GUIDING TOOL

• US 20130190766A1
• Filed: 06/03/2011
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet UK Healthcare Limited (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biomet UK Healthcare Limited (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Harris, Nick, Kistle, Paul James, Smirthwaite, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 9,445,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/87
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/15 Guides therefor arrangements for guiding straight saw blades in general B23D51/025
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/157 Cutting tibia
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1739 specially adapted for particular parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1775 for the foot or ankle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1782 for the hand or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4205 Tibial components

Abstract

A guiding tool (2) is disclosed comprising a tool body (4) that defines a reference plane of the tool (2); an alignment member (10) that carries a guide surface (74); and an adjustment means acting between the tool body (4) and the alignment member (10) to direct rotational adjustment of the alignment member (10) with respect to the tool body (4).

Claims

1. A guiding tool comprising a tool body that defines a reference plane of the tool;

an alignment member that carries a guide surface; and

an adjustments mechanism acting between the tool body and the alignment member configured to direct rotational adjustment of the alignment member with respect to the tool body.

2. The guiding tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to direct rotational adjustment of the alignment member in the reference plane of the tool.

3. The guiding tool as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a referencing rod that is connectable to the alignment member and operable for alignment with a reference axis.

4. The guiding tool as claimed in claim 3, wherein the referencing rod is connectable to the alignment member in a predetermined angular relation to the guide surface.

5. The guiding tool as claimed in claim 3, wherein the guide surface is planar and the referencing rod is connectable to the alignment member such that a longitudinal axis of the referencing rod is substantially normal to the plane of the guide surface.

6. The guiding tool as claimed in claim 3, wherein the referencing rod is connectable via a threaded connection.

7. The guiding tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment pin that is received through an arcuate slot on the alignment member to engage a recess on the tool body.

8. The guiding tool as claimed in claim 7, wherein the adjustment mechanism further includes a guide plate extending from an end of the tool body and received within a guide slot formed in the alignment member.

9. The guiding tool as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an indicator, operable to indicate a default position of rotational adjustment in which the guide surface of the alignment member is in a predetermined angular relation to the reference plane of the tool.

10. The guiding tool as claimed in claim 9, wherein the indicator comprises a protrusion formed on one of the tool body and the alignment member and a corresponding recess formed on the other of the tool body and the alignment member.

11. The guiding tool as claimed in claim 10, wherein the protrusion comprises a spring mounted ball and the recess comprises a groove extending along an axis that defines the position at which the alignment member is in the predetermined angular relation with the reference plane of tool.

12. The guiding tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tool body comprises a tool stem and a translation member which is translatable with respect to the tool stem along a translation axis.

13. The guiding tool as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a threaded driving connection between the tool stem and the translation member.

14. The guiding tool as claimed in claim 12, wherein the adjustment mechanism acts between the translation member and the alignment member.

15. The guiding tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tool body comprises at least two telescoping sections.

16. The guiding tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tool body further comprises at least two fixation members disposed at opposed ends of the tool stem.

17. The guiding tool as claimed in claim 16, wherein a first fixation member comprises opposed jaws.

18. The guiding tool as claimed in claim 16, wherein a second fixation member comprises at least two opposed fixation blocks, each fixation block comprising a plurality of guide holes extending there through and operable to receive a plurality of fixation elements

19. The guiding tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guiding tool comprises a guiding tool for an ankle.

20. The guiding tool as claimed in claim 19, wherein the guide surface is a distal tibial cutting guide surface.

21. The guiding tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in use, the reference plane of the tool is parallel to a coronal plane of a patient.

22. The guiding tool as claimed in claim 3, wherein the referencing rod is operable for alignment with a fibula of a patient.

23. (canceled)