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US 5,514,145 AGranted
Magnetic positioner arrangement for locking screws for orthopedic hardware
OwnerAlfred A. Durham, Dallas P. Crickenbergerinventors
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OwnerAlfred A. Durham, Dallas P. Crickenbergerinventors
Estimating the term…
A magnetic positioning system is provided for assisting in positioning a fastening element at a desired concealed internal location such as in a preformed opening in an interlocking nail in a long bone of a limb of a patient who has suffered a bone fracture. The arrangement includes: a first permanent ("target") magnet positioned at the internal location and a positioning device for a second permanent ("targeting") magnet. The positioning device comprises a hand-held drill and a magnetic aiming device mounted on the drill. The aiming device including a pivot member including the second magnet is disposed at one end thereof and having an axial bore. A mount for the pivot member permits three degrees of movement of the pivot member so as to enable the second magnet to align with the first magnet. The positioning device also includes a guide pin which is insertable into the axial bore and which is engaged by the drill chuck of the drill when the magnets are aligned. This enables the guide pin to be advanced by the drill along a path of travel in alignment with the first magnet and thus with the internal location. This path is ultimately followed by the fastening element.
A magnetic positioning system for assisting in positioning a fastening element at a desired concealed internal location, said system comprising:
A magnetic positioning arrangement for assisting in the positioning of a locking element at an internal location behind an external surface that prevents the internal location from being determined visually, said arrangement comprising a first permanent magnet positioned at the internal location and providing a first directional magnetic field, a second permanent magnet providing a second directional magnetic field, a guide element, a hand-held drive tool for driving said guide element through the external surface in alignment with the internal location, and a targeting device, mounted on said drive tool and including means defining a pivot axis, for mounting said second magnet so that said second magnet can freely pivot about said pivot axis so as to enable the magnetic field of said second magnet to align with the magnetic field of the first magnet and thereby provide alignment of the second magnet with said internal location at which the locking element is to be positioned, said second magnet including an axial bore therethrough in which said guide element is received so that when said magnets are aligned, said guide element is positioned to be advanced by said drive tool so as to form a borehole in said external surface which is in alignment with said internal location and along the axis of which the locking element can be advanced when the guide element is removed.
A method for positioning a locking element at a desired internal location concealed behind an external surface, said method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.