Patent ID: 6917827

Claim:
A method for inserting multiple guide pins into a bone, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating at least one x-ray image of the bone and displaying said at least one x-ray image on a display means; (b) positioning a drill guide in the vicinity of the bone, said drill guide comprising a bore portion that defines a real trajectory for drilling; (c) generating a graphic representation of the real trajectory and one or more virtual trajectories, said virtual trajectories having fixed and known relationships to the real trajectory and representing possible positions for subsequent real trajectories; (d) superimposing the representations of the real trajectory and virtual trajectories over the at least one x-ray image of the bone; (e) repositioning the drill guide into a desired position relative to the bone; and (f) inserting a guide pin into the bone; wherein the surgeon positions the drill guide based on the alignment of the graphic representations of the real and virtual trajectories relative to the image of the bone.