Sighting instrument

A sighting instrument comprising a tool socket, a direction finder connected to said tool socket and mounted in a unit pivotable around the tool socket for indicating the axial alignment of the tool socket, and a handle connected to said direction finder and a tool socket, whereby the socket and direction finder may be maintained in a defined position relative to one another and can be held between a radiation source and a radiation receiver and the orientation of said direction finder and socket adjusted, said unit further comprising a drill bushing having an axis parallel to the axis of the tool socket, said unit being made of radiation-permeable material and comprising radiation-impermeable reference means.

A sighting instrument for drilling holes through a bone for the insertion of two retaining pins in transverse interlocking holes in an intramedullary nail comprising a tool socket structured to receive drill guides for drills of varying diameter, a direction finder connected to the tool socket for indicating the axial adjustment of the tool socket and an elongated handle connected to said direction finder and tool socket, whereby the socket and direction finder can be held between a radiation source and a radiation receiver for adjusting the orientation of said direction finder and socket, the distance between the axes of said direction finder and socket being the same as the distance between the interlocking holes in said nail.

A sighting instrument for drilling holes through a bone for insertion of two retaining pins in transverse interlocking holes in an intramedullary nail comprising a block having a tool socket rotatably mounted in and extending through said block, a drill bushing in said block, the axis of said bushing being parallel to the axis of said socket and spaced from said socket at a distance equal to the distance between the holes in the nail, and a direction finder in said block and extending through said block for indicating the axial adjustment of the tool socket.

A sighting instrument for drilling holes through a bone for insertion of two retaining pins in transverse interlocking holes in an intramedullary nail comprising a block having a tool socket rotatably mounted in and extending through said block, a drill bushing in said block, the axis of said bushing being parallel to the axis of said socket and spaced from said socket at a distance equal to the distance between the holes in the nail, and a direction finder in said block and extending through said block for indicating the axial alignment of the tool socket, said block being made of radiation permeable material and comprising radiation impermeable reference means.

An apparatus for drilling a hole under conditions preventing direct observation of the direction of drilling which comprises a source of radiation, a receiver for receiving said radiation, a converter for visually displaying objects lying in the radiation field between said source and said receiver and a sighting instrument comprising a drill socket structured to receive drill guides for drills of varying diameter, a direction finder connected to said drill socket for indicating the axial orientation of the drill socket, the axis of said direction finder being parallel to the axis of the socket, and means for positioning said drill socket and direction finder in said radiation field, whereby the direction of a plurality of drills of different sizes inserted serially in said drill socket may be controlled by controlling the orientation of said direction finder.

A method for drilling a hole in a bone for the insertion of a transverse retaining pin in a transverse hole in an intramedullary nail which comprises positioning the bone in a radiation field so that the axis of the nail is transverse to the direction of the field and the axis of the transverse hole is aligned with the direction of the field, positioning a sighting instrument having a tool socket adapted to receive drill guides for drills of varying diameter and a direction finder with an axis parallel to the axis of the socket for indicating the axial alignment of the tool socket, adjacent to the bone so that the axis of the socket is aligned with the axis of the transverse hole, and drilling a hole in the bone using a plurality of drills of different sizes, while controlling the direction of drilling by means of said direction finder.

A method for drilling a hole in a bone for the insertion of a transverse retaining pin in a transverse hole in an intramedullary nail which comprises positioning the bone in a radiation field so that the axis of the nail is transverse to the direction of the field and the axis of the transverse hole is aligned with the direction of the field, positioning a sighting instrument having a tool socket and a direction finder with an axis parallel to the axis of the tool socket for indicating the axial alignment of the tool socket adjacent to the bone, inserting a pin having a body transparent to x-radiation and a tip impermeable to x-radiation through said socket and aligning said socket with the axis of the transverse hole by means of said pin, removing the pin and drilling a hole in the bone, while controlling the direction of drilling by means of said direction finder.

A method for drilling a hole in a bone for the insertion of a transverse retaining pin in a transverse hole in an intramedullary nail which comprises positioning the bone in a radiation field so that the axis of the nail is transverse to the direction of the field and the axis of the transverse hole is aligned with the direction of the field, positioning a sighting instrument having a tool socket and a direction finder with an axis parallel to the axis of the tool socket for indicating the axial alignment of the tool socket, adjacent to the bone so that the axis of the socket is aligned with the axis of the transverse hole, and drilling a hole in the bone, while controlling the direction of drilling by means of said direction finder, wherein the socket is kept aligned with the axis of one hole during drilling by maintaining the axis of the direction finder aligned with the axis of the second hole.

A sighting instrument for use in bone surgery in drilling holes in bones comprising a block, an elongated handle attached to said block, a tool socket in said block structured to receive drill guides for drills of varying diameter, and a direction finder comprising an aperture in said block having an axis with a predetermined relation to the axis of said tool socket for indicating the axial alignment of the tool socket, whereby said tool socket may be held between a source of radiation and a radiation receiver and positioned and maintained in a desired axial orientation.

A sighting instrument for use in surgery for drilling holes in bones comprising a tool socket having an elongated sleeve for shielding soft tissue from contact with a drill operating through said socket, teeth on said sleeve for anchoring to a bone a direction finder connected to said socket and having an axis at a predetermined angle to the axis of the tool socket for indicating the axial alignment of the tool socket and an elongated handle connected to the direction finder and tool socket whereby the socket and direction finder may be held in a predetermined orientation between a radiation source and a radiation receiver.