Patent ID: 7594918
Filing Date: 2009-09-29
Classification: A61B,A61C

Abstract:
1. An implant placement locator instrument, which comprises: an elongated handle member, said handle member having a first end and a second end, each of said first end and said second end being an operative end, each said operative end including: a base having a footprint of an implant post, said base having a hollow center, said hollow center adopted to hold a punch; a punch located on said instrument at said operative end and inside said hollow center of said base, said punch having a pointed tip for piercing bone, said punch having a first position relative to said base, being a retracted position wherein it is retracted within said hollow center, and having a second position relative to said base, being an extended, piercing position wherein it is at least partially extended out of said hollow center; a spring connected to one of the said operative end base and said punch so as to enhance movement of said punch from its one of its first position and second position to the other of its first position and second position; wherein a user may position said device at a location desirable for an implant post over a bone area and then actuate said instrument to move said punch from its first position to its second position to mark and pierce a bone area for subsequent preparative work for implanting a post, so as to create both a locator mark and a starter piercing for said subsequent preparative work.