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US 2025/0017602 A1Published application
Depth gauge with measuring feature
AssigneeSmith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG
InventorsRamprasad Papannagari, Cassidy Burlesci-Niukkanen, Kyle Ritz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Depth gauges used in orthopedic surgery. Specific embodiments relate to depth gauges with a measuring feature, such as a rounded tip, intended to simulate a screw head for depth measurement during surgery.
Claims10
A depth gauge for use with determining proper placement of a fastener head with respect to a bone plate, comprising:
- a measuring feature shaped to approximate a fastener head.
A method of measuring a screw depth, comprising:
- inserting a guide wire in bone at a defined bone location;
- inserting a depth gauge comprising a measuring feature shaped to approximate a screw head over the guide wire and identifying a length of a screw for use at the bone location;
- removing the depth gauge and inserting a canulated drill over the guide wire to prepare bone to a desired depth;
- removing the drill and inserting a cannulated screw over the guide wire.
1 more element
A method of verifying implant placement using a depth gauge with a measuring feature, comprising:
- (a) provisionally securing a bone plate on a bone, the bone plate having one or more variable angle apertures for screw fixation,
- (b) placing the measuring feature of the depth gauge in contact with one of the apertures at a desired trajectory;
- (c) taking an image of the bone plate while the depth gauge is in contact with the aperture;
- and
- (d) visually verifying from the image that the measuring feature does not sit proud of the bone plate and that the desired/planned trajectory is acceptable.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.