Devices, systems, and methods for placing and positioning fixation elements in external fixation systems

A drill guide comprising:

• a collar frame with a collar adapted to receive a bar of an orthopedic fixation system;
• a guide frame including a bore through which a fixation element of the orthopedic fixation system may be inserted, the guide frame coupled to the collar frame such that the collar frame and the guide frame may rotate about more than one axis relative to each other;
• a connector;
• a recess of the collar frame adapted to couple to a first end of the connector;
• and
• an outer sphere of the guide frame adapted to receive a second end of the connector.

A system for placing a fixation element of an orthopedic fixation system into a patient's bone comprising:

• a drill guide comprising:
• a collar frame with a collar adapted to receive a bar of the orthopedic fixation system;
• and
• a guide frame with a bore and coupled to the collar frame such that the coupling allows the collar frame and the guide frame to rotate about at least one axis relative to each other;
• and
• a tissue sleeve inserted through the bore and including a channel through which the fixation element may be inserted.

In an external fixation system including at least two fixation components, at least one bar, and at least two fixation elements inserted into a patient's bone and coupled to the at least one bar by the at least two fixation components, a method of placing an additional fixation element of the external fixation system into the patient's bone comprising:

• placing a drill guide onto the bar, the drill guide comprising:
• a collar frame with a collar adapted to receive the bar such that the collar may be moved linearly or rotationally about the bar;
• a guide frame including a bore through which the additional fixation element may be inserted, the guide frame coupled to the collar frame such that the guide frame and the collar frame may rotate about at least one axis relative to each other;
• moving the drill guide to a desired position for insertion of the additional fixation element into the bone;
• inserting the additional fixation element through the bore and into the bone;
• removing the drill guide from the bar;
• and
• coupling the additional fixation element to the bar with an additional fixation component.

An external fixation system comprising:

• a plurality of fixation components;
• a plurality of fixation elements, at least one of the plurality of fixation elements for use between two fixation components and at least one of the plurality of fixation elements for use between a fixation component and a patient's bone;
• a drill guide comprising:
• a collar frame with a collar adapted to receive and to move linearly or rotationally about the at least one fixation element for use between two fixation components;
• a guide frame including a bore through which the at least one fixation element for use between a fixation component and a patient's bone may be inserted, the guide frame coupled to the collar frame such that the guide frame and the collar frame may rotate about at least one axis relative to each other.

A method of treating a skeletal condition or injury using an external fixation system, the method comprising:

• inserting a first fixation element into a bone;
• inserting a second fixation element into the bone;
• capturing the first fixation element in a first fixation component;
• capturing the second fixation element in the second fixation component;
• capturing a third fixation element in the first and second fixation components, forming a frame;
• placing a drill guide onto the third fixation element;
• moving the drill guide to a desired position for insertion of a fourth fixation element into the bone;
• inserting the fourth fixation element through a bore in the drill guide and into the bone;
• removing the drill guide from the third fixation element;
• and
• capturing the third and fourth fixation elements in a third fixation component.

An external fixation system comprising:

• a plurality of fixation elements;
• a plurality of fixation components comprising:
• a first capture member adapted to capture an element of an orthopedic fixation system;
• and
• a second capture member adapted to capture an element of an orthopedic fixation system and coupled to the first capture member such that the coupling allows the first capture member and the second capture member to rotate about three axes relative to each other;
• and
• a drill guide comprising:
• a collar frame with a collar adapted to receive a portion of an orthopedic fixation system;
• and
• a guide frame including a bore through which an element of the orthopedic fixation system may be inserted, the guide frame coupled to the collar frame such that the coupling allows rotation in the same manner as the coupling between the first and second capture members.

An external fixation system comprising:

• a plurality of fixation elements;
• a plurality of fixation components comprising:
• a first capture member adapted to capture an element of an orthopedic fixation system;
• and
• a second capture member adapted to capture an element of an orthopedic fixation system and coupled to the first capture member such that the coupling allows the first capture member and the second capture member to rotate about three axes relative to each other;
• and
• a drill guide comprising a collar frame and a guide frame, the guide frame coupled to the collar frame such that the coupling allows rotation in the same manner as the coupling between the first and second capture members.