Bone depth resection guide and method
OwnerRaymond H. Pierson, IIIinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gauge for measuring bone thickness includes an elongated pin for insertion into a bore through a bone section. The pin has a length sufficient to span the entire bone section with a distal tip protruding therefrom. The pin further has a length measurement indicator disposed along an outer surface, such as a series of colored bands or indicia, the visualization of which communicates bone thickness. In a particular embodiment a protrusion extending away from the pin's outer surface is provided to retain the pin within the bore. A cannula may be provided for facilitating the introduction of the pin into the bone section. Methods are also described for measuring bone thickness and for contouring bone.
Claims42
A bone depth gauge comprising an elongated pin for insertion into a bore through a bone section to be resected, the pin having:
- a length sufficient to span the entire bone section with a distal tip protruding therefrom;
- a plurality of successive distinctive generally circumferential different-colored bands disposed along at least a distal portion of an outer surface of the pin for indicating a length measurement therealong;
- and
- means for being driven at a proximal end;
- wherein the pin comprises a material excisable with the bone material.
A bone depth gauge comprising an elongated pin for insertion into a bore through a bone section to be resected, the pin having:
- a length sufficient to span the entire bone section with a distal tip protruding therefrom;
- a plurality of successive indicia disposed along at least a distal portion of an outer surface of the pin for indicating a length measurement therealong;
- and
- means for being driven at a proximal end;
- wherein the pin comprises a material excisable with the bone material.
A bone depth gauge comprising an elongated pin for insertion into a bore in a bone section to be resected, the pin having:
- a plurality of successive mutually distinguishable bands disposed along at least a proximal portion of an outer surface of the pin for indicating a length measurement therealong;
- and
- means for being driven at a proximal end;
- wherein the pin comprises a material excisable with the bone material.
A bone depth gauge comprising a pin for insertion into a bore through a bone section to be resected, the pin having:
- an outwardly flaring shape from a distal end to a proximal end;
- and
- a plurality of successive distinctive generally circumferential mutually differentiable bands disposed along at least a proximal portion of an outer surface of the pin for indicating a length measurement therealong;
- the pin comprising a material excisable with the bone material.
A bone depth gauge comprising a pin for insertion into a bore through a bone section to be resected, the bore wider at a distal end than at a proximal end, the pin having:
- a shape expandable and retractable between an elongated insertion shape adapted for introducing the pin into the bore proximal end and a resection shape flaring outwardly from a proximal end to a distal end;
- and
- a plurality of successive distinctive generally circumferential mutually differentiable bands disposed along at least a distal portion of an outer surface of the pin for indicating a length measurement therealong;
- the pin comprising a material excisable with the bone material.
A bone depth measurement system comprising:
- a bone depth gauge comprising:
- an elongated pin for insertion into a bore through a bone section to be resected, the pin having a length sufficient to span the entire bone section with a distal tip protruding therefrom, a plurality of successive distinctive generally circumferential different-colored bands disposed along at least a distal portion of an outer surface of the pin for indicating a length measurement therealong, and means for being driven at a proximal end, wherein the pin comprises a material excisable with the bone material;
- and
- means for facilitating an insertion of the pin through the bone section.
A bone depth measurement system for insertion into a bore through a bone section to be resected, the bore flaring from a distal end to a proximal end, the system comprising:
- an elongated pin having:
- a head at a proximal end;
- a length sufficient to span the entire bone section with a distal tip protruding therefrom;
- and
- a distal portion comprising a material excisable with the bone material;
- and
- a covering member having:
- a flared shape wider at a distal end than at a proximal end;
- a plurality of successive distinctive generally circumferential bands disposed along at least a distal portion of an outer surface of the covering member for indicating a length measurement therealong;
- a bore extending from the distal end through to the proximal end, the bore dimensioned to admit the pin distal portion from the covering member proximal end;
- and
- means for achieving a locking engagement with the pin distal portion.
A bone contouring system comprising:
- a plurality of bone depth gauges, each comprising an elongated pin for insertion into a bore through a bone section to be resected, the pin having a length sufficient to span the bone section with a distal tip protruding therefrom and further having a plurality of successive distinctive generally circumferential different-colored bands disposed along at least a distal portion of an outer surface of the pin for indicating a length measurement therealong, the pin comprising a material excisable with the bone material;
- and
- means for disposing the gauges about a predetermined region of a bone, for providing a measurement of bone thickness within the bone region;
- and
- means for removing bone material within the bone region, the gauges providing a measurement of remaining bone thickness.
A method of removing a predetermined amount of bone material comprising the steps of:
- creating a hole through a section of bone desired to be resected;
- placing a cannula against a proximal end of the hole;
- inserting a bone depth gauge through the cannula and into the bone section, the gauge having an elongated distal pin section having a length greater than a depth of the bone section and length indicating means along at least a distal portion of the pin;
- visualizing a distal tip of the gauge protruding from a distal face of the bone;
- removing a distal portion of the gauge and a portion of bone from the distal face;
- determining from the indicating means on the gauge newly created distal end an amount of the bone section that has been removed;
- repeating the visualizing, removing, and determining steps until a predetermined desired amount of bone material has been removed;
- and
- removing the cannula from adjacent the bone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.