Patent ID: 6214013
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method of placing an orthopedic instrument in a desired position relative to a bony target using an imaging device;providing a housing with a guide passageway through which said instrument is passed;providing at least one targeting arm member fixed to said housing, said targeting member containing at least one relatively radio-opaque target marker that establishes a plane that is co-planar with an axis of said passageway;manipulating said targeting arm member until the plane established by the targeting arm member is co-planar with a beam from an imaging device and a desired location or trajectory relative to a bony target in one view;moving the targeting arm and the imaging device so that they are oriented in an orthogonal position with respect to their co-planar position and manipulating said targeting member until the plane established by the targeting arm member is co-planar with a beam from said imaging device and a desired location or trajectory relative to a bony target; andpassing said instrument through said passageway.