Lockable orientation stylus

• US 20060179979A1
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Dees, Roger Ryan Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,682,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 81/9.200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/155 Cutting femur
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1764 for the knee
• 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 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to devices and methods for identifying landmarks on the anatomy of a human for reference in a surgical procedure. In certain embodiments of the present invention, a stylus body is provided with a spring member and stop with openings having different shaped portions so that when the stop is depressed it can free the stylus arm and allow rotation and/or translation and, when released, it can lock the stylus arm from rotating and/or translating.

Claims

1. A device for identifying landmarks on the anatomy of a human for reference in a surgical procedure, the device comprising:

a stylus body having an upper member with opposing first and second openings that are essentially aligned and a stylus shaft extending from the upper member, wherein the upper member and at least part of the stylus shaft comprise a cavity;

a spring member located in the cavity;

a stop partially located in the cavity and in communication with the spring member, the stop comprising a hole with a first shaped portion and a second shaped portion;

a stylus arm comprising

a first end for referencing an portion of anatomy;

an elongated portion extending from said first end, the elongated portion having first and second shaped portion;

a second end with a detachable knob for rotating the stylus arm; and

wherein the elongated portion penetrates the first and second opening of the upper member and the hole of the stop and the stop is adapted to prevent the stylus arm from rotating or translating.

2. The device in claim 1, wherein said first stop opening portion is circular shaped in cross-section.

3. The device in claim 1, wherein said second stop opening portion is D-shaped in cross-section.

4. The device in claim 1, wherein the stylus arm can be rotated by depressing the stop into the cavity to allow the first stop opening to be essentially aligned with the first and second openings of the upper member.

5. The device in claim 1, wherein said stylus arm first end is curved.

6. The device in claim 1, wherein said first shaped portion of the stylus arm is at least partially circular in cross-section.

7. The device in claim 1, wherein at least part of said second shaped portion is a flat.

8. The device in claim 1, wherein at least part of the cross-section of the elongated portion of the stylus arm is essentially D-shaped.

9. The device in claim 1, wherein the spring member presses the stop in at least one direction to lock the stylus arm.

10. A process for locking an orientation stylus that is used to identify landmarks on the anatomy of a human for reference in a surgical procedure, the process comprising:

providing a stylus body having an upper member and an elongated stylus shaft extending from the upper member, wherein the upper member has openings that are opposite from one another and the upper member and a portion of the shaft include a cavity;

providing a stop, wherein the stop includes holes opposite one another and on the side of the stop, the holes comprising a first portion and second portion that are different in shape

providing a stylus arm with a first end, a second end, and an elongated portion between said first and second end, the elongated portion having a first and second shaped portion;

depressing the stop until the first portion of the stop opening is essentially aligned with the upper member openings;

inserting the stylus arm through said upper member openings and first portion of the stop openings;

moving the stylus arm in the rotational or translational direction; and

locking the stylus arm rotationally and translationally by releasing the stop.

11. The process in claim 10, wherein said first stop hole portion is circular shaped in cross-section.

12. The process in claim 10, wherein said second stop hole portion is D-shaped in cross-section.

13. The process in claim 10, wherein said stylus arm first end is curved.

14. The process in claim 10, wherein said first shaped portion of the stylus arm is at least partially circular in cross-section.

15. The process in claim 10, wherein at least part of said second shaped portion of the stylus arm is a flat.

16. The process in claim 10, wherein the cross-section of at least part of the elongated portion of the stylus arm is essentially D-shaped.

17. The process in claim 10, further comprising providing a spring which pushes the stop to lock the stylus arm.

18. A process for using a stylus to identify landmarks on the anatomy of a human for reference in a surgical procedure, the process comprising:

providing a stylus body having an upper member with opposing first and second openings that are essentially aligned and a stylus shaft extending from the upper member, wherein the upper member and at least part of the stylus shaft comprise a cavity;

providing a stop partially located in the cavity and in communication with the spring member, the stop comprising a hole with a first shaped portion and a second shaped portion;

providing a stylus arm comprising

a first end for referencing an portion of anatomy;

an elongated portion extending from said first end, the elongated portion having first and second shaped portion;

a second end with a detachable knob for rotating the stylus arm;

locating the stylus arm in the first and second opening of the upper member and the hole of the stop;

depressing the stop until the first portion of the stop opening is essentially aligned with the upper member openings;

moving the stylus arm in the rotational or translational direction to a reference position to locate a reference on the human anatomy;

releasing the stop to lock the stylus arm from rotating or translating;

depressing the stop to unlock the stylus;

moving the stylus arm in the rotational or translational direction to remove the stylus arm from the reference position.

19. The process in claim 18, wherein at least part of said first shaped stop portion is circular shaped in cross-section.

20. The process in claim 18, wherein at least part of said second shaped stop portion is D-shaped in cross-section.

21. The process in claim 18, wherein said stylus arm first end is curved.

22. The process in claim 18, wherein said first shaped portion of the stylus arm is at least partially circular in cross-section.

23. The process in claim 18, wherein at least part of said second shaped portion of the stylus arm is a flat.

24. The process in claim 18, wherein the cross-section of at least part of the elongated portion of the stylus arm is essentially D-shaped.

25. The process in claim 18, further comprising providing a spring which pushes the stop to lock the stylus arm when the stop is released.