Drill guide and TAMP systems and methods for orthopedic implants
The drill guide system with a handle-tamp addresses instability and ergonomic issues in orthopedic implant installation by functioning as both a handle and tamp, ensuring precise and efficient implant leg seating.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/US2025/039931
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-07-31
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-05
AI Technical Summary
Existing orthopedic implant installation systems face challenges with instability during drilling, ergonomic issues, and the need for separate tamps, which can be time-consuming and inefficient.
A drill guide system with a handle-tamp that functions as both a handle for positioning and orienting the drill guide and as a tamp to secure the implant legs into pre-drilled holes, ensuring stability and efficiency in the installation process.
The system provides stable and ergonomic handling, allowing for precise drilling and secure seating of implant legs, enhancing the efficiency and ease of orthopedic implant installation.
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Figure US2025039931_05022026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
DRILL GUIDE AND TAMP SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ORTHOPEDIC IMPLANTSCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Serial No. 63 / 678,007 filed July 31 , 2024, and entitled “Drill Guide and Tamp Systems and Methods for Orthopedic Implants," which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.BACKGROUND
[0003] Staple-style orthopedic implants are often used to provide fixation and stability at a fracture, osteotomy or arthrodesis site to facilitate and enable fusion between adjacent bone segments. Typically, holes are drilled into the bone segments at the site for receiving the legs of the staple. The legs are aligned with the pre-drilled holes and inserted into the holes, and then, a tamp may be used to tap the legs into the holes to secure the legs within the holes at the site via interference fitBRIEF SUMMARY
[0004] Systems for installing orthopedic implants are disclosed herein. The orthopedic implants include a bridge and a plurality of legs fixably coupled to the bridge. In one embodiment, a system for installing an orthopedic implant comprises a drill guide configured to position and orient a plurality of drilled holes for the plurality of legs of the orthopedic implant. In addition, the system comprises a handle-tamp having a first position coupled to the drill guide and a second position decoupled from the drill guide. The handle-tamp is configured to (i) function as a handle to manipulate the position and orientation of the drill guide in the first position and (ii) function as a tamp to seat the legs of the implant in the holes in the second position.
[0005] In another embodiment, a system for installing an orthopedic implant comprises a drill guide configured to position and oriented a plurality of drilled holes at a surgical site of a patient. Each drill hole is configured to receive one of the plurality of legs of the orthopedic implant. In addition, the system comprises a handle removably coupled tothe drill guide. The handle has a first position coupled to the drill guide and configured to manipulate the position and orientation of the drill guide at the surgical site of the patient, and a second position decoupled from the drill guide and configured to engage the bridge of the orthopedic implant to tamp the legs of the implant into the drill holes at the surgical site.
[0006] Methods for installing orthopedic implants are disclosed herein. The orthopedic implants include a bridge, a first leg fixably coupled to the bridge, and a second leg fixably coupled to the bridge. In one embodiment, a method for installing an orthopedic implant comprises (a) coupling a handle to a drill guide. In addition, the method comprises (b) using the handle to position and hold the drill guide for drilling a plurality of holes at the surgical site. Further, the method comprises (c) during (b), advancing a drill bit through a first drill sleeve of the drill guide to drill a first hole in at the surgical site. Still further, the method comprises (d) during (b), advancing the drill bit through a second sleeve of the drill guide to drill a second hole at the surgical site. Moreover, the method comprises (e) de-coupling the handle from the drill guide after (c) and (d). The method also comprises (f) inserting the first leg of the orthopedic implant into the first hole at the surgical site and inserting the second leg of the orthopedic implant into the second hole at the surgical site. In addition, the method comprises (g) tamping the orthopedic implant with the handle after (e) and (f) to seat the first leg into the first hole and seat the second leg into the second hole.
[0007] Embodiments described herein comprise a combination of features and characteristics intended to address various shortcomings associated with certain prior devices, systems, and methods. The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical characteristics of the disclosed embodiments in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood. The various characteristics and features described above, as well as others, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description, and by referring to the accompanying drawings. It should be appreciated that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes as the disclosed embodiments. It should also be realized that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the principles disclosed herein.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] For a detailed description of various exemplary embodiments, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a staple-style orthopedic implant for compressing two bone segments together in accordance with the principles described herein;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a drill guide and tamp system for installing the orthopedic implant of FIG. 1 ;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a side view of the drill guide and tamp system of FIG. 2;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a top view of the drill guide and tamp system of FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the drill guide and tamp system of FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a front view of the drill guide of FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional front view of the drill guide of FIG. 6 taken along section 7-7 of FIG. 4;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the tamp of FIG. 2;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a top view of the tamp of FIG. 8;
[0018] FIG. 10 is an embodiment of a method for installing the implant of FIG. 1 with the drill guide and tamp system of FIG. 2; and
[0019] FIGS. 11A-14D are sequential illustrations of the method of FIG. 10.DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The following discussion is directed to various exemplary embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the examples disclosed herein have broad application, and that the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be exemplary of that embodiment, and not intended to suggest that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that embodiment.
[0021] The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features and components herein may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form and some details of conventional elements may not be shown in interest of clarity and conciseness. In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to... .” Also, the term “couple” or “couples” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct connection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device,that connection may be through a direct connection of the two devices, or through an indirect connection that is established via other devices, components, nodes, and connections. In addition, as used herein, the terms “axial” and “axially” generally mean along or parallel to a given axis (e.g., central axis of a body or a port), while the terms “radial” and “radially” generally mean perpendicular to the given axis. For instance, an axial distance refers to a distance measured along or parallel to the axis, and a radial distance means a distance measured perpendicular to the axis. As used herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially,” and the like mean within 10% (i.e., plus or minus 10%) of the recited value. Thus, for example, a recited angle of “about 80°” refers to an angle ranging from 72° to 88°.
[0022] Unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their endpoints, and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to include only commercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of values should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the context indicates the contrary.
[0023] As previously described above, staple-style orthopedic implants are designed to provide fixation and stability between bone segments at a fracture, osteotomy or arthrodesis site, hereinafter referred to as the “site,” to facilitate and enable fusion. Such implants may include 2, 3, 4 or more legs. The legs of the implant extend from and are connected with a bridge that may come in various forms, sizes, and shapes depending on the application and anatomy. The implants may be part of system that includes instruments and a surgical technique. The instruments may include for example: sizing guides / templates, drill guides, drill or drilling pins, locating pins / pull pins, tamps, insertion tools, removal tools, and possibly heat source instruments for shape memory alloys. In general, the drill guide is used as a template to pre-drill holes into the bone segments at the surgical site that are positioned and oriented to receive the legs of the implant. Once the holes are drilled, the legs of the implant are aligned with the pre-drilled holes and inserted into the holes. The holes are slightly undersized to ensure an interference fit with the legs of the implant. Consequently, with the legs inserted into the pre-drilled holes, a tamp may be used to gentle tap against the bridge to urge the legs into the holes and fully seat the legs into the holes at the site, as well as seat the bridge against the bone or tissue into which the holes are drilled. The drill guide is often directly held by hand during the drilling process, which may not be particularly stable or provide aparticularly ergonomic approach. In addition, holding the drill guide by hand may create undesirable visual interference. Regardless of whether a tamp is provided as one of the instruments in the system with the implant and the drill guide or not, an appropriate tamp must be located and obtained by the surgeon (or assisting personnel), which may take some time and effort.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 1 , an embodiment of an exemplary staple-style orthopedic implant 100 is shown. In this embodiment, implant 100 is a U-shaped staple used to fix, stabilize, and apply compression (illustrated with arrows 18 in FIG. 1) to a fracture 12 between a first bone segment 2 and a second bone segment 4 of a broken bone. Each bone segment 2, 4 has a curved outer surface or profile 7, 9, respectively, proximal implant 100. Bone segments 2, 4 represent an exemplary curved profile (e.g., round, elliptical, etc.) such as that of a generally cylindrical long bone (e.g., femora, tibiae, humeri, ulnae, metacarpals, clavicle, etc.), however, implant 100 may be used with any classification of bone (e.g., short, flat, sutural, irregular, sesamoid, or long), and in locations with or without a curved profile. Although break 12 is shown generally along a plane oriented perpendicular to curved profiles 7, 9, in general, break 12 may be positioned at any angle with respect to curved profiles 7, 9.
[0025] In this embodiment, implant 100 includes a bridge 110 and a plurality of legs 130 extending from bridge 110. When secured to bone segments 2, 4, bridge 110 extends across or spans break 12, while legs 130 penetrate into corresponding bone segments 2, 4 via holes 14, 16, respectively. In particular, a first hole 14 is drilled into first bone segment 2 and a second hold 16 is drilled into second bone segment 4. First hole 14 has a linear central or longitudinal axis 15 and second hole 16 has a linear central or longitudinal axis 25 that is spaced apart from and oriented parallel to first axis 15. As will be described in more detail below, legs 130 are urged into and secured within holes 14, 16 via an interference fit, and maintain static positions relative to bone segments 2, 4, as elastic energy stored within implant 100 applies compression 18 across the break 12.
[0026] Although implant 100 is shown with legs 130 seated in holes 14, 16 in bone segments 2, 4, respectively, to apply compression 18 across fracture 12 in FIG. 1 , it should be appreciated that implant 100 can be used in other surgical sites to apply compression between other anatomical structures.
[0027] Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, an embodiment of a system 200 for facilitating the installation of implant 100 previously described is shown. Although system 200 will be described in connection with the installation of exemplary implant 100, in general, system 200 can be used to install other suitable staple-style orthopedic implants. In this embodiment, system 200 includes a drill guide 210 and a handle 250 removably coupled to drill guide 210. As will be described in more detail below, drill guide 210 is used to guide a drill bit for drilling holes 14, 16 in bone segments 2, 4, respectively, as shown in FIG 1 . In addition, as will also be described in more detail below, handle 250 functions both as (i) a device for manipulating the position and orientation of drill guide 210 and as (ii) a tamp for engaging bridge 110 of implant 100 and firmly driving legs 130 into holes 14, 16 in bone segments 2, 4, respectively. More specifically, handle 250 is removably coupled to drill guide 210 such that system 200 and handle 250 may be described as having a first configuration or position shown in FIG. 2 with handle 250 coupled to drill guide 210, and a second configuration or position shown in FIGS. 9 and 14 with handle 250 decoupled from drill guide 210. In the first configuration, handle 250 functions as a handle that can be held by a medical professional (e.g., surgeon) to control and manipulate the position and orientation of drill guide 210; and in the second configuration, handle 250 functions as a bone tamp that can be held by a medical professional to engage bridge 110 of implant 100 and tamp implant 100, and more specifically legs 130, into corresponding holes 14, 16 in bone segments 2, 4, respectively. Accordingly, handle 250 may also be referred to as a “handle-tamp” due to its dual functionality.
[0028] In some embodiments, handle-tamp 250 and drill guide 210 of system 200 may be provided as part of a kit for performing an orthopedic procedure. Such kit may also include one or more staple-type implants 100, a sizing guide to determine the desired length of the bridge 110 of implant 100 for spanning the fracture or surgical site, one or more drill bits for drilling holes 14, 16, one or more pull pins for maintaining alignment of drill guide 210 with hole 14, 16, an installation tool for pre-loading the implant to maintain parallel orientation of legs 130 for installation and inserting legs 130 of implant 100 into the pre-drilled holes 14, or combinations thereof.
[0029] Referring now to FIGS. 2-7, drill guide 210 includes a rigid body 211 and a plurality of rigid drill sleeves 230 fixably mounted to body 210. Body 211 has a central axis 215, a first or upper end 211a, a second or lower end 211b opposite end 211 a, a front side or face 212a extending axially from upper end 211 a to lower end 211b, a rear side or face212b extending axially from upper end 211 a to lower end 211 b, and a pair of lateral sides 213 extending axially from upper end 211a to lower end 211 b. Front face 212a and rear face 212b extend laterally between sides 213. In this embodiment, body 211 has a generally plate-shaped, inverted U geometry. In particular, body 211 may be described as having a plate-shaped base 216 extending axially from upper end 211a and a pair of laterally-spaced, parallel extensions 217 extending axially (relative to central axis 215) from lower end 211b base 216.
[0030] In this embodiment, upper end 211a is defined by a planar surface disposed in a plane oriented perpendicular to axis 215, and front face 212a and rear face 212b are defined by parallel, planar surfaces oriented parallel to axis 215. Each lateral sides 213 includes a concave recesses 214 along base 216 with a plurality of axially spaced ridges and grooves configured to be held and gripped by the user of drill guide 210. A throughbore 218 extends through base 211 from front face 212a to rear face 212b. Throughbore 218 has a linear central axis 219. In this embodiment, central axis 219 of throughbore 218 intersects central axis 215 and is oriented at an angle a relative to central axis 215 in side view as shown in FIG. 3. Angle a is preferably greater than 0° and less than or equal to 90°. In this embodiment, angle a is about 30°, and thus, , throughbore 218 slopes axially upward toward upper end 211 a moving axially along central axis 219 from front face 212a to rear face 212b. As will be described in more detail below, throughbore 218 is sized and shaped to receive handle-tamp 250.
[0031] Referring now to FIG. 7, one counterbore 220 extends axially (relative to central axis 215) from lower end 211 b through each extension 217 and one throughbore 221 extends axially (relative to central axis 215) from each counterbore 220 to upper end 211 a. Each counterbore 220 and corresponding throughbore 221 are coaxially aligned. In addition, each counterbore 220 and corresponding throughbore 221 is oriented parallel to central axis 215. In this embodiment, each counterbore 220 has the same diameter, and each throughbore 221 has the same diameter that is less than the diameter of each counterbore 220. Consequently, an downward-facing planar annular shoulder 222 extends radially (relative to the central axis of the coaxially aligned counterbore 220 and throughbore 221 ) between each counterbore 220 and the corresponding throughbore 221 . One drill sleeve 230 is seated in each counterbore 220. In particular, each drill sleeve 230 has a first or upper end 230a disposed in counterbore 220 and axially abutting the corresponding shoulder 222 and a second or lower end 230bpositioned outside and below the corresponding counterbore 220. Thus, each drill sleeve 230 has a length measured between ends 230a, 230b that is greater than the corresponding counterbore 220, and thus, drill sleeves 230 extend axially (relative to central axis 215) from each extension 217 at lower end 211 b. Lower end 230b of each drill sleeve 230 comprises a serrated tip or edge for engaging and gripping the patients bone or tissue at the location of the site where the holes 14, 16 will be drilled.
[0032] As previously described, body 210 and drill sleeves 230 are rigid. In this embodiment, body 210 is a monolithic structure made of a relatively lightweight rigid polymer and drill sleeves 230 are made of a metal or metal alloy such as stainless steel.
[0033] Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, 8, and 9, handle-tamp 250 includes an elongate rigid body 251 and a coupling member 260 fixably mounted to body 251 . Body 251 has a central or longitudinal axis 255, a first end 251 a, a second end 251 b opposite first end 251 a, a first side or face 252a extending axially from upper end 251 a to lower end 251 b, a second side or face 252b extending axially from first end 251a to second end 251 b, and a pair of lateral sides 253 extending axially from first end 251 a to second end 251 b. First face 252a and second face 252b extend laterally between sides 253. In this embodiment, first end 251 a is defined by a planar surface disposed in a plane oriented perpendicular to axis 255, and first face 252a and second face 252b are defined by parallel, planar surfaces oriented parallel to axis 255. Each lateral side 253 includes a concave recesses 254 proximal first end 251a with a plurality of axially spaced ridges and grooves configured to be held and gripped by the user of handle-tamp 250.
[0034] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, when handle-tamp 250 is coupled to drill guide 210 for use as a handle for drill guide 210, handle-tamp 250 is oriented at angle a relative to drill guide 210 with first end 251 a distal drill guide 210, second end 251 b is proximal drill guide 210, first face 252a generally faces away from the patient and site, and second face 252b generally faces toward the patient and the site. However, in the second configuration shown in FIGS. 9 and 14, when handle-tamp 250 is de-coupled to drill guide 210 for use as a tamp, axes 215, 219255 are generally oriented parallel with each other and may be coaxially aligned with first end 251 a distal the patient and defining the upper end of body 251 , second end 251 b proximal the patient and defining the lower end of body 251 , first face 252a facing forward, and second face 252b facing rearward. Accordingly, with handle-tamp 250 in the first configuration, first end 251a may be described as a distal end (relative to drill guide 210 and the patient), second end 251 bmay be described as a proximal end (relative to drill guide 210 and the patient), first face 252a may be described as an upper face, and second face 252b may be described as a lower face; and with handle-tamp 250 in the second configuration, first end 251 a may be described as a distal end (relative to the patient), second end 251 b may be described as a proximal end (relative to the patient), first face 252a may be described as front face, and second face 252b may be described as a rear face.
[0035] Referring again to FIGS. 2-5, 8, and 9, coupling member 260 extends axially from second end 251 b of body 251. In particular, coupling member 260 has a central or longitudinal axis 265 coaxially aligned with axis 255, a first end 260a engaging body 251 proximal second end 251 b, and a second end 260b opposite first end 260a and distal body 251 . Coupling member 260 includes a hammer pin 261 and a pair of lateral wings (not shown) extending laterally from hammer pin 261 . Hammer pin 261 extends axially from first end 260a to second end 260b. The lateral wings extend from hammer pin 261 proximal first end 260a and are embedded in body 251 .
[0036] At second end 260b, hammer pin 261 includes a plurality of circumferentially adjacent recesses 262 extending radially from central axis 255 to the radially outer surface of hammer pin 261 . In this embodiment, four circumferentially adjacent recesses 262 are uniformly distributed about central axis 255. In the second configuration with handle-tamp 250 being used as a tamp, a pair of radially opposed recesses 262 angularly spaced 180° apart receive bridge 110 of implant 100, thereby allowing end 260b to positively grip bridge 110.
[0037] Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, in the first configuration, hammer pin 261 is slidingly disposed in mating throughbore 218 of drill guide 210 with second end 251 b of body 251 axially abutting (relative to central axes 255, 265) rear face 212b of body 211 of drill guide 210. In particular, the radially outer surface of hammer pin 261 extending from body 251 has a generally tapered profile that increases in outer diameter moving axially from second end 260b toward body 251 . This portion of hammer pin 261 is sized and shaped to slidingly engage drill guide 210 as it is advanced into mating throughbore 218 to form a snug, interference fit therebetween. In some embodiments, the outer surface of hammer pin 261 and / or inner surface of body 211 defining throughbore 218 may include additional features (e.g., mating bumps and recesses, mating profiles, etc.) for retaining and / or stabilizing the removable connection between hammer pin 261 of handle-tamp 250 and body 211 of drill guide 210.
[0038] Referring now to FIG. 10, an embodiment of a method 300 for installing implant 100 into bone segments 2, 4 with system 200 will be described. Select blocks or steps of method 300 are illustrated in FIGS. 11A-14D, which also be referred to while describing method 300. Although method 100 and system 200 will be described and shown in connection with implant 100 and bone segments 2, 4 previously described, it should be appreciated that method 100 and system 200 can be with other implants, used at other surgical sites to apply compression between other anatomical structures, or combinations thereof.
[0039] Starting in block 310, handle-tamp 250 is coupled to drill guide 210 to transition system 200 to the first configuration as sequentially shown in FIGS. 11 A and 11 B. In particular, hammer pin 261 is inserted and seated in mating throughbore 218 as previously described. Moving now to block 320, drill guide 210 is manipulated and positioned using handle-tamp 250 to align drilling sleeves 230 with the desired locations of holes 14, 16 in bone segments 2, 4. Next, in block 330, with drill guide 210 held and maintained in the desired location with handle-tamp 250, a drill bit 401 is advanced through one throughbore 221 and corresponding sleeve 230 of drill guide 210 to drill hole 14 in bone segment 2 as shown in FIG. 12A. Once hole 14 is drilled, drill bit 401 is removed from drill guide 210, a pull pin 402 may be inserted through throughbore 221 and corresponding sleeve 230 of drill guide 210, and into drilled hole 14 as shown in FIG. 12B to ensure stability and maintain alignment of drill guide 210 with hole 14 and the desired location of hole 16. Moving now to block 340, drill bit 401 (or another drill bit) is advanced through the other throughbore 221 and corresponding sleeve 230 of drill guide 210 to drill hole 16 in bone segment 4 as shown in FIG. 13A. Drill guide 210 continues to be held and maintained in the desired location with handle-tamp 250 as hole 16 is drilled. Once hole 16 is drilled, drill bit 401 is removed from drill guide 210, a pull pin may be inserted through throughbore 221 and corresponding sleeve 230 of drill guide 210, and into drilled hole 16 as shown in FIG. 13B to temporarily mark the position of drilled holes 14, 16. Next, in block 360, pull pins 402 are removed from drill guide 210, and then drill guide 210 is removed from the site with handle-tamp 250. It should be appreciated that drill sleeves 130 are parallel to each other, and thus, drilled holes 14, 16 are also oriented parallel to each other.
[0040] Moving now to block 370, after removing pull pins 402, 403 and drill guide 210, handle-tamp 250 and drill guide 210 are decoupled to transition system 200 to thesecond configuration. Before, during, or after block 370, implant 100 is held by an implant inserter tool 404 with legs 130 in a substantially parallel orientation, and then tool 404 is used to insert legs 130 into pre-drilled holes 14, 16 as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B. Then, in block 390, implant 100 is released and decoupled from inserter tool 404 as shown in FIG. 14C, thereby allowing the elastic energy stored within implant 100 to apply compression 18 across the break 12. Lastly, handle-tamp 250 is employed to tamp implant 100 to fully seat legs 130 in holes 14, 16 and to seat bridge 110 against bone segments 2, 4 as shown in FIG. 14D. More specifically, handle-tamp 250 is held with bridge 210 seated in a pair of radially opposed recesses 262 at end 260b of hammer pin 261 while a mallet is used to tap the planar surface at first end 251 a of body 251 . In the manner described, system 200 is used to facilitate installation of implant 100 with handle- tamp 250 functioning as both a handle to position and manipulate drill guide 210, and a tamp to fully seat legs 130 and bridge 110 of implant 100.
[0041] While exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, modifications thereof can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or teachings herein. The embodiments described herein are exemplary only and are not limiting. Many variations and modifications of the systems, apparatus, and processes described herein are possible and are within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited to the embodiments described herein, but is only limited by the claims that follow, the scope of which shall include all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims. Unless expressly stated otherwise, the steps in a method claim may be performed in any order. The recitation of identifiers such as (a), (b), (c) or (1 ), (2), (3) before steps in a method claim are not intended to and do not specify a particular order to the steps, but rather are used to simplify subsequent reference to such steps.
Claims
CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:1 . A system for installing an orthopedic implant, the orthopedic implant including a bridge and a plurality of legs fixably coupled to the bridge, the system comprising: a drill guide configured to position and orient a plurality of drilled holes for the plurality of legs of the orthopedic implant; a handle-tamp having a first position coupled to the drill guide and a second position decoupled from the drill guide, wherein the handle-tamp is configured to (i) function as a handle to manipulate the position and orientation of the drill guide in the first position and (ii) function as a tamp to seat the legs of the implant in the holes in the second position.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the drill guide comprises a rigid body and a plurality of parallel rigid drill sleeves fixably mounted to the body; wherein the body of the drill guide has a central axis, an upper end, a lower end, a front face, a rear face, and a pair of lateral sides extending axially from the upper end to the lower end, wherein the front face and the rear face extend laterally between the pair of lateral sides; wherein the body of the drill guide includes a throughbore extending from the front face to the rear face; wherein the handle-tamp includes a rigid body and a coupling member fixably mounted to the body of the handle-tamp, wherein the coupling member comprises a hammer pin configured to be disposed in the throughbore of the body of the drill guide with the handle-tamp in the first position and removed from the throughbore of the body of the drill guide with the handle-tamp in the second position.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the body of the handle-tamp has a central axis, a first end, and a second end;wherein the hammer pin extends from the second end of the body and has a central axis coaxially aligned with the central axis of the body, a first end engaging the body, and a second end distal the body.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the central axis of the body of the handle-tamp is oriented at an acute angle a relative to the central axis of the body of the drill guide with the handle-tamp in the first position, wherein the angle a is greater than 0° and less than or equal to 90°.
5. The system of claim 3, wherein the second end of the hammer pin of the handle- tamp is configured to engage the bridge of the implant with the handle-tamp in the second position.
6. The system of claim 3, wherein the first end of the body comprises a planar surface oriented perpendicular to the central axis of the body and configured to be hit with a mallet with the handle-tamp in the second position.
7. The system of claim 3, wherein the hammer pin is seated in the throughbore via an interference fit with the handle-tamp in the first position.
8. The system of claim 3, wherein the second end of the hammer pin comprises a plurality of circumferentially adjacent recesses disposed about the central axis of the hammer pin, wherein one or more of the recesses is configured to receive the bridge of the orthopedic implant with the handle-tamp in the second position.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the body of the drill guide comprises: a first counterbore extending axially relative to the central axis of the drill guide from the lower end of the body; a second counterbore extending axially relative to the central axis of the drill guide from the lower end of the body; a first throughbore extending axially relative to the central axis of the drill guide from the upper end of the body to the first counterbore; anda second throughbore extending axially relative to the central axis of the drill guide from the upper end of the body to the second counterbore; wherein a first downward facing planar annular shoulder is disposed at the intersection of the first counterbore and the first throughbore and a second downward facing planar annular shoulder is disposed at the intersection of the second counterbore and the second throughbore; wherein a first drill sleeve is seated in the first counterbore and extends from the lower end of the drill guide and a second drill sleeve is seated in the second counterbore and extends from the lower end of the drill guide.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first drill sleeve has a first end axially abutting the first downward facing planar annular shoulder and a second end distal the body of the drill guide, and the second drill sleeve has a first end axially abutting the first downward facing planar annular shoulder and a second end distal the body of the drill guide, wherein the second end of each drill sleeve comprises a serrated edge.
11. A system for installing an orthopedic implant, the orthopedic implant including a bridge and a plurality of legs extending from the bridge, the system comprising: a drill guide configured to position and oriented a plurality of drilled holes at a surgical site of a patient, wherein each drill hole is configured to receive one of the plurality of legs of the orthopedic implant; a handle removably coupled to the drill guide; wherein the handle has a first position coupled to the drill guide and configured to manipulate the position and orientation of the drill guide at the surgical site of the patient, and a second position decoupled from the drill guide and configured to engage the bridge of the orthopedic implant to tamp the legs of the implant into the drill holes at the surgical site.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the handle includes a rigid body and a hammer pin fixably coupled to the body, wherein the hammer pin is disposed in a throughbore of a body of the drill guide with the handle in the first position, and wherein the hammer pin is removed from the throughbore of the body of the drill guide and engages the bridge of the orthopedic implant with the handle in the second position.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the body of the handle has a central axis, a first end, and a second end; wherein the hammer pin extends from the second end of the body and has a central axis coaxially aligned with the central axis of the body, a first end engaging the body, and a second end distal the body.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the drill guide comprises the body and a plurality of parallel rigid drill sleeves fixably coupled to the body; wherein the body of the drill guide has a central axis, a first end, a second end, a front face, a rear face, and a pair of lateral sides extending axially from the first end to the second end, wherein the front face and the rear face extend laterally between the pair of lateral sides; wherein the throughbore of the body extends from the front face to the rear face.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the central axis of the body of the handle is oriented at an angle a relative to the central axis of the body of the drill guide with the handle-tamp in the first position, wherein the angle a is greater than 0° and less than or equal to 90°.
16. The system of claim 13, wherein the first end of the body of the handle comprises a planar surface oriented perpendicular to the central axis of the body and configured to receive axial impacts with the handle in the second position.
17. The system of claim 12, wherein the hammer pin of the handle is seated in the throughbore of the body of the drill guide via an interference fit with the handle in the first position.
18. The system of claim 13, wherein the second end of the hammer pin comprises a plurality of circumferentially adjacent recesses disposed about the central axis of the hammer pin, wherein one or more of the recesses is configured to receive the bridge of the orthopedic implant with the handle in the second position.
19. The system of claim 14, wherein the body of the drill guide comprises: a first counterbore extending axially relative to the central axis of the drill guide from the second end of the body; a second counterbore extending axially relative to the central axis of the drill guide from the second end of the body; a first throughbore extending axially relative to the central axis of the drill guide from the first end of the body to the first counterbore; and a second throughbore extending axially relative to the central axis of the drill guide from the first end of the body to the second counterbore; wherein a first drill sleeve of the plurality of drill sleeves is seated in the first counterbore and extends from the second end of the drill guide and a second drill sleeve of the plurality of drill sleeves is seated in the second counterbore and extends from the second end of the drill guide.
20. A method for installing an orthopedic implant at a surgical site, the orthopedic implant including a bridge, a first leg fixably coupled to the bridge, and a second leg fixably coupled to the bridge, the method comprising:(a) coupling a handle to a drill guide;(b) using the handle to position and hold the drill guide for drilling a plurality of holes at the surgical site;(c) during (b), advancing a drill bit through a first drill sleeve of the drill guide to drill a first hole in at the surgical site;(d) during (b), advancing the drill bit through a second sleeve of the drill guide to drill a second hole at the surgical site;(e) de-coupling the handle from the drill guide after (c) and (d);(f) inserting the first leg of the orthopedic implant into the first hole at the surgical site and inserting the second leg of the orthopedic implant into the second hole at the surgical site; and(g) tamping the orthopedic implant with the handle after (e) and (f) to seat the first leg into the first hole and seat the second leg into the second hole.