Optical distal targeting system for an intramedullary nail
First Claim
1. Apparatus for use by a surgeon with a surgical drill in the repair of bones, comprising, in combination:
- an intramedullary nail, said intramedullary nail insertable into a patient'"'"'s bone and having a hollow body portion and a distal transverse hole;
a light source emitting electromagnetic non-ionizing radiation in the infrared or visible portions of the electromagnetic spectrum;
insert means attached to said light source for removably inserting said light source within said intramedullary nail such that said light source emits said radiation from said distal transverse hole of said intramedullary nail;
whereby visual detection by said surgeon of said radiation on the exterior surface of said patient and alignment of said surgical drill to said radiation passing through said transverse hole of said intramedullary nail aligns said surgical drill with said transverse hole, permitting accurate drilling of a hole through said bone and said transverse hole of said intramedullary nail.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for detecting the location of transverse holes of an intramedullary nail which has been inserted into a long bone and for aligning a surgical drill to the transverse holes. An insert having a light source at its distal end emitting non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum or infrared is inserted into the intramedullary nail, such that the light source is placed adjacent to the transverse holes. The light source may be a directional radiation output emitting the radiation in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the intramedullary nail. The light source may alternatively be an isotropic radiation output emitting radiation in all directions. The surgeon detects the transmitted radiation on the surface of the body of the patient and aligns the drill with the emitted radiation.
99 Citations
30 Claims
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1. Apparatus for use by a surgeon with a surgical drill in the repair of bones, comprising, in combination:
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an intramedullary nail, said intramedullary nail insertable into a patient'"'"'s bone and having a hollow body portion and a distal transverse hole; a light source emitting electromagnetic non-ionizing radiation in the infrared or visible portions of the electromagnetic spectrum; insert means attached to said light source for removably inserting said light source within said intramedullary nail such that said light source emits said radiation from said distal transverse hole of said intramedullary nail; whereby visual detection by said surgeon of said radiation on the exterior surface of said patient and alignment of said surgical drill to said radiation passing through said transverse hole of said intramedullary nail aligns said surgical drill with said transverse hole, permitting accurate drilling of a hole through said bone and said transverse hole of said intramedullary nail. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of aligning a surgical drill with a transverse hole of an intramedullary nail, said intramedullary nail insertable into a patient'"'"'s bone and having a hollow body portion, comprising, in combination:
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a) inserting a source of nonionizing electromagnetic radiation within said hollow body portion of said intramedullary nail such that said radiation passes through said transverse hole of said intramedullary nail; b) visually detecting said radiation emitted through said transverse hole on the exterior surface of said patient; and c) aligning said surgical drill with said detected radiation. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification