Distance indicator

A distance indicator for indicating the distance that a surgical device has traveled along a guidewire adapted to be fixed to patient tissue, the distance indicator comprising:

• an elongate housing having first and second housing ends longitudinally separated by a housing body and a guidewire connector, the guidewire connector being removably fasteneable to the guidewire to hold the housing stationary with respect thereto;
• a plunger having first and second plunger ends longitudinally separated by a plunger body, the plunger being operatively connected to the housing for longitudinal motion with respect to the housing, and the first plunger end having a device engaging surface configured to operatively contact the surgical device;
• and
• a biasing member urging the plunger longitudinally with respect to the housing to keep the device engaging surface of the first plunger end in operative contact with the surgical device as the device moves with respect to the guidewire;
• wherein, as the guidewire connector is holding the housing stationary with respect to the guidewire, the device engaging surface of the first plunger end is placed into operative contact with the surgical device with the plunger and housing in a first relative plunger/housing position, the surgical device moves longitudinally with respect to the guidewire and attached housing while the device engaging surface remains in operative contact therewith, and the plunger moves into a second relative plunger/housing position assisted by the operative connection between the first plunger end and the device, wherein the device engaging surface of the first plunger end remains spaced apart from the patient tissue to which the guidewire is adapted to be fixed in both of the first and second relative plunger/housing positions, the longitudinal difference between the first and second relative plunger/housing positions indicating a distance that the surgical device has moved longitudinally with respect to the guidewire.