Targeting aid

• US 20040176779A1
• Filed: 02/03/2004
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zimmer GmbH (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zimmer GmbH (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Frei, Diego, Heller, Mathias, Casutt, Guido
• Application Number:
  US10/770,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20040176779A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/102
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine

Abstract

The invention relates to a targeting aid for the spatial fixing of a target device relative to spinal vertebrae of a patient, comprising a clamping tool which is formed as a pair of forceps and which has at least two clamping jaws with which the clamping tool can be fixedly clamped to the spinal vertebrae while bridging at least two adjacent spinal vertebrae, and comprising at least one target base which is fixedly connected to the clamping tool and which is formed for coupling to a separate target device.

Claims

1. A targeting aid for the spatial fixing of a target device relative to spinal vertebrae of a patient, comprising

a clamping tool (13) which is formed as a pair of forceps and which has at least two clamping jaws (15) with which the clamping tool (13) can be fixedly clamped to the spinal vertebrae while bridging at least two adjacent spinal vertebrae;

and

at least one target base (11) which is fixedly connected to the clamping tool (13) and is formed for the coupling to a separate target device.

2. A targeting aid in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the clamping forceps (13) have two levers (19, 21) which are rotatably connected to one another about an axis of rotation (17) and which are provided with an actuation section (23) at the one respective side of the axis of rotation (17) and support one of the clamping jaws (15) at the other side of the axis of rotation (17).

3. A targeting aid in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that the levers (19, 21) can be fixed relative to one another for the securing of an established clamping state.

4. A targeting aid in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that, in the fixedly clamped state, the levers (19, 21) extend substantially parallel to one another at least in the region of the clamping jaws (15).

5. A targeting aid in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that the clamping jaws (15) extend substantially perpendicular to a plane set up by the two levers (19, 21).

6. A targeting aid in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the one clamping jaw (15) is rotatably secured to the clamping forceps (13) and the other clamping jaw (15) is fixedly secured to the clamping forceps (13).

7. A targeting aid in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that at least one clamping jaw (15) includes a transverse support (25) which extends substantially perpendicular to a plane set up by the two levers (19, 21) and which supports at least two clamping members (27) arranged spaced apart from one another and each having a clamping surface (29) facing the other clamping jaw (15).

8. A targeting aid in accordance with claim 7, characterised in that the clamping surfaces (29) are each circular.

9. A targeting aid in accordance with claim 7, characterised in that the clamping surfaces (29) are each roughened or structured.

10. A targeting aid in accordance with claim 7, characterised in that the clamping surfaces (29) each have a plurality of notches running through them.

11. A targeting aid in accordance with claim 7, characterised in that the clamping members (27) are each movably supported at the transverse support (25).

12. A targeting aid in accordance with claim 7, characterised in that a joint, in particular a ball joint, is respectively provided between the clamping members (27) and the transverse support (25).

13. A targeting aid in accordance with claim 7, characterised in that the spacing between adjacent clamping members (27) of a clamping jaw (15) corresponds to the central spacing of the spines of two adjacent spinal vertebrae in the lumbar region.

14. A targeting aid in accordance with claim 7, characterised in that the spacing between two adjacent clamping members (27) of a clamping jaw (15) lies in the range from 27 mm to 37 mm.

15. A targeting aid in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the target base (11) projects from the clamping forceps (13) extending approximately parallel to the clamping jaws (15).

16. A targeting aid in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the target base (1) projects approximately perpendicularly from one lever (19) of the clamping pliers (13).

17. A targeting aid in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that the target base (11) is fixedly connected to one of the levers (19, 21), in particular in the region of the axis of rotation (17) of the two levers (19, 21).

18. A targeting aid in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that it is made at least partly from plastic reinforced with carbon fibres.

19. A target system comprising a targeting aid in accordance with claim 1 and comprising at least one separate target device which can be coupled to the target base (11) of the targeting aid.