DRILL GUIDE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A drill guide for controlling the first metacarpal while maintaining the proper trajectory of the drill. The drill guide includes a guide rail having an elongated shaft and a guide body with an aperture extending therethrough. The aperture is configured to receive the elongated shaft of the guide rail. The drill guide also includes a distal ring connected to the elongated shaft. A spike and a hook are both attached to the distal ring and extend therefrom. The hook and the spike extend from opposing positions along the distal ring. A trigger end of the guide body has a trigger that, when actuated, allows the guide body to slide along the guide rail in a proximal direction. A drilling end of the guide body has a rotatable drill bullet extending distally therefrom. The drill bullet includes a pair of arms lined with teeth for engaging the first metacarpal.

Claims

1. A drill guide, comprising: a guide rail having an elongated shaft; a guide body with an aperture extending therethrough, the aperture configured to receive the elongated shaft of the guide rail; a trigger end of the guide body having a locking mechanism moveable between an unlocked position and a locked position; and a trigger attached to the trigger end of the guide body, wherein the trigger is configured to move the locking mechanism from the unlocked position to the locked position upon actuation; wherein in the unlocked position, the guide body is slidable along the guide rail in a proximal direction.

2. The drill guide of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is biased to the unlocked position.

3. The drill guide of claim 2, wherein the locking mechanism includes a spring, which is compressed by the trigger in the unlocked position.

4. The drill guide of claim 1, wherein in the locked position, the guide body is only slidable along the guide rail in a distal direction.

5. The drill guide of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ridges on at least a portion of a surface of the guide rail.

6. The drill guide of claim 5, wherein in the locked position, the trigger catches at least one of the plurality of ridges when the guide body is pulled in the proximal direction.

7. A method of using a drill guide, comprising: providing a drill guide, comprising: a guide rail having an elongated shaft and a spike; a guide body with an aperture extending therethrough, the aperture configured to receive the elongated shaft of the guide rail; a trigger end of the guide body having a locking mechanism moveable between an unlocked position and a locked position; and a trigger attached to the trigger end of the guide body, wherein the trigger is configured to move the locking mechanism from the unlocked position to the locked position upon actuation; wherein in the unlocked position, the guide body is slidable along the guide rail in a proximal direction; positioning the spike onto a desired drilling location; actuating the trigger to move the locking mechanism to the locked position; and drilling a tunnel into the drilling location.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of actuating the trigger to move the locking mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position and pulling the guide body off of the guide rail in the proximal direction.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the locking mechanism is biased to the unlocked position.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism includes a spring, which is compressed by the trigger in the unlocked position.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein in the locked position, the guide body is only slidable along the guide rail in a distal direction.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the drill guide further comprises a plurality of ridges on at least a portion of a surface of the guide rail.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein in the locked position, the trigger catches at least one of the plurality of ridges when the guide body is pulled in the proximal direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] One or more aspects of the present invention are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed as examples in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0011] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematic representation of a drill guide, according to an embodiment;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a side view schematic representation of the drill guide in a locked position, according to an embodiment;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a close-up side view schematic representation of the trigger in the locked position, according to an embodiment;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a side view schematic representation of the proximal end of the drill guide in an unlocked position, according to an embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 5 is a close-up perspective view schematic representation of the drill bullet of the drill guide, according to an embodiment;

[0016] FIG. 6 is a close-up side view schematic representation of the drilling end of the guide body, according to an embodiment;

[0017] FIG. 7 is a side view schematic representation of the drill guide in the locked position, according to an embodiment; and

[0018] FIG. 8 is a side view schematic representation of the drill guide in the unlocked position, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Aspects of the present invention and certain features, advantages, and details thereof, are explained more fully below with reference to the non-limiting examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Descriptions of well-known structures are omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the invention in detail. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific non-limiting examples, while indicating aspects of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, and are not by way of limitation. Various substitutions, modifications, additions, and/or arrangements, within the spirit and/or scope of the underlying inventive concepts will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

[0020] Referring now to the figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view schematic representation of a drill guide 10, according to an embodiment. The drill guide 10 comprises a proximal end 12 and a distal end 14. At the proximal end 12, the drill guide 10 includes a guide body 16. The guide body 16 is configured to slide along a guide rail 18, which extends to the distal end 14.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the guide rail 18 has an elongated shaft 20 extending toward the proximal end 12 of the drill guide 10. The guide rail 18 extends along a central longitudinal y.sup.1-y.sup.1 axis. The guide rail 18 comprises a plurality of ridges 22 extending along at least a portion of a surface 24 of the guide rail 18. The guide rail 18 can have a distal ring 26 connected to the elongated shaft 20. The distal ring 26 has a hook 28 extending therefrom. In the depicted embodiment, the hook 28 is curved in the distal direction (but can curve in the proximal direction), extending substantially along a lateral x-x axis. In the depicted embodiment, the ring 26 is substantially planar along the lateral x-x axis.

[0022] Still referring to FIG. 1, the guide rail 18 additionally includes a spike 30 extending from the ring 26. In the depicted embodiment, the spike 30 extends substantially along the lateral x-x axis. As shown in FIG. 1, the spike 30 extends from the ring 26 in a direction opposing the hook 28 (but could extend in the same direction as the hook 28). In the depicted embodiment, the lateral x-x axis is substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal y.sup.1-y.sup.1 axis. FIG. 1 also shows that the spike 30 includes a sharp tip 32 extending in the proximal direction.

[0023] At the proximal end 12 of the drill guide 10, the guide body 16 includes a trigger end 34 and a drilling end 36. The drilling end 36 of the guide body 16 includes an aperture 38 defining an inner volume 40 extending from a proximal surface 42 of the guide body 16 to a distal surface 44 of the guide body 16. In the depicted embodiment, the inner volume 40 extends along a central longitudinal y.sup.2-y.sup.2 axis, which extending substantially parallel to the central longitudinal y.sup.1-y.sup.1 axis. In the depicted embodiment, the sharp tip 32 of the spike 30 also extends along the central longitudinal y.sup.2-y.sup.2 axis such that the sharp tip 32 is substantially aligned with the aperture 38 and/or inner volume 40 of the drilling end 36 of the guide body 16.

[0024] The inner volume 40 of the drilling end 36 of the guide body 16 is configured to receive a drill bullet 46. The drill bullet 46 includes a shaft 48 extending proximally along the central longitudinal y.sup.2-y.sup.2 axis and a pair of arms 50 extending distally from the shaft 48. The drilling end 36 of the guide body 16 can also include a locking mechanism 52 that maintains the drill bullet 46 in the desired position. In the depicted embodiment, the locking mechanism 52 includes a slug 54 (e.g., post) and a spring 56, as described in detail below.

[0025] Still referring to FIG. 1, the trigger end 34 of the guide body 16 includes a trigger 58 with an aperture 60 extending therethrough, which is configured to slidably receive the guide rail 18. The trigger 58 is connected to a locking mechanism 62 for locking the position of the guide body 16 along the guide rail 18. In the depicted embodiment, the locking mechanism 62 includes a spring 65 that maintains pressure on the trigger 58 and a trigger pin 64 that allows the trigger 58 to toggle between an unlocked position and a locked position, as described in detail below. As shown, the locking mechanism 62 is maintained within the guide body 16 with a cover plate 66.

[0026] Turning now to FIGS. 2-4, there are shown various views schematic representations of the trigger end 34 (with the cover plate 66 removed) of the guide body 16, according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a side view of the drill guide 10 in the locked position. As stated above, the trigger end 34 of the guide body 16 includes the trigger 58 with the aperture 60 configured to receive the guide rail 18 therethrough. In the locked position, the locking mechanism 62 is biased such that the trigger 58 is spaced from (or at least not actively engaged with) the spring 65 of the locking mechanism 62.

[0027] In the locked position (FIGS. 2-3), the guide body 16 can slide distally along the guide rail 18. However, the guide body 16 cannot slide in the proximal direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of ridges 22 extending along the surface 24 of the guide rail 18 prevent the trigger 58 (and consequently, the guide body 16) from moving in the proximal direction when the trigger 58 is in the locked position. As shown in FIG. 3, in its relaxed, natural (locked) position, the trigger 58 catches on the ridges 22 when the guide body 16 is pulled/pushed in the proximal direction along the guide rail 18.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the proximal end 12 (with the cover plate 66 removed) of the drill guide 10 in the unlocked position. To move the drill guide 10 from the locked position (FIGS. 2-3) to the unlocked position (FIG. 4), pressure is applied to the trigger 58. When the surgeon squeezes the trigger 58, the trigger 58 is rotated away from the plurality of ridges 22 and against the spring 65 of the locking mechanism 62. As the trigger 58 is clear from the ridges 22, the guide body 16 can be pulled/moved in the proximal direction without catching on the ridges 22. Thus, in in the unlocked position, the guide body 16 can slide proximally and distally along the guide rail 18 and in the locked position, the guide body 16 can only slide distally along the guide rail 18.

[0029] Referring now to FIGS. 5-6, there are shown various views schematic representation of the drilling end 36 of the guide body 16. FIG. 5 shows a close-up perspective view of the arms 50 of the drill bullet 46. As stated above, the pair of arms 50 can be connected to and extend from the shaft 48 of the drill bullet 46. In the depicted embodiment, the arms 50 are curved toward the central longitudinal y2-y2 axis in order to elevate the first metacarpal. The embodiment in FIG. 5 can also include a plurality of teeth 68 (or ridges) along an inner surface 70 of the arms 50. The base of the first metacarpal rests on the teeth 68 when the patient's hand is in the desired position within the drill guide 10. The arms 50 and the teeth 68 can be important for supporting and maintaining the position of the first metacarpal as the first metacarpal is typically loose in the joint after removal of the trapezium. A distal end 49 of the shaft 48 can also include a plurality of spaced, sharp tips 51 extending distally therefrom. The sharp tips 51 are used for additional support in maintaining the position of the first metacarpal.

[0030] FIG. 6 shows a close-up side view of the locking mechanism 52 of the drilling end 36 of the guide body 16. As shown in FIG. 6, a channel 72 extends through a surface 74 of the drilling end 36 and into the guide body 16. The spring 56 and the slug 54 are within the channel 72, with the slug 54 extending at least partially into the inner volume 40 of the drilling end 36 of the guide body 16. In the inner volume 40, the slug 54 engages the shaft 48 of the drill bullet 46. A proximal end 76 of the shaft 48 comprises a plurality of grooves 78. The grooves 78 extend circumferentially around the shaft 48.

[0031] Still referring to FIG. 6, a tip 80 of the slug 54 extends into one of the plurality of grooves 78 at a time. The spring 56 is biased to apply just enough force to maintain the tip 80 of the slug 54 in one of the plurality of grooves 78. The force applied by the spring 56 does not fully prevent rotation of the drill bullet 46 within the inner volume 40. In use, the surgeon can rotate the drill bullet 46 so that the arms 50 are in a desired position at the base of the thumb. The drill bullet 46 is automatically maintained in the desired position as the tip 80 of the slug 54 moves into another of the plurality of grooves 78 as the drill bullet 46 rotates. This saves time because there is no step that the surgeon needs to accomplish before he or she can rotate the drill bullet 46 and no step to lock it in place after the desired position is reached.

[0032] Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown a side view schematic representation of the drill guide 10 in the locked position, according to an embodiment. The drill guide 10 can be operated using one hand. The surgeon positions the sharp tip 32 of the spike 30 onto a desired drilling location on a second metacarpal (as should be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art in conjunction with a review of this disclosure). Specifically, the sharp tip 32 is positioned on the bone where the surgeon would like the drill with drill bit (not shown) to exit from. Then, holding the drill guide 10 with his or her fingers on the ring 26 and the hook 28, and thumb on the trigger 58, the surgeon squeezes his or her hand to bring the arms 50 of the drill bullet 46 tight against the base of the patient's thumb (assuming the base of the thumb is the desired start location for the drill tunnel). Then, by releasing pressure on the trigger 58, the drill guide 10 will automatically lock in position and maintain the pressure that the surgeon applied.

[0033] Turning now to FIG. 8, there is shown a side view schematic representation of the drill guide 10 in the unlocked position, according to an embodiment. After drilling the tunnel through the first and second metacarpals, the drill guide 10 is removed by first, pinching the trigger 58, and second, pulling the sliding guide body 16 in the proximal direction away from the bone. Thereafter, while still pinching the trigger 58, the guide body 16 can be pulled off the guide rail 18. With the guide body 16 removed, the guide rail 18 can be easily removed from its position on the patient's hand.

[0034] All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

[0035] While various embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0036] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms a, an and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms comprise (and any form of comprise, such as comprises and comprising), have (and any form of have, such as, has and having), include (and any form of include, such as includes and including), and contain (any form of contain, such as contains and containing) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a method or device that comprises, has, includes or contains one or more steps or elements. Likewise, a step of method or an element of a device that comprises, has, includes or contains one or more features possesses those one or more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.

[0037] The corresponding structures, materials, acts and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below, if any, are intended to include any structure, material or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of one or more aspects of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand one or more aspects of the present invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.