Implanted article physical referencing apparatus

An implanted article physical referencing apparatus comprises a guide body, a first guide shaft and a second guide shaft. The guide body includes a plurality of guide shaft receptacles therein. A longitudinal axis of each of the guide shaft receptacles extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal reference axis of the guide body. The first and second guide shafts each have a proximate end portion and a distal end portion. The proximate end portion of the first guide shaft includes an exterior surface adapted for being engaged with a corresponding interior surface of a selected one of the guide shaft receptacles to constrain unrestricted relative movement between the first guide shaft and the guide body. The proximate end portion of the second guide shaft is attached to the guide body. A longitudinal axis of the second guide shaft extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal reference axis of the guide body.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosures made herein relate generally to devices used in surgical procedures and, more particularly, to an apparatus used for determining the position of a target implanted article location relative to a reference implanted article location.

BACKGROUND

It is well known that surgical procedures often require one or more implant articles to be placed (i.e., installed) into the body of a patient. For example, orthopedic surgical procedures often include placement of one or more bone screws into a bony structure of a patient. Spinal vertebrae and the pelvic bone are non-limiting.

examples of such bony structure of a patient into which an implanted article such as a bone screw may be placed.

There are a host of techniques available for facilitating the placement of implanted articles into the bony structure of a patient. Placement of implanted articles utilizing radiographic imaging such as fluoroscopy, computed tomography (CT) and the like are well-known and have their respective utility and beneficial attributes. Similarly, placement of implanted articles utilizing physical referencing from a known location of the bony structure of a patient is also well-known and has its respective utility and beneficial attributes. For example, after an implanted articles or locating structure for placing an implanted article (e.g., a Steinmann pin) is placed using a radiographic imaging technique, placement of one or more subsequent instances of such implanted articles and/or locating structure therefor may be implemented using physical referencing from the previously placed implanted article and/or locating structure therefor.

A benefit of utilizing physical referencing for placement of implanted articles and/or locating structure therefor is accuracy relative to a previously placed implanted article and/or locating structure therefor. For example, once a first instance of an implanted article locating structure is placed using radiographic imaging, one or more subsequent instances of the implanted article locating structure can be placed using physical referencing. Such physical referencing utilizes a given dimensional distance between a reference location (e.g., location of an implanted article locating structure placed using radiographic imaging) and a target location (e.g., location of a subsequently placed implant article). In this manner, physically referencing from a reference location to a target location provides a simple and efficient means of accurately placing an implant article at a target location relative to a previously placed implanted article and/or locating structure therefor (i.e., the reference location).

Although prior art implementations of implant article placement guides are known, they are also known to suffer from various drawbacks that limit their utility and beneficial attributes. One such drawback is that some prior art implementations of implant article placement guides are configured in a manner that limits or precludes their use in some types of surgical procedures. For example, some prior art implementations of implant article placement guides have a structure that precludes their use in minimally-invasive procedures (e.g., spine fixation and the like). Another such drawback is that some prior art implementations of implant article placement guides are configured in manner that requires a set of such guides to accommodate common and expected differences in patient anatomy (e.g., depth of surgical site associated with body fat and/or body volume). Still another such drawback is that some prior art implementations of implant article placement guides are configured in manner that can contribute to human error in the accuracy of an intended dimensional distance provided for by the guide. For example, some prior art implementations of implant article placement guides have an adjustment mechanism that relies entirely or predominately upon human interaction for achieving an intended dimensional distance.

Therefore, an implant article placement guide that overcomes drawbacks associated with prior art implant article placement guides would be advantageous, desirable and useful.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a variable implant article placement guide (i.e., an implanted article physical referencing apparatus) for use in surgical procedures. Advantageously, a variable implant article placement guide in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention overcomes drawbacks that limit utility and beneficial attributes of prior art variable implant article placement guides. To this end, a variable implant article placement guide in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention is configured in a manner that enables its use in minimally-invasive procedures, that enables a single guide to be useful even where expected differences in patient anatomy exist (e.g., depth of surgical site associated with body fat and/or body volume) and that limits the potential for human error in achieving accuracy of an intended dimensional distance between placed implant articles.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an implanted article physical referencing apparatus (e.g., a variable implant article placement guide) comprises a guide body and a first guide shaft. The guide body includes a plurality of guide shaft receptacles therein. A longitudinal axis of each of the guide shaft receptacles extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal reference axis of the guide body. The first guide shaft has a proximate end portion and a distal end portion. The proximate end portion of the first guide shaft includes an exterior surface adapted for being engaged with a corresponding interior surface of a selected one of the guide shaft receptacles to constrain unrestricted relative movement between the first guide shaft and the guide body.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a variable implant article placement guide assembly comprises a guide body, a first guide shaft and a second guide shaft. The guide body includes a reference location guide shaft receptacle therein and a plurality of target location guide shaft receptacles therein. A longitudinal axis of all of the guide shaft receptacles extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal reference axis of the guide body. Each of the target location guide shaft receptacles is spaced-apart from each adjacent one of the target location guide shaft receptacles. The reference location guide shaft receptacle is spaced away from all of the target location guide shaft receptacles. The first guide shaft has a proximate end portion and a distal end portion. The proximate end portion of the first guide shaft includes an exterior surface engaged with any selected one of the target location guide shaft receptacles to constrain unrestricted relative movement between the first guide shaft and the guide body. The second guide shaft has a proximate end portion and a distal end portion. The proximate end portion of the second guide shaft is engaged with the reference location guide shaft receptacle to constrain unrestricted relative movement between the second guide shaft and the guide body. A longitudinal axis of the second guide shaft is the longitudinal reference axis of the guide body.

In one or more embodiments, a guide shaft lock can be provided that has a guide body engaging portion engaged with the guide body to constrain relative movement between the guide shaft lock and the guide body in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal reference axis of the guide body and that has a first guide shaft engaging portion is engaged with the first guide shaft to constrain relative movement between the guide body and the first guide shaft in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal reference axis of the guide body when the first guide shaft is engaged with any of the guide shaft receptacles.

In one or more embodiments, a second guide shaft can be attached to the guide body with a longitudinal axis thereof extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal reference axis of the guide body.

In one or more embodiments, the longitudinal axis of each of the guide shaft receptacles can lie on a transverse reference axis of the guide body.

In one or more embodiments, two or more of the guide shaft receptacles can intersect each other.

In one or more embodiments, two or more of the target location guide shaft receptacles can intersect each other.

In one or more embodiments, each of the guide shaft receptacles can have a structure that engages a mating structure of the first guide shaft when the first guide shaft is seated in a selected one of the guide shaft receptacles for constraining axial displacement of the first guide shaft relative to the guide body (i.e., defining a maximum insertion depth of the guide shaft relative to the guide body).

These and other objects, embodiments, advantages and/or distinctions of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification, associated drawings and appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS.1-3show an implanted article physical referencing apparatus100configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The implanted article physical referencing apparatus100is an example of a variable implant article placement guide assembly configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. The implanted article physical referencing apparatus100provide utility in surgical procedures in a manner that overcomes drawbacks that limit utility and beneficial attributes of prior art variable implant article placement guides. More specifically, the implanted article physical referencing apparatus100enables its use in minimally-invasive procedures, enables a single guide to be useful even where expected differences in patient anatomy exist (e.g., depth of surgical site associated with body fat and/or body volume) and limits the potential for human error in achieving accuracy of an intended dimensional distance between placed implant articles.

The implanted article physical referencing apparatus100includes a guide body105, a first guide shaft110, a second guide shaft115and a guide body lock120. As discussed below in greater detail, the first guide shaft110and the second guide shaft115are attached to the guide body105in a spaced apart manner. In preferred embodiments, the first guide shaft110is movable between a plurality of spaced apart positions on the guide body105for enabling distance between implanted articles or locating structure for placing an implanted article (e.g., a Steinmann pin) to be selectively adjusted between a plurality of discrete guide shaft positions. The lock body120can be used to inhibit unrestricted axial movement of the first and second guide shafts110,115relative to the guide body105. In contrast to prior art devices, adjustment of the first guide shaft between a plurality of discrete location is advantageous relative to infinite adjustability over a provided range of adjustment.

The first and second guide shafts110,115each have a central passage125,130that extends at least partially through the first and second guide shafts110,115along the respective longitudinal axis L1, L2thereof. In preferred embodiments, the central passages125,104of the first and second guide shafts110,115extends through an entire length thereof. When the first and second guide shafts110,115are mounted on the guide body105(e.g., when the implanted article physical referencing apparatus100is in use), the longitudinal axis L1of the first guide shaft110extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L2of the second guide shaft115.

As best shown inFIGS.3-5, the guide body105includes a plurality of target location guide shaft receptacles135and a reference location guide shaft receptacle140and. A longitudinal axis of all of the guide shaft receptacles extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal reference axis L1of the guide body105. Each of the target location guide shaft receptacles135is spaced-apart from each adjacent one of the target location guide shaft receptacles135. The reference location guide shaft receptacle140can be spaced away from all of the target location guide shaft receptacles135. In one or more embodiments, as shown, the longitudinal axis of each of all of the guide shaft receptacles135,140lie on a transverse reference axis T1of the guide body and two or more of the target location guide shaft receptacles140(e.g., all of the target location guide shaft receptacles140) intersect each other.

The first and second guide shafts110,115each have a proximate end portion110A,115A and a distal end portion110B,115B. The proximate end portion110A of the first guide shaft110and the proximate end portion115A of the second guide shaft115each include an exterior surface engaged with any selected one of the target location guide shaft receptacles140. To this end, the proximate end portion110A of the first guide shaft110is configured to constrain unrestricted relative movement between the first guide shaft and the guide body. For example, as shown inFIG.3, the first and second guide shafts110,115can each include a cylindrical sidewall142,143having a shoulder145,150extending therefrom. The target location guide shaft receptacles135and the reference location guide shaft receptacle140can be configured mating structure such as a cylindrical, stepped sidewall passages that receive the respective one of the guide shafts110,115. The cylindrical, stepped sidewall passages of each of the shaft receptacles135,140can include a shoulder155,160that is matingly engaged by the shoulder145,150for limiting unrestricted axial displacement of the guide shafts110,115relative to the guide body105. In one or more embodiments, as best shown inFIGS.4and5, the guide shafts110,115each have a cylindrical side wall and the shaft receptacles135,140each have a mating cylindrical side wall.

It is desirable to secure the first and second guide members110,115in their seated positions relative to the guide body105to provide fixed position relative to each other and relative to the guide body105. In one or more embodiments, the guide shaft lock120, guide body105and guide shafts110,115can be jointly configured for securing the first and second guide members110,115in their seated positions relative to the guide body105. In one of more other embodiments, the guide body105and guide shafts110,115can be jointly configured with mating structures (e.g., interlocking protrusions and/or groves, interference fit, snap fit, or the like) for securing the first and second guide members110,115in their seated positions relative to the guide body105without the use of the guide shaft lock120.

In a preferred embodiment, as shown inFIGS.3and6-7, the guide shaft lock120has a guide body engaging portion165, a first guide shaft engaging portion170and a second guide shaft engaging portion175. The guide body engaging portion165engages a mating portion of the guide body105to constrain relative movement between the guide shaft lock and120the guide body105(e.g., in a direction along the longitudinal reference axis L1of the guide body105). In one or more embodiments, as shown, the guide body engaging portion165includes an elongated protrusion180that engages a mating groove182of the guide body105. As best shown inFIGS.3,4,7and8, the guide body engaging portion165can include one or more retention members (e.g., one or more projection184) that engage a mating structure of the guide body (e.g., one or more recesses186) for inhibiting limiting unrestricted movement guide body lock120relative to the guide body105.

In one embodiment, as best shown inFIGS.6and7, the first guide shaft engaging portion170includes an elongated aperture188with an intersecting shoulder passage190and the second guide shaft engaging portion175includes an open-ended aperture192. Though engagement of the guide body engaging portion165with the mating portion of the guide body105, the guide lock120can be moved (e.g., slid) along a length of the guide body105between a guide shaft insertion position P2(FIG.2) and a lock position P1(FIG.1). In the guide shaft insertion position P2(FIG.2), the shoulder passage190is aligned with a selected one of the target location guide shaft receptacles135for allowing the first guide shaft110to be seated in the selected on of the target location guide shaft receptacles135and (to the extent necessary) for allowing the second guide shaft115to be seated in the reference location guide shaft receptacle140. When seated in the reference location guide shaft receptacle140, a longitudinal axis of the second guide shaft115extends substantially colinear with the longitudinal reference axis L1of the guide body105. Moving the guide body lock to the lock position P1(FIG.1) causes the shoulders145,150to become trapped under a respective overlying portion of the first and second guide shaft engaging portions170,175, thereby constraining relative movement between the guide body105and the first and second guide shafts110,115in a direction along the longitudinal reference axis L1of the guide body105to prevent the first and second guide shafts110,115from becoming unseated from within the respective guide shaft receptacle135,140.

In use, the guide body lock120is engaged with the guide body105such that the intersecting shoulder passage190is aligned with a selected one of the target location guide shaft receptacles135of the guide body105. The first guide shaft110can then be inserted into the selected on of the target location guide shaft receptacles135and the second guide shaft115can be inserted into the reference location guide shaft receptacle140. The guide shafts110,115are each inserted to a seated position at which the shoulder145,150thereof engages the shoulder155,160of the respective shaft receptacle135,140, as shown inFIG.2. In the seated position, the guide shafts110,115are in a fixed position relative to the guide body105. The guide body lock is then moved to the lock position P2, as shown inFIG.1.

Advantageously, embodiments of the present invention can permit the guide shafts110,115to be selected from a respective set of guide shafts having different configuration (e.g., length, exterior diameter, etc.). The selected guide shafts be inserted in the respective guide shaft receptacle135,140(before and/or during a surgical procedure) for use with the guide body105and secured in place using the guide body lock (or other retention means). Alternatively, in one or more embodiments, the first guide shaft110and/or the second guide shaft115can be double ended with respect to the respective shoulder145,150such that insertion from a first end provides a first effective guide shaft length and insertion from a second end provides a second effective guide shaft length.

Components of implanted article physical referencing apparatuses configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention (e.g., guide body, guide hafts, guide body lock) can be made from any suitable material using any suitable fabrication process. Examples of suitable materials include, but are not limited to, polymeric materials and metallic materials. Examples of suitable fabrication processes include, but are not limited to, molding, machining, 3-D printing, extrusion, casting and the like.

Although the invention has been described with reference to several exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words that have been used are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention in all its aspects. Although the invention has been described with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed; rather, the invention extends to all functionally equivalent technologies, structures, methods and uses such as are within the scope of the appended claims.