Abstract:
A fixing device for securely fixing surgical equipment to a surgical field of a human or animal body includes a first lever element including a first gripping portion and a first handling portion, and a second lever element including a second gripping portion and a second handling portion. The and second lever elements can be connected such that they can be pivoted and detached with respect to each other.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA  
       [0001]     This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/754,510 filed on Dec. 28, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a device for securely fixing surgical equipment to a surgical field of a human or animal body, in particular a bone. Furthermore, the invention is related to a method for introducing a fixing device into a surgical field.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Modern surgical procedures utilize improved accuracy to guarantee a minimally invasive operation, such that the patient is able to quickly recover from surgery. Therefore, surgical procedure are used that incur a minimal injury to the patient&#39;s body. To avoid injuring the patient&#39;s body during a surgical operation, the accuracy of the surgery is enhanced, and the surgery itself is performed so as to minimize entry into the body (which may not allow the surgeon to directly view the surgical field). In this scenario, it is nowadays common to use a reference element or reference array to provide a surgeon and/or a navigation system some points of orientation in the surgical field. To maintain the accuracy and the minimally invasive surgical technique, the reference element or reference array cannot be shifted, rotated or inaccurately located during surgery. Improperly locating the reference element or reference array may direct the surgeon away from the actual situation in the surgical field and can cause surgical errors.  
         [0004]     Several different attachment methods are described in the prior art. In general, there are two groups of methods. One of these groups is directed to a bone attachment method according to which a bone is penetrated and a part of the fixing device is introduced into the bone. This group incurs the drawback that it is necessary to penetrate and thus injure a patient&#39;s body. In the other group, it is necessary to open a wide portal through the soft-tissue of a patient, in order to introduce a fixing device which needs significant space in order to enter and be fixed to a patient&#39;s bone. A list of publications directed to these two groups of methods is listed below.  
                                       6,860,883   External Fixation Apparatus and Method       6,835,197   Bone Fixation System       6,830,571   Contourable Spinal Staple with Centralized and Unilateral           Prongs       6,790,234   Reverse Shoulder Prosthesis System       6,730,086   Repositioning Instrument to Fixate Bone-fractures       6,689,134   Longitudinal Plate Assembly Having an Adjustable Length       6,685,708   Staples for Bone Fixation       6,685,706   Proximal Anchors for Bone Fixation System       6,632,224   Bone Fixation System       6,540,770   Reversible Fixation Device for Securing an Implant in Bone       6,461,358   Device for the External Fixation of Bones Fractures, in           Particular Ankle Fractures       6,447,517   Instrument for Inserting Graft Fixation Device       6,391,030   Surgical Cable System and Method       6,364,884   Method of Securing a Graft Using a Graft Fixation Device       6,328,758   Suture Anchor with Reversible Expansion       6,206,826   Devices and Methods for Percutaneous Surgery       6,179,840   Graft Fixation Device and Method       6,102,912   Vertebral Rod of Constant Section for Spinal Osteosynthesis           Instrumentations       5,827,286   Incrementally Adjustable Tibial Osteotomy Fixation Device           and Method       5,674,221   External Fixator with Improved Clamp and Methods for Use       5,569,303   Apparatus and Method for Attaching an Object to Bone       5,536,271   Patella Reaming System       5,423,821   Sternal Closure Device       5,133,720   Surgical Drill Guide and Retractor       5,026,372   Fixation Device for the External Adjusting of Bone Fragments       4,959,065   Bone Plate with Positioning Member       4,944,743   Spinal Fixation Device       4,655,776   Prostheses for Ossicular Reconstruction       4,587,916   Device for Fixing the Wish-bone of the Sail-board to the Mast           in a Fast and Rigid Manner       4,414,967   Internal Fixation of Bone, Tendon, and Ligaments       4,252,121   Separating Device       3,987,500   Surgically Implantable Total Ankle Prosthesis                  
 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention provides a fixing device and method that enables minimally invasive operating techniques. The present invention also provides a fixing device that can be fixed to a bone without penetrating and injuring the bone. The present invention further provides a fixing device that enables the surgeon to insert the fixing device through a small soft-tissue portal in the patient.  
         [0006]     According to one aspect of the invention, a fixing device comprises a first lever element with a first gripping portion and a first handling portion; and a second lever element with a second gripping portion and a second handling portion, and wherein said first and second lever elements can be connected such that they can be pivoted and detached with respect to each other.  
         [0007]     According to another aspect of the invention, a method of introducing the fixing device into a surgical field includes opening a soft-tissue portal in the patient; introducing one of first and second lever elements only into said portal; introducing the other of said first and the second lever elements into the portal; connecting the first and second lever elements to each other; and rotating the first and second lever elements with respect to a common rotational center to pivot first and second gripping portions towards each other and towards the surface of a bone to be gripped, wherein said first and said second lever elements can be connected such that they can be pivoted and detached with respect to each other.  
         [0008]     Accordingly, one benefit of the present invention is that the fixing device can be fixed to a patient&#39;s bone without penetrating the bone tissue. Furthermore, it is possible to connect and detach elements of the fixing device such that they may be introduced into the patient&#39;s body through a comparatively small portal in the soft-tissue of the patient&#39;s body.  
         [0009]     While a reference element or several reference elements or a reference array including several reference elements can be attached to the fixing device, it is also possible to fix other surgical equipment to the fixing device. For instance, it is possible to fix a probe, a lamp, an x-ray source or the like to the fixing device.  
         [0010]     One of the first and second lever elements can include a receiving section and the other can include an insertion section. The insertion section can be removably introduced into the receiving section such that the insertion section may be pivoted with respect to the receiving section. This construction allows the fixing device to be assembled in the surgical field (e.g., in the patient&#39;s body), wherein the parts of the fixing device can be separately introduced and removed from the patient&#39;s body. When assembled within the surgical field, the parts can have the general shape of pliers.  
         [0011]     The fixing device can include a securing element for securely maintaining an angle between the lever elements, in order to securely grip a bone. Accordingly, when a surgeon closes the lever elements of the device such that the bone is clamped between the gripping portions, the securing element can create and maintain an urging contact or force between the gripping elements and the bone. The securing element, for example, can be a screw or comparable component. This securing element can hold the levers together in their intended positions.  
         [0012]     The receiving section can include a hole-like, groove-like or slit-like shape for receiving the insertion section or for guiding the insertion section into an operating position within the receiving section. The insertion section can be held and pivoted or rotated in the receiving section, in order to fix the device at a certain position on a bone.  
         [0013]     The device can include at least one gripping surface on each of the first and second gripping portions. Providing special gripping surfaces enables the surgeon to securely fix the device on the bone. The gripping surfaces can have particular structures, for instance ridges, spikes or the like.  
         [0014]     To allow the first lever element to pivot or rotate with respect to the second lever element, a guide surface can be formed on the first or second lever element. The other of the first and second lever element can be provided with a joint section having a sliding surface. The sliding surface cooperates with the guide surface to allow the pivoting or rotating movement. The joint section can be formed integrally with the other of the first and second lever elements.  
         [0015]     The gripping surface or gripping surfaces can be broadened in a direction perpendicular to the main extension of the corresponding lever element and/or can be provided with at least one, preferably two extended edges directed towards the opposite gripping surface. This provides a further safety aspect that ensures the device cannot be displaced, rotated or the like, such that the reference elements or the reference array cannot be improperly positioned or located.  
         [0016]     The fixing device described herein can be introduced into a surgical field by means of the following steps.  
         [0017]     Firstly, a soft-tissue portal can be opened in a patient&#39;s body. The first and second lever elements then can be separately introduced, one after the other, through said portal. The first and second lever elements then can be connected with each other. The first and second lever elements then can be rotated or pivoted with respect to a common rotational center, in order to pivot the first and second gripping portions towards each other and towards the surface of a bone to be gripped, e.g., to be clamped between the gripping surfaces of the first and second lever elements.  
         [0018]     It may be beneficial to ensure that the device is fixed to a bone such that at least three portions or three areas of the device are in direct contact with corresponding parts of the bone. This prevents the device from being rotated once it has been fixed to the bone.  
         [0019]     Accordingly, the present invention enables a surgeon to attach a device and in particular a reference element or reference array to a surgical field, and in particular to a bone structure of a patient. Reference element or reference arrays are commonly used for image-guided surgery. The fixing device prevents translational and rotational displacements of the reference element or reference array or of any other surgical equipment which is fixed by means of the device. The device can be used in connection with computer aided and/or image guided surgical systems such as Vector Vision and/or Trauma 2.5, both well known products of the assignee of the present application.  
         [0020]     Since the device does not need to penetrate a bone, the device does not block the volume of the bone. Thus, the device enables insertion of implants into the bone while the device is attached to the bone.  
         [0021]     As stated above, the fixing device preferably comprises two levers. These levers can be formed such that the outer cortex of the bone fits the inner shape of the closed gripping surfaces of the levers. The levers may be assembled to form a plier-like surgical tool once they have been separately inserted through a soft-tissue portal in the patient. Accordingly, it is advantageous that the lever elements can be assembled by means of a combining element or joint element to allow the levers to be connected and to pivot or rotate, once introduced into the surgical field in order to form the plier-like instrument. For instance, a plug and a corresponding hole can be used to mount the lever elements. On the other hand, it is also possible to use a more complicated joint or combining element, comprising for instance a bolt which can be introduced into a bearing or the like, such that it can be rotated or pivoted. A hinge-like shape could also be used. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]     The forgoing and other features of the invention are hereinafter discussed with reference to the drawings.  
         [0023]      FIG. 1A  is a fragmentary perspective view of an exemplary fixing device in accordance with the invention, wherein the levers are broken away in section.  
         [0024]      FIG. 1B  is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in  FIG. 1A .  
         [0025]      FIG. 1C  is a fragmentary perspective cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in  FIG. 1A .  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary securing element in accordance with the invention that can be used in connection with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0027]     An exemplary fixing device according to  FIG. 1A  is indicated generally by reference indicator  10 . Since the illustrated fixing device functions much like pliers to grip a body part, such as a bone, such fixing device is herein referred to as pliers. The skilled person will appreciate, however, that a fixing device according to the invention may take other forms as well.  
         [0028]     The pliers  10  include a first lever element  12  and a second lever element  14  that are assembled to form the pliers  10 . A surgeon&#39;s hand can grip the pliers at first and second handling portions  12   a  and  14   a  of the first and the second lever element  12  and  14 . A bone  50  can be gripped or clamped by means of first gripping portion  14   b  of lever element  14  and second gripping portion as shown, the second gripping portion including two laterally spaced apart parts  12   b  and  12   b′.    
         [0029]     When introducing the elements of the pliers  10  into the surgical field in a patient&#39;s body, a surgeon may first introduce the second lever element  14  and then the first lever element  12 , such that a knee portion  21  of the second lever element  14  approaches a guide surface  20  of the first lever element  12 . Said knee portion  21  can be introduced through the guide surface between two fork-like or prong-like extensions  15   a  and  15   b  to form a secure connection between the first lever element  12  and the second lever element  14 . At the end of the guide surface between the prong-shaped extensions  15   a  and  15   b  of the second gripping portion  12   b  and  12   b′ , a sliding surface  20   a  can be provided that, once assembled, touches the guide surface  20  such that the two lever elements  12  and  14  can be rotated to urge areas of the first and second gripping portions  12   b ,  12   b  and  12   b ′ against corresponding attachment points or attachment areas  17   a  and  17   b  with respect to the bone  50 . To avoid a rotational movement of the levers and thus of the pliers  10  as a whole, the pliers can be attached to the bone  50  such that the pliers touch the bone at an additional support point or area X.  
         [0030]     The first and second gripping portions  14   b ,  12   b  and  12   b′ can be provided with corresponding first and second gripping surfaces  14     c ,  12   c  and  12   c′.    
         [0031]     As shown in particular in  FIG. 1B , the first and second gripping portions  14   b ,  12   b  and  12   b ′ can be provided with the gripping surface  12   c  that can include a ridged or spiked structure or the like. Furthermore, extended edges  12   d  and  12   d ′ can be provided at the edges of the corresponding gripping surfaces. The extended edges  12   d  and  12   d ′ can be urged into the surface of the bone  50 , such that the attachment of the pliers  10  to the bone can be made more secure against being displaced by a torque force or shifting force acting on the pliers  10 .  
         [0032]     As can be seen in  FIG. 1A , the gripping area of the pliers  10  touches the bone  50  at three different points or areas X,  17   a  and  17   b  and, thus, minimizes the likelihood of the pliers  10  being displaced once fixed to a particular location on the bone.  
         [0033]      FIG. 1C  shows a situation immediately after inserting and assembling the levers and during the closing operation for urging the gripping surfaces  14   c ,  12   c  and  12   c ′ against the surface of the bone  50 .  
         [0034]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the first lever element  12  can be provided with a U-shaped recess at its upper end. A securing element  30 , and in particular a bushing or cylindrical bushing  30 , the shape of which can depend on the cross-sectional shape of the second lever element  14 , has been shifted over the upper end of the second lever element  14 . A protrusion  30   a  (in the present case a threaded shaft) can be fixed to the bushing  30 . The threaded shaft can extend through the U-shaped recess (not shown) in the upper end of the first lever element  12 . A wing nut can be used as a fixing element  30   b , to urge the first handling portion  12   a  in a rotational movement of the lever  12  towards the second handling portion  14   a  of the second lever element  14 . Once tightened, the thumb nut  30   b  will securely hold the lever elements  12  and  14  in a particular position. A reference element  40 , such as a reference star  40  including reflective markers  40   a , for example, can be attached to the fixing device  10  via the first or second lever element  12  and  14 .  
         [0035]     Since it is possible to separately introduce the lever elements  12  and  14  into the patient&#39;s body and to assemble them therein, the fixing device or pliers  10  can be inserted and attached to a bone through a small soft-tissue portal in a patient. Furthermore, since it is possible to securely fix the pliers  10  to a bone without penetrating the bone tissue, the injury to the bone is very minor and the fixing device  10  allows other surgical instruments, implants or the like to be introduced, since the pliers  10  do not occupy much space within the bone.  
         [0036]     Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain preferred embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such elements are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any element which performs the specified function of the described element (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been described above with respect to only one or more of several illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.