# US 2014/0194888 A1 · Surgical aiming device

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- Number: US 2014/0194888 A1
- Document ID: US20140194888A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/204,038
- Filed: 2014-03-11
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2011-01-28
- Assignees: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
- Applicants: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
- Inventors: Graham Smith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194888A1

## CPC

- A61B 17/1764: {for the knee}
- A61B 17/1714: {for applying tendons or ligaments (implements for applying tendons or ligaments A61F2/0805)}
- A61B 2017/00407: {Ratchet means}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A hinged pivoting guide for positioning a femoral tunnel in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction locates a drilling hole for placement that optimally penetrates a minimal depth of soft tissue (skin, muscle, etc.) yet directs drilling into a sufficiently rigid and structurally sound area of the femur. The hinged guide allows placement of an aimer point at a desired drilling exit location on the femur. The hinge is adapted to secure the aimer at a degree of rotation about an axis defined by the hinge rotation, such that the axis passes through the aimer point throughout rotation of the hinge while maintaining the aimer point in line with an insertion guide slideably movable through the aperture in the handle, the aperture defined by an insertion axis extending toward the aimer point such that the aimer point remains disposed at the intersection of the hinge axis and the insertion axis.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A surgical aiming device comprising:
a handle coupled to a proximate end of an elongated arm, the elongated arm further having a distal end;
a hinge securing an aimer to the distal end for rotational communication around a hinge axis, the hinge axis and an insertion axis intersecting for defining a placement point representative of an insertion point along the insertion axis for surgical entry;
the aimer having an elongated aimer tip extending linearly from the hinge along the hinge axis, and an aimer point, the aimer point at a distal end of the aimer tip from the hinge, the aimer tip coupled to the arm via the hinge at a proximate end, and the aimer point of the arm disposed at the placement point, the elongated arm having an arced section and a straight section, the hinge securing the aimer to the straight section distal from the arced section, the aimer point defined by the center of the arc circle; and
the hinge adapted to secure the aimer at a degree of rotation about an axis defined by the hinge rotation, the axis passing through the aimer point.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 further comprising:
an aperture in the handle; and
an insertion guide slideably movable through the aperture in the handle, the aperture defined by an insertion axis extending toward the aimer point.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2 wherein the hinge axis and insertion axis define a placement point representative of an optimal insertion point along the insertion axis for surgical entry, the aimer point of the arm disposed at the placement point.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The device of claim 3 wherein the intersection of the hinge axis and the insertion axis defines the placement point, the optimal insertion point being on the insertion axis where the insertion axis intersects extractable material, the hinge axis orthogonal to the insertion axis for rotational positioning.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4 wherein the hinge axis is defined by a securing screw, the rotational communication being about an axis defined by the securing screw, the degree of rotation fixable by the securing screw.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the elongated arm has an arced section and a straight section, the hinge securing the aimer to the straight section distal from the arced section, the aimer point defined by the center of a circle defining the arc in the arced section.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6 wherein the handle has a slot corresponding to the arced section, the arced section slideably engaging with the slot in the handle for arcuate movement relative to the aimer point.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The device of claim 7 further comprising:
an aperture in the handle; and
an insertion guide slideably movable through the aperture in the handle, the aperture defined by an insertion axis extending through the aimer point.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The device of claim 8 wherein the slot frictionally secures the arced section in the slot for fixing the aimer tip relative to the insertion guide.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9 wherein the insertion guide has an engaging edge at a tip and is disposable along the insertion axis toward the optimal insertion point, the optimal insertion point responsive to drilling from the engaging edge of the insertion guide.