Drill guide assembly

Claim 2

A drill guide assembly for use in arthroscopic surgery, said drill guide assembly comprising: a probe having a target end, an opposite threaded end portion and a locating lug at the end of said threads adjacent said target end; a cannular elongate cylindrical wire guide having a central through opening adapted to receive and guide a guide wire, said wire guide having an entirely planar beveled end surface disposed at an angle of about 25 degrees with respect to the axis of said wire guide; a body generally arcuate about a predetermined point and having a cross sectional area that is elongate in a radial direction from said predetermined point, having a first end portion with a through bore adapted to closely receive said wire guide for longitudinal sliding action with the axis of said wire guide aligned with said predetermined point, and having a second end portion having a plurality of sockets extending through said body, each socket adapted to receive said lug and threaded end portion with said target end at said predetermined point and a part of said threaded end portion accessible from the side of said body opposite said predetermined point; an attaching member adapted to engage the part of said threaded end portion on the side of said body opposite said predetermined point when said probe is engaged in one of said sockets; and means for preventing movement of said wire guide away from said predetermined point.

Claim 3

A drill guide assembly for use in arthroscopic surgery, said drill guide assembly comprising: a probe having a target end, an opposite threaded end portion and a locating lug at the end of said threads adjacent said target end; a cannular elongate cylindrical wire guide having a central through opening adapted to receive and guide a guide wire; a body generally arcuate about a predetermined point and having a cross sectional area that is elongate in a radial direction from said predetermined point, having a first end portion with a through bore adapted to closely receive said wire guide for longitudinal sliding action with the axis of said wire guide aligned with said predetermined point, and having a second end portion having a plurality of sockets extending through said body, each socket adapted to receive said lug and threaded end portion with said target end at said predetermined point and a part of said threaded end portion accessible from the side of said body opposite said predetermined point; an attaching member adapted to engage the part of said threaded end portion on the side of said body opposite said predetermined point when said probe is engaged in one of said sockets; and means for preventing movement of said wire guide away from said predetermined point, said means for preventing movement of said wire guide away from said predetermined point comprising a U-shaped spring including one attached portion attached to said body on the side of the body opposite said predetermined point and a cantilevered portion on the side of said attached portion opposite said body, said spring having openings through said portions, which openings are both generally aligned with said bore and of sufficient diameter to afford longitudinal sliding movement of said wire guide through said openings and said bore when the cantilevered portion of the spring is deflected toward said body, which deflection will occur when the wire guide is moved toward said predetermined point, said opening in said cantilevered portion moving out of alignment with said bore when said cantilevered portion moves to its normal position so that the edges of the cantilevered portion defining the opening therein engage said wire guide to prevent movement of the wire guide away from said predetermined point.

Claim 4

A drill guide assembly for use in arthroscopic surgery, said drill guide assembly comprising: a probe having a target end, an opposite threaded end portion and a locating lug at the end of said threads adjacent said target end; a cannular elongate cylindrical wire guide having a central through opening adapted to receive and guide a guide wire; a body generally arcuate about a predetermined point and having a cross sectional area that is elongate in a radial direction from said predetermined point, having a first end portion with a through bore adapted to closely receive said wire guide for longitudinal sliding action with the axis of said wire guide aligned with said predetermined point, and having a second end portion having a plurality of sockets extending through said body, each socket adapted to receive said lug and threaded end portion with said target end at said predetermined point and a part of said threaded end portion accessible from the side of said body opposite said predetermined point; an attaching member adapted to engage the part of said threaded end portion on the side of said body opposite said predetermined point when said probe is engaged in one of said sockets; and means for preventing movement of said wire guide away from said predetermined point, said means for preventing movement of said wire guide away from said predetermined point comprising a U-shaped spring including one attached portion attached to said body on the side of the body opposite said predetermined point and a cantilevered portion on the side of said attached portion opposite said body, said spring having openings through said portions, which openings are both generally aligned with said bore and of sufficient diameter to afford longitudinal sliding movement of said wire guide through said openings and said bore when the cantilevered portion of the spring is deflected toward said body, which deflection will occur when the wire guide is moved toward said predetermined point, said opening in said cantilevered portion moving out of alignment with said bore when said cantilevered portion moves to its normal position so that the edges of the cantilevered portion defining the opening therein engage said wire guide to prevent movement of the wire guide away from said predetermined point.

Claim 5

A drill guide assembly for use in arthroscopic surgery, said drill guide assembly comprising: a probe having a target end, an opposite threaded end portion and a locating lug at the end of said threads adjacent said target end; a cannular elongate cylindrical wire guide having a central through opening adapted to receive and guide a guide wire; a body generally arcuate about a predetermined point and having a cross sectional area generally perpendicular to the arc of the body that is elongate in a radial direction from said predetermined point, having a first end portion with a through bore adapted to closely receive said wire guide for longitudinal sliding action with the axis of said wire guide aligned with said predetermined point, and having a second end portion having a plurality of sockets extending through said body, each socket adapted to receive said lug and threaded end portion with said target end at said predetermined point and a part of said threaded end portion accessible from the side of said body opposite said predetermined point; an attaching member adapted to engage the part of said threaded end portion on the side of said body opposite said predetermined point when said probe is engaged in one of said sockets; means for preventing movement of said wire guide away from said predetermined point; and means for permitting moving said body and means for preventing movement from around a wire positioned through said bore after said wire guide is removed from said bore and means for preventing movement, the means for permitting moving including corresponding slots in the first end portion of the body and the means for preventing movement, the slots being adapted for affording moving the body and means for preventing movement from around a guide wire positioned through the bore after the wire guide is removed from the bore and the means for preventing movement.

Claim 6

A drill guide assembly for use in arthroscopic surgery, said drill guide assembly comprising: a probe having a target end, an opposite threaded end portion and a locating lug at the end of said threads adjacent said target end; a cannular elongate cylindrical wire guide having a central through opening adapted to receive and guide a guide wire; a body generally arcuate about a predetermined point and having a cross sectional area generally perpendicular to the arc of the body that is elongate in a radial direction from said predetermined point, having a first end portion with a through bore adapted to closely receive said wire guide for longitudinal sliding action with the axis of said wire guide aligned with said predetermined point, and having a second end portion having a plurality of sockets extending through said body, each socket adapted to receive said lug and threaded end portion with said target end at said predetermined point and a part of said threaded end portion accessible from the side of said body opposite said predetermined point; an attaching member adapted to engage the part of said threaded end portion on the side of said body opposite said predetermined point when said probe is engaged in one of said sockets; means for preventing movement of said wire guide away from said predetermined point; and means for permitting moving said body and means for preventing movement from around a wire positioned through said bore after said wire guide is removed from said bore and means for preventing movement, the means for permitting moving including corresponding slots in the first end portion of the body and the means for preventing movement, the slots being adapted for affording moving the body and means for preventing movement from around a guide wire positioned through the bore after the wire guide is removed from the bore and the means for preventing movement.

Claim 7

A drill guide assembly for use in arthroscopic surgery, said drill guide assembly comprising: a probe having a target end and an opposite end portion; a cannular elongate cylindrical wire guide having a central through opening adapted to receive and guide a guide wire; a body generally arcuate about a predetermined point, having a first end portion with a through bore adapted to closely receive said wire guide for longitudinal sliding action with the axis of said wire guide aligned with said predetermined point, and having a second end portion; means adapted for engagement between said opposite end portion of the probe and said second end portion of the body to position said probe with said target end at said predetermined point; holding means for preventing movement of said wire guide away from said predetermined point, while affording movement of said wire guide toward said predetermined point without manual manipulation of said holding means.

Claim 8

A drill guide assembly for use in arthroscopic surgery, said drill guide assembly comprising: a probe having a target end and an opposite end portion; a cannular elongate cylindrical wire guide having a central through opening adapted to receive and guide a guide wire; a body generally arcuate about a predetermined point, having a first end portion with a through bore adapted to closely receive said wire guide for longitudinal sliding action with the axis of said wire guide aligned with said predetermined point, and having a second end portion; means adapted for engagement between said opposite end portion of the probe and said second end portion of the body to position said probe with said target end at said predetermined point; holding means for preventing movement of said wire guide away from said predetermined point, while affording movement of said wire guide toward said predetermined point without manual manipulation of said holding means.

Claim 9

A drill guide assembly according to claim 4, wherein said wire guide has an entirely planar beveled end surface disposed at an angle of about 25 degrees with respect to the axis of said wire guide.

Claim 10

A drill guide assembly according to claim 4 wherein said holding means comprises a U-shaped spring including one attached portion attached to said body on the side of the body opposite said predetermined point and a cantilevered portion on the side of said attached portion opposite said body, and having openings through said portions, which openings are both generally aligned with said bore and of sufficient diameter to afford longitudinal sliding movement of said wire guide through said openings and said bore when the cantilevered portion of the spring is deflected toward said body, which deflection will occur when the wire guide is moved toward said predetermined point, said opening in said cantilevered portion moving out of alignment with said bore when said cantilevered portion moves to its normal position so that the edges of the cantilevered portion defining the opening therein engage said wire guide to prevent movement of the wire guide away from said predetermined point.

Claim 11

A drill guide assembly according to claim 4 further comprising means for permitting moving said body and holding means from around a wire positioned through said bore after said wire guide is removed from said bore and holding means, the means for permitting moving including corresponding slots in the first end portion of the body and the holding means, the slots being adapted to permit moving the body and holding means from around a guide wire positioned through the bore after the wire guide is removed from the bore and the holding means.

Claim 12

A drill guide assembly for use in arthroscopic surgery, said drill guide assembly comprising: a probe having a target end and an opposite end portion; a cannular elongate cylindrical wire guide having a central through opening adapted to receive and guide a guide wire, and an entirely planar beveled end surface; a body generally arcuate about a predetermined point, having a first end portion with a through bore adapted to closely receive said wire guide for longitudinal sliding action with the axis of said wire guide aligned with said predetermined point, and having a second end portion; means adapted for engagement between said opposite end portion of the probe and said second end portion of the body to position said probe with said target end at said predetermined point; holding means for preventing movement of said wire guide away from said predetermined point.

Claim 13

A drill guide assembly for use in arthroscopic surgery, said drill guide assembly comprising: a probe having a target end and an opposite end portion; a cannular elongate cylindrical wire guide having a central through opening adapted to receive and guide a guide wire, and an entirely planar beveled end surface; a body generally arcuate about a predetermined point, having a first end portion with a through bore adapted to closely receive said wire guide for longitudinal sliding action with the axis of said wire guide aligned with said predetermined point, and having a second end portion; means adapted for engagement between said opposite end portion of the probe and said second end portion of the body to position said probe with said target end at said predetermined point; holding means for preventing movement of said wire guide away from said predetermined point.

Claim 14

A drill guide assembly according to claim 8, wherein said beveled end surface is disposed at an angle of about 25 degrees with respect to the axis of said wire guide.

Claim 15

A drill guide assembly according to claim 8 further comprising means for permitting movement of said body and holding means from around a wire positioned through said bore after said wire guide is removed from said bore and holding means, the means for permitting movement including corresponding slots in the first end portion of the body and the holding means, the slots being adapted to permit moving the body and holding means from around a guide wire positioned through the bore after the wire guide is removed from the bore and the holding means.