Claims
- 1. A targeting system for locating screw holes in an intramedullary nail that has been implanted in a patient, the targeting system comprising:
a first fixation system adapted to be fixedly coupled to a surface; a second fixation system adapted to be fixedly coupled to a handle of an intramedullary nail that has been implanted in a patient; and an aiming guide disposed between and fixedly coupled to the first and second fixation systems, wherein adjustments to the first and second fixation systems enable an initial positioning of the aiming guide with a first screw hole in an implanted intramedullary nail, and adjustments to the aiming guide enable a final alignment of the aiming guide with the first screw hole.
- 2. The targeting system of claim 1, wherein the first fixation system further comprises a first arm that is linked to a clamp support at a first end, and releasably engaged at an opposite end to a second arm that is fixedly coupled to the aiming guide.
- 3. The targeting system of claim 2, wherein the clamp support houses a clamp adapted to be fixedly coupled to a surface that is integral with an operating table.
- 4. The targeting system of claim 2, wherein the first arm and second arm are releasably engaged via an adjustment mechanism.
- 5. The targeting system of claim 2, wherein the first end of the first arm is linked to the clamp support via a connection system.
- 6. The targeting system of claim 5, wherein the connection system comprises a ball and socket joint.
- 7. The targeting system of claim 2, wherein the second arm is linked to the aiming guide via a connection system.
- 8. The targeting system of claim 7, wherein the connection system comprises a ball and socket joint.
- 9. The targeting system of claim 1, wherein the second fixation system further comprises a tubular clamp adapted to be fixedly coupled to the handle of the implanted intramedullary nail.
- 10. The targeting system of claim 9, wherein the second fixation system further comprises a translation rod, the translation rod having a first end that is fixedly coupled to the aiming guide, and a second end that slidingly engages the tubular clamp.
- 11. The targeting system of claim 10, wherein a locking screw is disposed through the tubular clamp to control the rotation of the translation rod within the tubular clamp.
- 12. The targeting system of claim 10, wherein the translation rod further comprises a plurality of spaced notches at spaced intervals along its length that are adapted to correspond to scaled measurements of the length of the implanted intramedullary nail.
- 13. The targeting system of claim 12, wherein the tubular clamp houses a pressure spring that is biased to engage any of the plurality of spaced notches in the translation rod to control the translational movement of the translation rod through the tubular clamp.
- 14. The targeting system of claim 1, wherein the aiming guide further comprises an external ring, an intermediate ring, and an internal ring.
- 15. The targeting system of claim 14, wherein the intermediate ring is adapted to translate along a central horizontal axis of the external ring, and rotate about the central horizontal axis of the external ring.
- 16. The targeting system of claim 14, wherein the internal ring is adapted to translate along a central vertical axis of the intermediate ring, and rotate about the central vertical axis of the intermediate ring.
- 17. The targeting system of claim 14, wherein an aiming cylinder support is positioned within the internal ring by a washer, the aiming cylinder support further housing an aiming cylinder that is eccentrically positioned with regard to the center of rotation of the internal ring and secured via an aiming cylinder locking screw.
- 18. The targeting system of claim 17, wherein the aiming cylinder is eccentrically positioned such that the distance measured from the center of rotation of the internal ring to the center of the aiming cylinder is one-half the distance measured between the centers of the screw holes in the implanted intramedullary nail.
- 19. The targeting system of claim 17, wherein the aiming cylinder support and the aiming cylinder are fabricated from radio translucent material.
- 20. The targeting system of claim 17, wherein the aiming cylinder support further supports a drilling guide setting screw adapted to secure a drilling guide in position within the aiming cylinder.
- 21. The targeting system of claim 18, wherein the aiming cylinder is surrounded on either end by concentric radio-opaque aiming rings.
- 22. The targeting system of claim 21, wherein the concentric radio-opaque aiming rings comprise an inner aiming ring disposed on a first end of the aiming cylinder, and having a diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of the first end of the aiming cylinder, and an outer aiming ring disposed on a second end of the aiming cylinder and having a diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of the inner aiming ring.
- 23. The targeting system of claim 22, wherein the aiming guide is adapted for use with radioscopy equipment to enable a final alignment of the aiming guide with the first screw hole in the implanted intramedullary nail, the final alignment being achieved when a perfectly concentric alignment of the inner aiming ring, outer aiming ring, and first screw hole is realized.
- 24. The targeting system of claim 23, wherein, upon final alignment of the aiming guide with the first screw hole, alignment of a second screw hole in the implanted intramedullary nail is achieved by rotating the internal ring 180 degrees about the central vertical axis of the intermediate ring.
- 25. A method for manufacturing a targeting system for locating screw holes in an intramedullary nail that has been implanted in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a first fixation system adapted to be fixedly coupled to a surface; (b) providing a second fixation system adapted to be fixedly coupled to a handle of an intramedullary nail that has been implanted in a patient; (c) providing an aiming guide to be disposed between and fixedly coupled to the first and second fixation systems, wherein adjustments to the first and second fixation systems enable an initial positioning of the aiming guide with a first screw hole in an implanted intramedullary nail, and adjustments to the aiming guide enable a final alignment of the aiming guide with the first screw hole; and (d) assembling the first fixation system, second fixation system, and aiming guide to form a targeting system.
- 26. A method for locating screw holes in an intramedullary nail that has been implanted in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) using radioscopy equipment to align a first screw hole in an intramedullary nail that has been implanted in a patient; (b) introducing a targeting system between the radioscopy equipment and the patient, the targeting system comprising a first fixation system adapted to be fixedly coupled to a surface, a second fixation system adapted to be fixedly coupled to a handle of the implanted intramedullary nail, and an aiming guide adapted to be disposed between and fixedly coupled to the first and second fixation systems; (c) adjusting the first and second fixation systems to enable an initial positioning of the aiming guide with the first screw hole; and (d) adjusting the aiming guide to enable a final alignment of the aiming guide with the first screw hole.
- 27. An aiming guide for locating screw holes in an intramedullary nail that has been implanted in a patient, the aiming guide comprising:
an external ring; an intermediate ring; and an internal ring supporting an aiming cylinder, wherein adjustments to the intermediate ring and internal ring enable the aiming cylinder to be precisely aligned with a first screw hole in an implanted intramedullary nail.
- 28. The aiming guide of claim 27, wherein the intermediate ring is adapted to translate along a central horizontal axis of the external ring, and rotate about the central horizontal axis of the external ring.
- 29. The aiming guide of claim 27, wherein the internal ring is adapted to translate along a central vertical axis of the intermediate ring, and rotate about the central vertical axis of the intermediate ring.
- 30. The aiming guide of claim 27, wherein the aiming cylinder is housed within an aiming cylinder support and secured via an aiming cylinder locking screw, the aiming cylinder support further being positioned within the internal ring by a washer.
- 31. The aiming guide of claim 27, wherein the aiming cylinder is eccentrically positioned with regard to the center of rotation of the internal ring.
- 32. The aiming guide of claim 31, wherein the aiming cylinder is eccentrically positioned such that the distance measured from the center of rotation of the internal ring to the center of the aiming cylinder is one-half the distance measured between the centers of two screw holes in an implanted intramedullary nail.
- 33. The aiming guide of claim 30, wherein the aiming cylinder support and the aiming cylinder are fabricated from radio translucent material.
- 34. The aiming guide of claim 30, wherein the aiming cylinder support further supports a drilling guide setting screw adapted to secure a drilling guide in position within the aiming cylinder.
- 35. The aiming guide of claim 32, wherein the aiming cylinder is surrounded on either end by concentric radio-opaque aiming rings.
- 36. The aiming guide of claim 35, wherein the concentric radio-opaque aiming rings comprise an inner aiming ring disposed on a first end of the aiming cylinder, and having a diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of the first end of the aiming cylinder, and an outer aiming ring disposed on a second end of the aiming cylinder and having a diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of the inner aiming ring.
- 37. The aiming guide of claim 36, wherein the aiming guide is adapted for use with radioscopy equipment to enable a final alignment of the aiming guide with the first screw hole in the implanted intramedullary nail, the final alignment being achieved when a perfectly concentric alignment of the inner aiming ring, outer aiming ring, and first screw hole is realized.
- 38. The aiming guide of claim 37, wherein, upon final alignment of the aiming guide with the first screw hole, alignment of a second screw hole in the implanted intramedullary nail is achieved by rotating the internal ring 180 degrees about the central vertical axis of the intermediate ring.
- 39. A method for manufacturing an aiming guide for locating screw holes in an intramedullary nail that has been implanted in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing an external ring; (b) providing an intermediate ring; and (c) providing an internal ring supporting an aiming cylinder, wherein adjustments to the intermediate ring and internal ring enable the aiming cylinder to be precisely aligned with a first screw hole in an implanted intramedullary nail.
- 40. A method for locating screw holes in an intramedullary nail that has been implanted in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) using radioscopy equipment to align a first screw hole in an intramedullary nail that has been implanted in a patient; (b) introducing an aiming guide between the radioscopy equipment and the patient, the aiming guide comprising an external ring, an intermediate ring, and an internal ring supporting an aiming cylinder; and (c) adjusting the positions of the intermediate ring and internal ring to enable the aiming cylinder to be precisely aligned with a first screw hole in an implanted intramedullary nail.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application SerialNo. 60/239,789 filed Oct. 12, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60239789 |
Oct 2000 |
US |