System, method and apparatus for locating, measuring, and evaluating the enlargement of a foramen

• US 20050045191A1
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aeolin, LLC
• Original Assignee: Laurence M. Mckinley
• Inventors: McKinley, Laurence M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,166,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/564 Methods for bone or joint treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4504 Bones A61B5/4547 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6877 Nerve

Abstract

A method for locating, measuring and evaluating the enlargement of a foramen are provided. An instrument has a handle, an angled region, and a tip to be inserted into the foramen. An instrument can be pressed onto the foramen to determine its location and whether the empty space within the foramen is large enough for the maximum width of the tip to be inserted. If the tip cannot insert, the foramen can be cut to enlarge it enough for the tip to insert. A kit of several instruments or a single instrument with tips of different maximum widths are provided for determining the amount of empty space within the foramen through the course of the enlargement.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating adequate enlargement of a foramen comprising the steps of:

providing a first instrument, having a handle and a tip with a first size;

locating said foramen;

pressing the tip of the first instrument against said foramen;

determining whether the tip of the first instrument inserts into the foramen; and

cutting away at a periphery of said foramen if the tip of the first instrument does not insert into said foramen.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a second instrument, having a handle, and a tip with a second size that is larger than the first size;

pressing the tip of the second instrument against said foramen;

determining whether the tip of the second instrument inserts into the foramen; and

cutting away at the periphery of said foramen if the tip of the second instrument does not insert into said foramen.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of locating comprises the steps of:

providing a locating instrument, having a handle and a tip with a maximum width less than an open space in said foramen;

pressing the locating instrument near said foramen until the locating instrument inserts into said foramen;

determining a location where the tip of the locating instrument inserts into said foramen.