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US5601550A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Pelvic pin guide system for insertion of pins into iliac bone

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1994-10-25
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Granted: 1997-02-11
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Expires: 2014-10-25
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Abstract

Abstract A pelvic drill guide apparatus is used to insert external fixation pins into a patient's pelvis that is fractured (for example as a result of trauma such a automobile roll-over) in "open book" fracture fashion. Multiple fixation pins are placed into the pelvis on each side (for example 2 pins on each side). An external fixation frame holds the pins and thus the pieces of the pelvis together. The guide apparatus includes an elongated probe to track the surface of the pelvis at the inner table of the pelvis. A barrel portion of the guide apparatus tracks a drill to form surgical openings that begin at the iliac crest. The drill path is off-set slightly with respect to the tip of the probe so that the surgeon can drill holes in the pelvis with minimal invasion.

Inventors

  • 👤 Rene D. Esser

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 17:01
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/16; A61B17/17; A61B17/1739; A61B17/1742; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/60; A61B17/64; A61B17/6433

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 219 words
A pelvic pin guide apparatus comprising: a) an elongated instrument body; b) the instrument body including a tubular barrel with an outer surface and an inner central longitudinal bore; c) a handle that extends laterally from the outer surface of the barrel for gripping and manipulating the instrument body during surgical placement of holes in the patient's pelvis; d) a pointer extending from the proximate end of the barrel and along a line that is generally parallel to and offset from the central longitudinal axis of the barrel bore, the pointer having a sharp distal tip that can be used by the surgeon to track the surface of the patient's pelvic cortex during a drilling of surgically placed holes that are drilled by the surgeon into the patient's pelvis; e) the pointer distal tip being offset a few millimeters from a line that coincides with the central longitudinal axis of the barrel, the pointer distal tip being spaced away from the distal end of the barrel along a line that coincides with the central longitudinal axis of the barrel; f) the bore being sized and shaped to hold a generally cylindrically shaped drill and wherein the pointer distal tip is positioned adjacent the outer surface of the drill when the drill is extended through the barrel to the pointer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 219 words
A pelvic pin guide apparatus comprising: a) an elongated instrument body; b) the instrument body including a tubular barrel with an outer surface and an inner central longitudinal bore; c) a handle that extends laterally from the outer surface of the barrel for gripping and manipulating the instrument body during surgical placement of holes in the patient's pelvis; d) a pointer extending from the proximate end of the barrel and along a line that is generally parallel to and offset from the central longitudinal axis of the barrel bore, the pointer having a sharp distal tip that can be used by the surgeon to track the surface of the patient's pelvic cortex during a drilling of surgically placed holes that are drilled by the surgeon into the patient's pelvis; e) the pointer distal tip being offset a few millimeters from a line that coincides with the central longitudinal axis of the barrel, the pointer distal tip being spaced away from the distal end of the barrel along a line that coincides with the central longitudinal axis of the barrel; f) the bore being sized and shaped to hold a generally cylindrically shaped drill and wherein the pointer distal tip is positioned adjacent the outer surface of the drill when the drill is extended through the barrel to the pointer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 207 words
A pelvic pin guide apparatus for positioning a drill bit and corresponding pelvic pin in an iliac bone comprising: a) an instrument body that includes a handle for gripping and manipulating the instrument body during surgical placement of holes in the patient's pelvis; b) the instrument body having a tubular barrel with a central longitudinal bore; c) pointer means extending from the proximate end of the barrel and along a line that is generally parallel to and offset from the central longitudinal axis of the bore, for subcutaneously tracking the surface of the patient's pelvic cortex during a drilling of surgically placed holes; d) the pointer means being an elongated member integral with and affixed to an outer surface portion of the barrel; e) the pointer means including a distal tip portion that is offset a few millimeters from the central longitudinal axis of the barrel and spaced away from the distal end of the barrel along a line that coincides with the central longitudinal axis of the barrel; f) the bore being sized and shaped to hold a generally cylindrically shaped drill and wherein the pointer is positioned adjacent the outer surface of the drill when the drill is extended through the barrel to the pointer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 207 words
A pelvic pin guide apparatus for positioning a drill bit and corresponding pelvic pin in an iliac bone comprising: a) an instrument body that includes a handle for gripping and manipulating the instrument body during surgical placement of holes in the patient's pelvis; b) the instrument body having a tubular barrel with a central longitudinal bore; c) pointer means extending from the proximate end of the barrel and along a line that is generally parallel to and offset from the central longitudinal axis of the bore, for subcutaneously tracking the surface of the patient's pelvic cortex during a drilling of surgically placed holes; d) the pointer means being an elongated member integral with and affixed to an outer surface portion of the barrel; e) the pointer means including a distal tip portion that is offset a few millimeters from the central longitudinal axis of the barrel and spaced away from the distal end of the barrel along a line that coincides with the central longitudinal axis of the barrel; f) the bore being sized and shaped to hold a generally cylindrically shaped drill and wherein the pointer is positioned adjacent the outer surface of the drill when the drill is extended through the barrel to the pointer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a sleeve that removably fits the bore of the barrel, the sleeve having a sleeve bore that conforms to the outer surface of the drill during use.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the handle includes a strut that affixes to the outer surface of the barrel and extends laterally away from the barrel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the handle includes a strut that affixes to the outer surface of the barrel and extends laterally away from the barrel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 37 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a distal end portion of the barrel with means for gripping tissue at the patient's pelvis when the surgeon is preparing to place surgically formed holes in the patient's pelvis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 23 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the gripping means comprises at least one tooth that extends from the distal end of the barrel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 19 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the handle and pointer means are spaced circumferentially about the barrel outer surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the handle and pointer means are spaced circumferentially about one hundred eighty degrees about the barrel outer surface.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 123 words
A method of inserting pins into the iliac bone of a patient comprising the steps of: a) forming an incision on a side of the patient's pelvis just proximal to the axis and exposing the iliac crest; b) elevating the muscle medial to the iliac crest; c) pushing the tip of a drill guide along the inner table of the pelvis; d) positioning the guide on the pelvic rim so that pins can be inserted in an anteroposterior direction; e) placing a drill in the drill guide; f) using the drill guide to track the drill into the patient's pelvis through the cortex of the iliac crest into the iliac bone along a path that prevents inadvertent penetration of either cortex from occurring.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 123 words
A method of inserting pins into the iliac bone of a patient comprising the steps of: a) forming an incision on a side of the patient's pelvis just proximal to the axis and exposing the iliac crest; b) elevating the muscle medial to the iliac crest; c) pushing the tip of a drill guide along the inner table of the pelvis; d) positioning the guide on the pelvic rim so that pins can be inserted in an anteroposterior direction; e) placing a drill in the drill guide; f) using the drill guide to track the drill into the patient's pelvis through the cortex of the iliac crest into the iliac bone along a path that prevents inadvertent penetration of either cortex from occurring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 10 wherein in step "f" a plurality of drilled openings are formed at spaced apart locations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method of claim 11 wherein in step e the drill occupies a position within a bore of the drill guide and in step "c" the guide has a pointer that extends to the distal end of the drill guide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 10 wherein in step "c" the drill guide is manually placed by the surgeon.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of placing a plurality of pins respectively in the drilled openings.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of connection the pins with an external fixation system.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE681828C Cited
DE681829C Cited
US4292964A Cited
SU839510A1 Cited
US4570624A Cited
US4708139A Cited
US4848327A Cited
US5163940A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2000-02-11 2000-08-12 2001-02-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2004-02-11 2004-08-12 2005-02-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2008-02-11 2008-08-12 2009-02-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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