Drill-tap-screw drill guide

• US 20060100637A1
• Filed: 10/19/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synthes USA LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Synthes USA LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Rathbun, David S., Suh, Sean S., Ryan, Christopher J., Roth, Christoph Andreas, Duong, Lan Anh Nguyen
• Granted Patent: US 7,763,029 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/96
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1728 for holes for bone plates or plate screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8057 the interlocking form comprising a thread

Abstract

A surgical drill guide for use with a bone plate having fastener holes oriented at predetermined angles with respect to the plate, the surgical drill guide having at least one alignment drill guiding barrel that is aligned with the respective fastener holes in the bone plate for drilling the holes at the desired range of angles permitted by the plate hole.

Claims

1. A fixation system comprising:

a plate having a first fixation hole and a first retention mechanism;

a drill guide having a bore therethrough, and a front end;

wherein the drill guide is adjacent the first retention mechanism when the front end of the drill guide is inserted into the first fixation hole, such that a bone screw inserted through the bore can engage the first retention mechanism.

2. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the drill guide further comprises an alignment portion proximate the front end.

3. The fixation system of claim 2, wherein the plate further comprises a first alignment hole, and wherein the alignment portion of the drill guide is configured to engage the first alignment hole.

4. The fixation system of claim 2, wherein the alignment portion comprises a pin.

5. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the first retention mechanism is disposed within the first fixation hole.

6. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the first retention mechanism is a clip.

7. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the first retention mechanism comprises a first surface, and wherein the front end of the drill guide rests on the first surface of the first retention mechanism when the front end is inserted into the first fixation hole.

8. A drill guide comprising:

a front end, a rear end, and a bore therethrough;

an alignment portion proximate the front end;

wherein the alignment portion fixedly engages the drill guide to a plate; and

wherein the front end is positioned within a first fixation hole of the plate, so as to align the bore without fixedly associating the front end with the plate.

9. The drill guide of claim 8, wherein the alignment portion comprises a removable element.

10. The drill guide of claim 8, wherein the plate further comprises a first drill guide key, and wherein the alignment portion is configured to engage the first drill guide key.

11. The drill guide of claim 10, wherein the first drill guide key is located adjacent the first fixation hole.

12. The drill guide of claim 11, wherein the plate further comprises a second fixation hole and a second drill guide key, and wherein the second drill guide key is located adjacent the second fixation hole.

13. The drill guide of claim 11, further comprising a releasably attachable handle.

14. A method of inserting a bone screw comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a drill guide having a front end, a rear end, and a bore therethrough, and providing a bone plate having a first fixation hole for receiving a bone screw, and a first retention mechanism for engaging a first bone screw;

(b) associating the drill guide with the plate at a desired angle;

(c) inserting an instrument into the bore;

(d) removing the instrument from the bore;

(e) inserting a bone screw into the bore; and

(f) engaging the first bone screw with the first retention mechanism without substantially displacing the drill guide relative to the bone plate.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the drill guide further comprises an alignment portion offset from the front end.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the alignment portion is configured to engage the bone plate proximate the first fixation hole.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the front end is not fixedly attached to the bone plate in steps (b)-(f).

18. The method of claim 14, wherein step (c) further comprises drilling a bore into a bone surface suitable for receiving at least a portion of the bone screw.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the drill guide further comprises a handle, and wherein step (b) further comprises manipulating the handle to achieve the desired angle.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of disengaging the drill guide from the bone plate, associating the drill guide with the bone plate at a different location to inserting a second bone screw into a second fixation hole.