractures. Lateral proximal tibial plates may include a head and a body. The body may extend along the tibia and include screw holes to allow the tibial plate to be attached to the tibia. The head may include a row of screw holes at the end of the tibial plate. Once the screws are placed in these holes, they can be used to capture, reduce, and fix the fractured bone fragments. This row of screws is sometimes called a rafting screw because it provides a raft-like support for the articular surface of the fractured tibia. In the clinical routine for addressing proximal tibial fractures, isolated screws are often placed anterior to posterior, directly above and very close to the most proximal row of rafting screws on the lateral proximal tibial plate. These screws are sometimes called support screws. The intention of support screws is to provide additional stability to the articular surface, which is often crushed or fractured into multiple small fragments. Furthermore, support screws allow for the fixation of posterolateral fracture fragments, which remains a clinical challenge. To meet the patient's specific clinical requirements, screws may be placed across the tibial plate in any of the holes.

[0031] Currently, surgeons position support screws freehand because guide or assistive devices are unavailable. However, it is crucial to position the support screws as close as possible to the lateral rafting screws, as these provide resistance to subsidence, which must be avoided at all costs for the tibial plateau. Therefore, support screws are now positioned with the help of extensive imaging (which results in high radiation exposure). In addition, surgeons often bump into the lateral rafting screws while drilling anterior-posterior screw holes. This can lead to damage to those screws and subsequent failure or breakage of the drill bit, making it difficult to remove the broken drill bit tip from the body.

[0032] A targeting fixture for assisting the placement of support screws is disclosed herein. The targeting fixture can function as a guide block for assisting the placement of screws within a tibial plate. The targeting fixture further includes an extension arm on the anterior side of the tibia, which guides the insertion of the support screws above the lateral rafting screws in a generally anterior-posterior direction. The targeting fixture is positioned on the lateral proximal tibial plate. The targeting fixture and tibial plate include an interface for ensuring the precise positioning of the fixture. Fixation of the targeting fixture to the tibial plate is achieved, for example, by a screw interface that engages with a screw hole in the tibial plate specifically for the targeting fixture, or by a conventional guide block on the plate. The portion of the targeting fixture placed on the tibial plate has a shape and function similar to a conventional guide block and thus allows insertion while guiding the nominal screw into the proximal plate hole (for example, together with a triple-sleeve system as used with other systems). The extension arm is intended to remain above the soft tissue. It may include three holes into which a triple sleeve system can be inserted. These sleeves are pressed onto the bone through the arms and through the soft tissue (preferably using a previous small incision). The triple sleeve provides options for inserting the K-wire, drilling a pilot hole, and inserting the screw. The outer sleeve further allows for measuring the screw hole depth using an existing depth probe from another system. In another embodiment, the depth of the hole can be measured by sliding the depth probe over the K-wire. The depth may also be measured using a calibrated drill bit. In some embodiments, the holes in the extension arms may include a retaining mechanism to prevent the sleeve from slipping out. The distance between the extension arms and the anterior proximal tibial cortex may be optimized to minimize soft tissue interference in minimally invasive percutaneous application while ensuring that the sleeve always reaches the anterior cortex, despite variations in tibial morphology from subject to subject.

[0033] Figures 1A to 1D show the application of the aiming jig 100 to the tibia 2. The fibula 4 is also shown along with the tibia 2. The tibial plate 6 is attached to the tibia 2 using plate screws 8 that pass through plate screw holes 10 of the tibial plate 6. The aiming jig 100 is positioned on the head of the tibial plate 6 and is properly aligned with the tibial plate 6 via the interface between the aiming jig 100 and the tibial plate 6. The fixing screws 12 are positioned through fixing screw holes 116 (see Figure 3) to engage with the plate fixing holes 14 of the tibial plate 6. As described above, the triple sleeve system 200 may be positioned in the guide holes 114 of the guide 112 on the aiming jig 100.

[0034] Figures 2A and 2B show a tibial plate 6 attached to the tibia 2. The tibial plate 6 has a body that is fixed to the length of the tibia 2 using plate screws 8 positioned within the tibia 2 through plate screw holes 10. The plate screw holes 10 may be combination holes including threaded and unthreaded portions. The threaded portions can be used with screws having threaded heads. Furthermore, the plate screw holes 10 allow the screws to be positioned at various angles. The unthreaded hole portions allow compression of the plate against the bone using screws that can also be positioned at various angles. Furthermore, the tibial plate 6 includes a head having various plate screw holes 10. The head of the tibial plate 6 is shaped to conform to the contour of the tibial condyle. At the ends of the head of the tibial plate 6, there are, for example, four plate screw holes 10 near the tibial articular surface to provide support to the tibial articular surface. These four plate screw holes 10 can accommodate rafting screws. The tibial plate 6 may also have plate guide holes 18. The plate guide hole 18 can be used to position the K wire within the bone during placement of the tibial plate 6.

[0035] The tibial plate 6 may also include threaded plate fixing holes 14. Fixing screws 12 are positioned through fixing screw holes 116 of the aiming fixture 100 and engage with the plate fixing holes 14 to fix the aiming fixture 100 to the tibial plate 6. The tibial plate 6 also includes fixing openings 16 that receive fixing projections 120 on the aiming fixture 100. The fixing openings 16 and fixing projections 120 form an alignment interface that ensures the aiming fixture 100 is properly aligned with the tibial plate 6 when it is placed on the tibial plate 6. The tibial plate 6 is shown with a specific number and position of plate screw holes 10, fixing openings 16, and plate guide holes 18, but other numbers and positions of these elements may also be used. In another embodiment, the fixing projection 120 may be a single fixing projection 120 having a specific shape (e.g., triangular, star-shaped, cross-shaped, etc.) that engages with the fixing opening 16, and the fixing opening 16 has a complementary shape that guides the aiming jig 100 into the appropriate orientation relative to the tibial plate 6. In this case, only a single fixing projection 120 and fixing opening 16 may be used. Furthermore, the specific shape of the tibial plate 6 can take other shapes. In another embodiment, the fixing projection 120 and the fixing opening 16 may be interchangeable, i.e., the tibial plate 6 may have the fixing projection and the aiming jig 100 may have the fixing opening. Thus, the interface between the tibial plate 6 and the aiming jig 100 may be described collectively as having a first interface element and a second interface element, in which case the first and second interface elements interact to align the tibial plate 6 and the aiming jig 100. The first and second interface elements are complementary and may include a fixing projection and a fixing opening.

[0036] Figure 3 shows the aiming jig 100 engaged with the tibial plate 6. When the aiming jig 100 engages with the tibial plate 6, the fixing projection 120 engages with the fixing opening 16 to align the aiming jig 100 with the tibial plate 6. Furthermore, the screw guide hole 108 and K-wire guide hole 118 of the aiming jig 100 are aligned with the plate screw hole 10 and plate guide hole 18, respectively. The aiming jig 100 can be fixed to the tibial plate 6 by inserting the fixing screw 12 into the fixing screw hole 116 and engaging it with the plate fixing hole 14. The screw guide hole 108 can be used to assist in guiding the plate screw 8 into position within the tibial plate 6. The screw guide hole 108 can guide the drill in the correct orientation to position the plate screw 8 into the plate screw hole 10 of the tibial plate 6. The screw guide hole 108 can interface with a drill guide used to guide the drill during drilling. For example, the outer sleeve 202 may be used as a drill guide. The position and orientation of the screw guide hole 108 are carefully selected so that the plate screw 8, which functions as a rafting screw, is in a precise known position, and as a result, the support screws can then be positioned close to the rafting screw while avoiding interference with it. Furthermore, these support screws do not extend through the tibia.

[0037] Figures 4A to 4B show a top perspective view of the aiming jig 100. Figure 4C shows a bottom perspective view of the aiming jig 100. Figures 4D to 4F show a bottom view, top view, and side view of the aiming jig 100. Figures G and H show two end views of the aiming jig 100. The aiming jig 100 includes a head 102 and an arm 110.

[0038] The head 102 may have a shape that generally corresponds to the shape of the head of the tibial plate 6. The head 102 may include a body 104 and a flange 106. In this example, the body is a generally linear structure having four screw guide holes 108 and three K-wire guide holes 118. Other numbers of screw guide holes 108 and K-wire guide holes 118 may also be used within the body 104. The flange 106 may extend from the body 104 and in this example includes two K-wire guide holes 118, two screw guide holes 108, and one fixing screw hole 116. Other numbers of K-wire guide holes 118 and screw guide holes 108 may also be used within the flange 106. The K-wire guide holes 118, screw guide holes 108, and fixing screw hole 116 of the head 102 are aligned with the plate guide holes 18, plate screw holes 10, and plate fixing holes 14, respectively. The lower surface of the head 102 may include a fixing projection 120 (i.e., a first interface element). The position of the fixing projection 120 corresponds to the position of the fixing opening 16 (i.e., a second interface element) of the tibial plate 6. Although three fixing projections 120 are shown, other numbers of fixing projections 120 may be used as well. In an alternative embodiment, the aiming fixture 100 can be aligned with the tibial plate 6 using two or more K-wire guide holes 118. This can be done by driving a K-wire into the tibia 2 through the plate guide holes 18. The aiming fixture 100 can then slide on the K-wire using the K-wire guide holes 118 corresponding to the position of the K-wire, and then engage with the tibial plate 6. Once the aiming fixture 100 is engaged with the tibial plate 6, the fixing screws 12 can engage with the fixing opening 16 of the tibial plate 6 to fix the aiming fixture 100 to the tibial plate 6. The fixing screw 12 may be part of the aiming jig 100, in which case the aiming jig 100 captures the fixing screw 12. This means that the fixing screw 12 is always readily available for attaching the aiming jig 100 to the tibial plate 6. In an alternative embodiment, the fixing screw 12 can be positioned through a fixing screw hole 116 into a fixing opening 16 of the tibial plate 6 to fix the aiming jig 100 to the tibial plate 6. In this case, the fixing screw 12 is separate from the aiming jig 100.

[0039] The arm 110 extends from the head 102 and includes a guide 112. The position, shape, and length of the arm 110 are selected to allow the guide 112 to remove the patient's soft tissue, enabling the instrument to reach the tibia and properly align the support screw placed on the patient. Note that in some applications, the support screw may be positioned above the rafting screw, i.e., closer to the articular surface, while in other applications, the support screw may be positioned below the rafting screw, i.e., between the articular surface and the support screw. Therefore, the shape and dimensions of the arm 110 and the guide 112 are selected to allow the support screw to be positioned in the desired location.

[0040] Guide 112 extends in a direction that runs along the lateral portion of the anterior proximal tibia when the aiming jig 100 is fixed to the tibial plate 6. In this example, guide 112 includes three guide holes 114, but other numbers of guide holes 114 may be used in guide 112. The position and axis of guide holes 114 are selected so that support screws can be positioned in the anterior proximal tibia in a generally anterior-to-posterior direction so as not to interfere with rafting screws positioned through the tibial plate 6. A triple sleeve system 200 may be used in conjunction with guide holes 114 to allow for the placement, drilling, and placement of K-wires into the anterior proximal tibial cortex. Although the guide holes 114 of guide 112 are shown as having parallel central axes, in other embodiments, the direction of one or more of the central axes of guide holes 114 may differ from the other axes. It should be noted that the angle between the head 102 and the arm 110 is selected to determine the axial direction of the guide hole 114 and to achieve the desired angle for the support screw.

[0041] Figure 5A shows the aiming fixture 100 and the retaining pin 122. Figures 5B-5C show perspective views of the retaining pin 122. The retaining pin 122 helps to secure the triple sleeve system 200 within the guide 112 of the aiming fixture 100. The retaining pin 122 is positioned in a retaining hole that extends along the length of the retaining pin 122, partially intersecting the guide hole 114. The retaining pin 122 includes a groove 126, which corresponds to the guide hole 114. The retaining pin 122 also includes a slot 124 that can be used for assembly. When the triple sleeve system 200 is inserted through the guide hole 114, the retaining pin 122 can deform and engage with the triple sleeve system 200. The retaining pin 122 acts like a spring to engage the groove 126 with the triple sleeve system 200 and secure it to the guide 112.

[0042] Figures 6A and 6B show the triple sleeve system 200 inserted through one of the guide holes 114 of the aiming jig 100.

[0043] Figures 7A and 7B show perspective and enlarged views of one configuration of the triple-sleeve system 200. Figures 7A and 7B show the outer sleeve 202, the middle sleeve 204, and the inner sleeve 206. Each of these sleeves has a different inner diameter that allows items of different diameters to be inserted through it. For example, a K-wire can be inserted through the inner sleeve 206. The inner sleeve 206 can then be removed, and a drill bit can be positioned through the middle sleeve 204 to drill a hole in the tibia 2. The middle sleeve 204 can then be removed, and a screw can be inserted into the outer sleeve 202 and positioned in the tibia 2. The triple-sleeve system 200 can also be used in other ways. For example, it may be used in conjunction with a screw hole 108.

[0044] Figures 7C–7D show perspective and magnified views of another configuration of the triple sleeve system 200. Figures 7C–7D show the outer sleeve 202 and the intermediate sleeve 204. A screw can be driven into the tibia 2 using a screwdriver (not shown). Guide holes 114 may be used to guide other instruments and tools using other guide systems. Guide holes 114 are oriented so that “support screws” can be positioned without interfering with the rafting screws that are positioned through the tibial plate 6. Furthermore, these support screws do not extend through the tibia.

[0045] Next, a method for using the aiming jig 100 together with the tibial plate 6 will be described. First, the surgeon opens the patient's area near the knee where the tibial plate 6 will be placed. Next, the tibial plate 6 is placed on the patient's tibia 2. This can be done by sliding the body of the tibial plate 6 downwards within the surgical opening along the shaft of the tibia 2. The surgeon then positions and holds the tibial plate 6 in the desired position relative to the tibia 2. The tibial plate 6 may then be initially fixed onto the tibia 2 using, for example, one or more K-wires. The K-wires are driven through plate fixing holes 14 and may provide the initial position of the tibial plate 6 on the tibia 2. At this point, one or more plate screws 8 may be placed inside the tibia 2 through plate screw holes 10 to fix the tibia 2. In this case, the K-wires may be removed. In another embodiment, the plate screws 8 have not yet been placed, and the K-wires remain in place to temporarily fix the tibial plate 6 to the tibia 2. Next, the surgeon can place the aiming jig 100 on the tibia 2. If the K-wire remains in place, the aiming jig 100 is positioned on the K-wire using appropriate guide holes 114 corresponding to the plate fixing holes 14 having the K-wire. If the K-wire is not present, the aiming jig 100 is simply positioned on the head of the tibial plate 6. The fixing projection 120 is aligned with the fixing opening 16 and inserted into the fixing opening 16. This ensures that the aiming jig 100 is properly aligned with the tibial plate 6. The fixing screw 12 can then engage with the fixing screw hole 116 to fix the aiming jig 100 to the tibial plate 6. In an alternative embodiment, the aiming jig 100 may be positioned on the tibial plate 6 before the tibial plate 6 is temporarily fixed to the patient. In this case, the aiming jig 100 may be used to help slide the tibial plate 6 along the tibia 4. The K-wire may then be used to temporarily attach the tibial plate 6 to the tibia 4. Next, as part of the initial fixation of the tibial plate 6 to the tibia 2, the surgeon places the plate screws 8 in the uppermost plate screw holes 10 on the tibial plate 6, adjacent to the articular surface of the tibia 2, if the plate screws 8 have not been previously placed. These are the rafting screws described above.The aiming jig 100 can function as a guide for drilling holes for these plate screws 8 and for their placement. Placing these screws involves inserting a K-wire, drilling holes in the tibia 2, and then driving the screws into the holes in the tibia 2. The aiming jig 100 may be used in conjunction with a triple-sleeve system 200, or a separate drill guide may be used, to guide the drilling of the holes and the driving of the plate screws 8. The triple-sleeve system 200 or a screw drive guide can also be used to assist in properly oriented the screws when they are driven into the tibia 2. The surgeon can then use the guide 112 of the aiming jig 100 to drive one or more support screws into the tibia 2, generally in an anterior to posterior direction. This can be achieved using the triple-sleeve system 200. The outer sleeve 202 is inserted through one of the guide holes 114 and positioned to contact the patient's skin to determine the location of the skin incision that reaches the cortex of the tibia 2. This incision may be an incision for minimally invasive surgery (MIS). The surgeon then makes an MIS incision to expose the cortex of the tibia 2. The surgeon can then use the triple sleeve system 200 to drive the K wire into the bone, drill a hole in the tibia 2, and drive support screws into the holes drilled in the tibia 2. The surgeon may then place any additional support screws as needed. The surgeon can then fix the tibial plate 6 to the tibia 2, capture the bone fragments, and place any other screws necessary to reduce the fracture. The surgeon can remove the aiming fixture 100 from the tibial plate 6. The aiming fixture 100 can be removed from the tibial plate 6 by disengaging the fixing screws 12 from the plate fixing holes 116, and then lifting the aiming fixture 100 from the tibial plate 6. The surgeon may then complete the surgery by closing the various incisions and performing any other standard surgical steps. It should be noted that the exact order of the above steps may be modified, particularly the steps related to the temporary fixation of the tibial plate 6 to the tibia 2, the placement of the plate screws 8, and the placement of the aiming jig 100 to the tibial plate 6 and its removal from the tibial plate 6.

[0046] The disclosures herein are illustrative and illustrative, but are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the exact forms disclosed. Modifications and variations may be made in light of the above disclosures or acquired through the practice of the embodiments.

[0047] As used herein, the term “components” is intended to be broadly interpreted as hardware, firmware, and / or combinations of hardware and software. As used herein, a processor is implemented as hardware, firmware, and / or combinations of hardware and software.

[0048] Unless otherwise specified, terms such as "first" and "second" are used to arbitrarily distinguish between the elements they describe. Therefore, these terms are not necessarily intended to indicate a temporal or other prioritization of such elements.

[0049] Those skilled in the art will understand that any block diagrams in this specification represent conceptual diagrams of exemplary hardware that embody the principles of the embodiments.

[0050] Each embodiment is described above in terms of its structural arrangement, but it should be understood that the embodiments also cover related methods of using the embodiments described above.

[0051] Certain combinations of features are described in the claims and / or disclosed herein, but these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of various embodiments. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically described in the claims and / or disclosed herein. Each dependent claim listed below may depend directly on only one claim, but the disclosure of various embodiments includes each dependent claim in combination with all other claims in the claim set. The phrase referring to a list of items “at least one of ~” refers to any combination of those items, including a single member. For example, “at least one of a, b, or c” is intended to cover any combination of a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, and abc, and multiples of the same elements (e.g., aa, aaa, aab, aac, abb, acc, bb, bbb, bbc, cc, and ccc, or any other order of a, b, and c).

[0052] Any elements, actions, or instructions used herein should not be construed as important or essential unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, where used herein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Additionally, where used herein, the terms “set” and “group” are intended to include one or more items (e.g., related items, unrelated items, a combination of related and unrelated items) and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” When only one item is intended, the phrase “only one” or similar language should be used. Furthermore, where used herein, terms such as “has,” “have,” and “having” are intended to be open-ended terms. Additionally, where used herein, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “at least partially based on” unless otherwise specified.

[0053] [Implementation Method] (1) A aiming jig for a tibial plate, A head configured to interface with the head of the tibial plate, Multiple screw guide holes corresponding to multiple screw holes in the head of the tibial plate, A head comprising a fixing projection configured to engage with a fixing opening in the head of the tibial plate, wherein the engagement of the fixing projection with the fixing opening causes the head to align with the head of the tibial plate, and An arm extending from the head, including a guide, The guide is configured to extend along the anterior portion of the tibia when the aiming jig is fixed to the tibial plate, and The guide includes a support screw guide hole configured to guide the position of the support screw into the tibia in a generally anterior to posterior direction, thereby preventing the support screw from interfering with the plate screw positioned within the head of the tibial plate, A aiming jig equipped with a sighting device. (2) The aiming jig according to Embodiment 1, wherein the head further comprises a plurality of guide holes corresponding to a plurality of plate guide holes of the tibial plate. (3) The aiming jig according to Embodiment 1, wherein the arm is configured to prevent the guide from coming into contact with the patient when the aiming jig is fixed to the tibial plate. (4) The aiming jig according to Embodiment 1, wherein the guide includes a plurality of guide holes. (5) The aiming jig according to Embodiment 1, further comprising a sleeve inserted into the support screw guide hole and configured to contact the anterior surface of the tibia.

[0054] (6) The aiming jig according to Embodiment 5, further comprising a retaining pin configured to be inserted into a retaining opening of the guide, wherein the retaining pin holds the sleeve and fixes the sleeve to the guide. (7) The aiming jig according to Embodiment 1, wherein the support screw guide hole is positioned and oriented such that the support screw is positioned between the plate screw and the articular surface of the tibia. (8) The aiming jig according to Embodiment 1, wherein the support screw guide hole is positioned and oriented such that the support screw is positioned such that a portion of the plate screw is between the support screw and the articular surface of the tibia. (9) The aiming jig according to Embodiment 1, wherein one end of the support screw is located inside the tibia. (10) The head includes a fixing screw hole, The aiming jig according to Embodiment 1, wherein the aiming jig includes a fixing screw configured to engage with the fixing opening of the tibial plate via the fixing screw hole.

[0055] (11) The aiming jig according to Embodiment 1, comprising a body having a head which is configured to guide a first portion of the plurality of screw guide holes located within the head of the tibial plate to support the articular surface of the tibia. (12) The head includes a flange extending from the body, having second portions of the plurality of screw guide holes, configured to guide second portions of the plate screws positioned within the head of the tibial plate, The aiming jig according to embodiment 11, wherein the flange includes a fixing screw hole configured to receive a fixing screw, and the fixing screw is configured to engage with a fixing opening of the tibial plate through the fixing screw hole. (13) A method for positioning a support screw on the anterior surface of the tibia using a targeting jig for a tibial plate, The tibial plate is positioned on the tibia and aligned, The tibial plate is first fixed to the tibia, Placing the aiming jig on the tibial plate, Using the guide on the aiming jig, the support screws are positioned on the tibia in a generally anterior-to-posterior direction to avoid interference between the support screws and the plate screws positioned on the head of the tibial plate. A method that includes this. (14) The method according to Embodiment 13, wherein the initial fixation of the tibial plate to the tibia includes positioning plate screws on the tibial plate using guide holes of the aiming jig. (15) The method according to Embodiment 13, wherein the initial fixation of the tibial plate to the tibia includes positioning the K wire in the tibia through the guide hole of the aiming jig and the plate fixing hole of the tibial plate.

[0056] (16) The method according to Embodiment 13, wherein positioning and aligning the tibial plate on the tibia includes positioning the fixing projection on the aiming jig within the fixing opening of the tibial plate. (17) The placement of support screws is Using the aforementioned guide, a hole is drilled in the anterior surface of the tibia, Using the guide, the support screw is driven into the drilled hole, The method according to Embodiment 13, including the method described in Embodiment 13. (18) Drilling the hole involves using the first sleeve in the guide, The method according to embodiment 17, wherein driving the support screw involves using a second sleeve in the guide. (19) The method according to embodiment 18, further comprising using retaining pins in the guide to hold the first sleeve by the guide. (20) The method according to embodiment 17, wherein the placement of the support screw includes incising a minimally invasive surgical incision through the soft tissue to expose the anterior cortex of the tibia.

[0057] (21) The aiming jig is, A head configured to interface with the head of the tibial plate, Multiple screw guide holes corresponding to multiple screw holes in the head of the tibial plate, A head comprising a fixing projection configured to engage with a fixing opening in the head of the tibial plate, wherein the engagement of the fixing projection with the fixing opening causes the head to align with the head of the tibial plate, and An arm extending from the head, including a guide, The guide extends along the anterior portion of the tibia when the aiming jig is fixed to the tibial plate, and The guide includes a support screw guide hole configured to guide the position of the support screw into the tibia in a generally anterior to posterior direction, thereby preventing the support screw from interfering with the plate screw positioned within the head of the tibial plate, The method according to embodiment 13, comprising:

Claims

1. A targeting jig for tibial plates, A head configured to interface with the head of the tibial plate, Multiple screw guide holes corresponding to multiple screw holes in the head of the tibial plate, A head comprising a fixing projection configured to engage with a fixing opening in the head of the tibial plate, wherein the engagement of the fixing projection with the fixing opening causes the head to align with the head of the tibial plate, and An arm extending from the head, including a guide, The guide is configured to extend along the anterior portion of the tibia when the aiming jig is fixed to the tibial plate, and The guide includes a support screw guide hole configured to guide the position of the support screw into the tibia in a generally anterior to posterior direction, thereby preventing the support screw from interfering with the plate screw positioned within the head of the tibial plate, A aiming jig equipped with a sighting device.

2. The aiming jig according to claim 1, wherein the head further comprises a plurality of guide holes corresponding to a plurality of plate guide holes of the tibial plate.

3. The aiming jig according to claim 1, wherein the arm is configured to prevent the guide from coming into contact with the patient when the aiming jig is fixed to the tibial plate.

4. The aiming jig according to claim 1, wherein the guide includes a plurality of guide holes.

5. The aiming jig according to claim 1, further comprising a sleeve inserted into the support screw guide hole and configured to contact the anterior surface of the tibia.

6. The aiming jig according to claim 5, further comprising a retaining pin configured to be inserted into a retaining opening of the guide, wherein the retaining pin holds the sleeve and fixes the sleeve to the guide.

7. The aiming jig according to claim 1, wherein the support screw guide hole is positioned and oriented such that the support screw is positioned between the plate screw and the articular surface of the tibia.

8. The aiming jig according to claim 1, wherein the support screw guide hole is positioned and oriented such that the support screw is positioned such that a portion of the plate screw is between the support screw and the articular surface of the tibia.

9. The aiming jig according to claim 1, wherein one end of the support screw is located inside the tibia.

10. The head includes a fixing screw hole, The aiming jig according to claim 1, wherein the aiming jig includes a fixing screw configured to engage with a fixing opening of the tibial plate via the fixing screw hole.

11. The aiming jig according to claim 1, wherein the head has a body having a plurality of screw guide holes configured to guide a first portion of the plate screws disposed within the head of the tibial plate in order to support the articular surface of the tibia.

12. The head includes a flange extending from the body, having a second portion of the plurality of screw guide holes configured to guide the second portion of the plate screw positioned within the head of the tibial plate, The aiming jig according to claim 11, wherein the flange includes a fixing screw hole configured to receive a fixing screw, and the fixing screw is configured to engage with a fixing opening of the tibial plate through the fixing screw hole.

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