Radiolucent position locating device and drill guide

Abstract

A method and apparatus for establishing and maintaining coaxial alignment with a transverse hole in an osteosynthesis aid in a bone. The method comprises placing a guide sleeve next to the bone, where one end of the sleeve is shaped to indent the bone. Then a radiolucent plug is inserted into the guide sleeve, the plug having a radiographic pin centrally located along the plug's long axis. The pin is then coaxially aligned with the transverse hole in the osteosynthesis aid and the pin and guide sleeve are driven into the bone, to prevent relative movement between the bone and the sleeve. The radiolucent plug is removed and a drill is placed into the guide sleeve for drilling a hole into the bone. The drill is then removed, a fastener is placed into the guide sleeve and driven into the bone and into the transverse hole in the osteosynthesis aid.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.