Patent Description:
The present invention is directed generally to a surgical system and, more particularly, to a drill guide to maintain particular positioning of bones in the thumb while maintaining the proper trajectory of a drill/drill bit.

The carpometacarpal (CMC) joint is located at the base of the thumb and is responsible for providing a wide range of motion to the thumb. A CMC suspension is a procedure for repairing damage at the CMC joint. During the CMC suspension procedure, a surgeon will drill through the base of the first metacarpal and the proximal end of the second metacarpal. By using a drill guide, the surgeons can drill all the way through both the first and second metacarpals in one step. However, the first metacarpal is loose due to the removal of the trapezium before drilling, making the process of drilling at the desired location difficult. Further, when drilling in smaller bones, such as the first metacarpal, accuracy is critical.

Therefore, there is a need for a device configured to control the first metacarpal while maintaining the proper trajectory of the drill/drill bit.

Description of the Related Art Section Disclaimer: To the extent that specific patents/publications/products are discussed above in this Description of the Related Art Section or elsewhere in this disclosure, these discussions should not be taken as an admission that the discussed patents/publications/products are prior art for patent law purposes. For example, some or all of the discussed patents/publications/products may not be sufficiently early in time, may not reflect subject matter developed early enough in time and/or may not be sufficiently enabling so as to amount to prior art for patent law purposes. <CIT> discloses a drill guide comprising:.

<CIT> discloses a drill guide, comprising:.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a drill guide for controlling the first metacarpal while maintaining the proper trajectory of a drill/drill bit. The drill guide of the present invention is defined in Claim <NUM>. Further advantageous features are set out in the dependent claims.

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:.

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.

Referring now to the figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, <FIG> shows an exploded perspective view schematic representation of a drill guide <NUM>, according to an embodiment. The drill guide <NUM> comprises a proximal end <NUM> and a distal end <NUM>. At the proximal end <NUM>, the drill guide <NUM> includes a guide body <NUM>. The guide body <NUM> is configured to slide along a guide rail <NUM>, which extends to the distal end <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the guide rail <NUM> has an elongated shaft <NUM> extending toward the proximal end <NUM> of the drill guide <NUM>. The guide rail <NUM> extends along a central longitudinal y<NUM>-y<NUM> axis. The guide rail <NUM> comprises a plurality of ridges <NUM> extending along at least a portion of a surface <NUM> of the guide rail <NUM>. The guide rail <NUM> has a distal ring <NUM> connected to the elongated shaft <NUM>. The distal ring <NUM> has a hook <NUM> extending therefrom. In the depicted embodiment, the hook <NUM> 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 <NUM> is substantially planar along the lateral x-x axis.

Still referring to <FIG>, the guide rail <NUM> additionally includes a spike <NUM> extending from the ring <NUM>. In the depicted embodiment, the spike <NUM> extends substantially along the lateral x-x axis. As shown in <FIG>, the spike <NUM> extends from the ring <NUM> in a direction opposing the hook <NUM>. In the depicted embodiment, the lateral x-x axis is substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal y<NUM>-y<NUM> axis. <FIG> also shows that the spike <NUM> includes a sharp tip <NUM> extending in the proximal direction.

At the proximal end <NUM> of the drill guide <NUM>, the guide body <NUM> includes a trigger end <NUM> and a drilling end <NUM>. The drilling end <NUM> of the guide body <NUM> includes an aperture <NUM> defining an inner volume <NUM> extending from a proximal surface <NUM> of the guide body <NUM> to a distal surface <NUM> of the guide body <NUM>. In the depicted embodiment, the inner volume <NUM> extends along a central longitudinal y<NUM>-y<NUM> axis, which extending substantially parallel to the central longitudinal y<NUM>-y<NUM> axis. In the depicted embodiment, the sharp tip <NUM> of the spike <NUM> also extends along the central longitudinal y<NUM>-y<NUM> axis such that the sharp tip <NUM> is substantially aligned with the aperture <NUM> and/or inner volume <NUM> of the drilling end <NUM> of the guide body <NUM>.

The inner volume <NUM> of the drilling end <NUM> of the guide body <NUM> is configured to receive a drill bullet <NUM>. The drill bullet <NUM> includes a shaft <NUM> extending proximally along the central longitudinal y<NUM>-y<NUM> axis and a pair of arms <NUM> extending distally from the shaft <NUM>. The drilling end <NUM> of the guide body <NUM> can also include a locking mechanism <NUM> that maintains the drill bullet <NUM> in the desired position. In the depicted embodiment, the locking mechanism <NUM> includes a slug <NUM> (e.g., post) and a spring <NUM>, as described in detail below.

Still referring to <FIG>, the trigger end <NUM> of the guide body <NUM> includes a trigger <NUM> with an aperture <NUM> extending therethrough, which is configured to slidably receive the guide rail <NUM>. The trigger <NUM> is connected to a locking mechanism <NUM> for locking the position of the guide body <NUM> along the guide rail <NUM>. In the depicted embodiment, the locking mechanism <NUM> includes a spring <NUM> that maintains pressure on the trigger <NUM> and a trigger pin <NUM> that allows the trigger <NUM> to toggle between an unlocked position and a locked position, as described in detail below. As shown, the locking mechanism <NUM> is maintained within the guide body <NUM> with a cover plate <NUM>.

Turning now to <FIG>, there are shown various views schematic representations of the trigger end <NUM> (with the cover plate <NUM> removed) of the guide body <NUM>, according to an embodiment. <FIG> shows a side view of the drill guide <NUM> in the locked position. As stated above, the trigger end <NUM> of the guide body <NUM> includes the trigger <NUM> with the aperture <NUM> configured to receive the guide rail <NUM> therethrough. In the locked position, the locking mechanism <NUM> is biased such that the trigger <NUM> is spaced from (or at least not actively engaged with) the spring <NUM> of the locking mechanism <NUM>.

In the locked position (<FIG>), the guide body <NUM> can slide distally along the guide rail <NUM>. However, the guide body <NUM> cannot slide in the proximal direction. As shown in <FIG>, the plurality of ridges <NUM> extending along the surface <NUM> of the guide rail <NUM> prevent the trigger <NUM> (and consequently, the guide body <NUM>) from moving in the proximal direction when the trigger <NUM> is in the locked position. As shown in <FIG>, in its relaxed, natural (locked) position, the trigger <NUM> catches on the ridges <NUM> when the guide body <NUM> is pulled/pushed in the proximal direction along the guide rail <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a side view of the proximal end <NUM> (with the cover plate <NUM> removed) of the drill guide <NUM> in the unlocked position. To move the drill guide <NUM> from the locked position (<FIG>) to the unlocked position (<FIG>), pressure is applied to the trigger <NUM>. When the surgeon squeezes the trigger <NUM>, the trigger <NUM> is rotated away from the plurality of ridges <NUM> and against the spring <NUM> of the locking mechanism <NUM>. As the trigger <NUM> is clear from the ridges <NUM>, the guide body <NUM> can be pulled/moved in the proximal direction without catching on the ridges <NUM>. Thus, in in the unlocked position, the guide body <NUM> can slide proximally and distally along the guide rail <NUM> and in the locked position, the guide body <NUM> can only slide distally along the guide rail <NUM>.

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

<FIG> shows a close-up side view of the locking mechanism <NUM> of the drilling end <NUM> of the guide body <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, a channel <NUM> extends through a surface <NUM> of the drilling end <NUM> and into the guide body <NUM>. The spring <NUM> and the slug <NUM> are within the channel <NUM>, with the slug <NUM> extending at least partially into the inner volume <NUM> of the drilling end <NUM> of the guide body <NUM>. In the inner volume <NUM>, the slug <NUM> engages the shaft <NUM> of the drill bullet <NUM>. A proximal end <NUM> of the shaft <NUM> comprises a plurality of grooves <NUM>. The grooves <NUM> extend circumferentially around the shaft <NUM>.

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

Referring now to <FIG>, there is shown a side view schematic representation of the drill guide <NUM> in the locked position, according to an embodiment. The drill guide <NUM> can be operated using one hand. The surgeon positions the sharp tip <NUM> of the spike <NUM> 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 <NUM> 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 <NUM> with his or her fingers on the ring <NUM> and the hook <NUM>, and thumb on the trigger <NUM>, the surgeon squeezes his or her hand to bring the arms <NUM> of the drill bullet <NUM> 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 <NUM>, the drill guide <NUM> will automatically lock in position and maintain the pressure that the surgeon applied.

Turning now to <FIG>, there is shown a side view schematic representation of the drill guide <NUM> in the unlocked position, according to an embodiment.

After drilling the tunnel through the first and second metacarpals, the drill guide <NUM> is removed by first, pinching the trigger <NUM>, and second, pulling the sliding guide body <NUM> in the proximal direction away from the bone. Thereafter, while still pinching the trigger <NUM>, the guide body <NUM> can be pulled off the guide rail <NUM>. With the guide body <NUM> removed, the guide rail <NUM> can be easily removed from its position on the patient's hand.

While various embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of alternatives still falling within the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

The terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. 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.

Claim 1:
A drill guide, comprising:
a guide rail (<NUM>) having an elongated shaft (<NUM>);
a guide body (<NUM>) with an aperture (<NUM>) extending therethrough, the aperture configured to receive the elongated shaft of the guide rail;
a trigger end (<NUM>) of the guide body having a locking mechanism (<NUM>) movable between an unlocked position and a locked position; and
wherein in the unlocked position, the guide body is slidable along the guide rail in a proximal direction;
wherein the drill guide further comprises:
a distal ring (<NUM>) connected to the elongated shaft;
a spike (<NUM>) attached to the distal ring and extending therefrom; and
a hook (<NUM>) attached to the distal ring and extending therefrom such that the hook and the spike extend from opposing positions along the distal ring.