DRILL GUIDE

• US 20020082606A1
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suddaby, Loubert
• Original Assignee: Suddaby, Loubert
• Inventors: Suddaby, Loubert
• Granted Patent: US 6,436,103 B1
• 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 17/80 Cortical plates , i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/808 Instruments for holding or positioning bone plates, or for adjusting screw-to-plate locking mechanisms

Abstract

An orthopedic plate is provided with recesses specially adapted to be engaged by the jaws of a drill guide tool, whereby the plate can be held while holes are being drilled through the plate into underlying bone, and while screws are inserted through the holes into the bone. Tools designed for this task are disclosed as well.

Claims

1. An orthopedic plate having an array of holes therein for receiving screws and for acting as drill guides, the plate being provided with, adjacent at least some of said holes, at least one recess adapted to be engaged within by a gripping tool, whereby the plate can be grasped with the gripping tool while bone beneath the plate is being drilled and screws are installed into the holes.

2. An orthopedic plate having an array of holes therein for receiving screws and for acting as drill guides, the plate being provided with, straddling each of said holes, a pair of recesses adapted to be engaged within by jaws of a gripping tool, whereby the plate can be grasped with the gripping tool while bone beneath the plate is being drilled and screws are being installed into the holes.

4. The invention of claim 2, wherein said recesses angle toward one another at an angle of 30°

to 60°

.

5. The invention of claim 2, wherein said recesses angle toward one another at an angle of about 45°

.

6. The invention of claim 2, wherein said recesses have rounded edges.

7. The invention of claim 2, wherein said holes are countersunk on one side.

8. The invention of claim 2, wherein said holes are countersunk on both sides to permit screws to be installed at angles other than perpendicular to the plate.

9. The invention of claim 2, wherein said holes are arranged in pairs, and said recesses are formed in transverse edges of said plates, the holes and the respective recesses being aligned on a common transverse plane.

3. The invention of claim 3, wherein each of said recesses has a substantially semicircular shape in plan view.

10. A tool for grasping an orthopedic plate having holes therein for receiving screws and pairs of opposed recesses adjacent to said holes, said tool comprising

a hollow guide tube adapted to guide a drill bit,

a pair of spring arms attached at one end of the guide tube,

each of said arms having a tip adapted to engage within one of said recesses,

an outer tube mounted for telescoping movement with respect to said guide tube so that one end of the outer tube can bear against the spring arms, forcing them toward one another, whereby the tips of the arms can grasp the plate.

11. The invention of claim 10, further comprising a pair of lever arms having a pivot connection to one another, one end of one arm being connected to said guide tube, and one end of the other arm being connected to said outer tube.

12. A method of applying an orthopedic plate to a bone, said method comprising steps of

providing said plate with holes for receiving screws and opposed recesses straddling said holes into each of which a grasping tool may be inserted,

grasping and placing said plate by manipulating said tool,

drilling into the bone through said holes while maintaining the grasp on the plate,

inserting screws through the holes into the bone while maintaining the grasp on the plate, and then

manipulating the tool to release the plate and

withdrawing the tool.