Double-ended depth gage
AssigneeBiomet Manufacturing, LLC
InventorDaniel Fritzinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An instrument for measuring a depth of a hole in bone can comprise an instrument body having a cannulated sleeve that extends between a first end and a second end. A first reference portion can be disposed at the first end and a second reference portion can be disposed at the second end. A probe can selectively and alternatively translate in first and second opposite directions through the cannulated sleeve between a first measuring position and a second measuring position. The probe extends outwardly a distance spaced from the first reference portion in the first measuring position and extends outwardly a distance spaced from the second reference portion in the second measuring position.
Claims20
An instrument for measuring a depth of a hole in bone, the instrument comprising:
- an instrument body having a cannulated sleeve that extends between a first end and a second end;
- a first reference portion disposed at the first end of the instrument body;
- a second reference portion disposed at the second end of the instrument body;
- and
- a probe that selectively and alternatively translates in first and second opposite directions through the cannulated sleeve between a first measuring position and a second measuring position, wherein the probe extends outwardly a distance spaced from the first reference portion in the first measuring position and extends outwardly a distance spaced from the second reference portion in the second measuring position.
An instrument for measuring a depth of a hole in bone, the instrument comprising:
- an instrument body having a cannulated sleeve that extends between a first end and a second end;
- a first reference portion disposed at the first end of the instrument body and having a first registering surface that has a first geometry configured to engage a bone plate;
- a second reference portion disposed at the second end of the instrument body and having a second registering surface that has a second geometry configured to engage a bone plate, the second geometry being distinct from the first geometry;
- a first probe portion that slidably extends from the first end of the cannulated sleeve;
- a second probe portion that slidably extends from the second end of the cannulated sleeve;
- and
- an actuator coupled to the first and second probe and that is configured to slidably advance along the instrument body causing the first and second probe to selectively and alternatively deploy and retract from the respective first and second ends of the instrument body.
A method for measuring a depth of a hole in bone, the method comprising:
- positioning a bone plate against the bone;
- preparing a hole through the bone from a first surface to a second surface;
- determining a size of threaded aperture defined through the bone plate;
- positioning one of a first or second end of an instrument relative to the threaded aperture based on the determination, the first end having a first registering surface, the second end having a second registering surface, the first and second registering surfaces having distinct geometries for alternatively registering with different sized threaded apertures of the bone plate;
- deploying a probe with an actuator from the positioned end of the instrument through the threaded aperture to a position through the bone hole;
- positively engaging a hook formed on the probe to the bone at the second surface;
- and
- referencing gradations on the instrument with a position of the actuator to determine the depth of the hole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.