Surgical tool guide and entry hole positioner
First Claim
1. A surgical tool guide and entry hole positioner comprising an outer sleeve having a distal end and a proximal end and a longitudinal axis, a soft tissue shield extending proximally and axially from the proximal end of said outer sleeve, a handle secured to said outer sleeve, said outer sleeve having an interior passage extending therethrough and interior guide surfaces for insertion of a surgical tool, the size of said surgical tool being limited by the diameter of said interior passage of said outer sleeve, said surgical tool being inserted into the proximal end of said outer sleeve with the distal end of said outer sleeve being directed toward an intramedullary canal of a bone so as to accurately form an entry hole from an external surface of the bone to the intramedullary canal of the bone coaxial with the longitudinal anatomical axis of said bone, a plurality of removably nested sleeves, each of said nested sleeves having a distal end and an enlarged proximal end, each of said nested sleeves having an interior passage, each of which nested sleeves may also guide a surgical tool so as to accurately form an entry hole from the external surface of a bone to an intramedullary canal of said bone coaxial with the longitudinal anatomical axis of said bone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In the broader aspects of the invention, there is provided an improved surgical tool guide and entry hole positioner comprising at least one cannulated sleeve with a handle and soft tissue protector secured to the sleeve. The cannulated sleeve has an inner surface which serves as a guide surface for a surgical tool and an obturator at one end thereof which fits in the cannulated sleeve. An improved method for locating the starting hole and accessing the intramedullary canal of bones such as the femur, the tibia, and the humerus is also provided including the steps of exposing the end of the intramedullary canal, positioning the tip of the sleeved guide with obturator in close proximity to the end of the canal, removing the obturator so that the cannulated sleeve remains in position, placing a guide pin through the sleeve and into the bone for radiographic evaluation of the guide pin placement, positioning a cannulated surgical tool over the guide pin, and using a cannulated drill for creating the entry hole into the bone for access to the intramedullary canal with a reamer, and introducing reamers and other surgical tools, guided by the inner surface of the sleeve into the intramedullary canal to increase the inner diameter of the canal until it is of a suitable diameter to receive a fracture fixation device, all the while retracting and protecting muscle, skin, and other soft tissue from damage.
207 Citations
17 Claims
- 1. A surgical tool guide and entry hole positioner comprising an outer sleeve having a distal end and a proximal end and a longitudinal axis, a soft tissue shield extending proximally and axially from the proximal end of said outer sleeve, a handle secured to said outer sleeve, said outer sleeve having an interior passage extending therethrough and interior guide surfaces for insertion of a surgical tool, the size of said surgical tool being limited by the diameter of said interior passage of said outer sleeve, said surgical tool being inserted into the proximal end of said outer sleeve with the distal end of said outer sleeve being directed toward an intramedullary canal of a bone so as to accurately form an entry hole from an external surface of the bone to the intramedullary canal of the bone coaxial with the longitudinal anatomical axis of said bone, a plurality of removably nested sleeves, each of said nested sleeves having a distal end and an enlarged proximal end, each of said nested sleeves having an interior passage, each of which nested sleeves may also guide a surgical tool so as to accurately form an entry hole from the external surface of a bone to an intramedullary canal of said bone coaxial with the longitudinal anatomical axis of said bone.
Specification