Method and apparatus for securing a guide tube

A method for engaging a guide tube with a surface of a hole formed in tissue of a patient, the guide tube including a cannula member defining a passage extending therethrough along an axis, the guide tube also including an expansion member that is movably coupled to the cannular member, the expansion member having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end is configured to selectively move radially outward between a retracted position and an expanded position relative to the axis of the cannula member, the method comprising:

• forming the hole in the tissue;
• inserting the guide tube into the hole while the expansion member is in the retracted position;
• selectively moving the distal end of the expansion member radially outward from the retracted position to the expanded position to engage the distal end of the expansion member with the surface of the hole;
• and
• inserting a probe into the passage.

A method for engaging a guide tube with a surface of a hole formed in tissue of a patient, the guide tube including a cannula member defining a passage extending therethrough along an axis, the guide tube also including an expansion member that is movably coupled to the cannular member to selectively move between a retracted position and an outward expanded position relative to the axis of the cannula member, the method comprising:

• forming the hole in the tissue;
• inserting a distal end of the guide tube into the hole while the expansion member is in the retracted position;
• engaging a shoulder of the guide tube against the tissue surrounding the hole to limit movement of the guide tube into the hole;
• threadably advancing a retaining mechanism relative to the cannula member to selectively move a distal end of the expansion member from the retracted position to the expanded position to engage the expansion member with the surface of the hole;
• and
• inserting a probe into the passage and guiding the probe along the axis.