Intramedullary nail targeting device

A method of targeting screw openings in an intramedullary nail for internal fixation of a bone within a limb, wherein the intramedullary nail includes first and second screw openings, the method comprising:

• a. placing the intramedullary nail in a medullary cavity of the bone, wherein the intramedullary nail includes a magnet member positioned at a known, fixed position relative to the second screw opening:
• b. attaching a nail extension to a proximal end of the intramedullary nail, wherein the nail extension includes a targeting arm extending a substantially consistent distance from a longitudinal axis of the intramedullary nail, the targeting arm including a first bore and a second bore, wherein the first bore includes a central axis that is configured to be substantially coaxial with a central axis of the first screw opening when the targeting arm is aligned with the intramedullary nail, and the second bore includes a central axis that is configured to be substantially coaxial with a central axis of the second screw opening when the targeting arm is aligned with the intramedullary nail;
• and
• c. attaching a magnetic targeting device to the targeting arm, wherein the magnetic targeting device includes:
• a support member having a proximal end and a distal end and being structured to fit through the second bore in the targeting arm;
• a sensor array disposed on the distal end of the support member;
• and
• a positional indicator,
• wherein the support member is inserted through the second bore with the distal end of the support member positioned against the bone;
• d. aligning the magnetic targeting device with the magnet member, wherein the aligning the magnetic targeting device with the magnet member aligns the targeting arm with the intramedullary nail;
• f. drilling a first hole in the bone at a position of the first screw opening;
• g. stabilizing the targeting arm to the first screw opening;
• and
• h. drilling a second hole in the bone at a position of the second screw opening.

A bone plate targeting apparatus for targeting a bone plate including holes, the apparatus comprising:

• a magnet member disposed a defined distance from at least one of the holes;
• and
• a magnetic targeting device capable of detecting the magnet member including:
• a support member having a proximal end and a distal end and having a drill sleeve extending therethrough;
• a sensor array disposed on the distal end of the support member, wherein a distance between the sensor array and a lower opening of the drill guide corresponds with the defined distance;
• and
• a positional indicator.

A method of targeting holes in a bone plate for the external fixation of a bone within a limb, the method comprising:

• a. placing the bone plate against the bone, wherein the bone plate comprises a magnet member disposed a defined distance from at least one of the holes;
• b. placing a magnetic targeting device against the bone plate, wherein the magnetic targeting device includes:
• a support member having a proximal end and a distal end and having a drill sleeve extending therethrough;
• a sensor array disposed on the distal end of the support member, wherein a distance between the sensor array and a lower opening of the drill guide corresponds with the defined distance;
• and
• a positional indicator;
• c. aligning the magnet member with the sensor array, wherein the aligning the magnet member with the sensor array aligns the lower opening of the drill guide with the at least one of the holes;
• and
• d. drilling a hole in the bone through the at least one of the holes.