Positioning bracket for multiple bone tunnel drill guides

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10869680-B2
Application number	US-201615046697-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 18, 2016
Priority date	Feb 18, 2015
Publication date	Dec 22, 2020
Grant date	Dec 22, 2020

Abstract

A medical positioning bracket is described that provides users with the ability to attach and secure multiple bone tunnel drill guides into a single working unit. Users can manipulate each drill guide independently and lock the drill guides at desired locations relative to one another to achieve precise bone tunnel angles and locations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A positioning bracket comprising:
a frame;
a first slide block attached to the frame, the first slide block being capable of motion in a lateral direction across the frame, the first slide block including a first locking mechanism that is engagable with the frame to secure the first slide block at a first securement location;
a second slide block attached to the frame, the second slide block being capable of motion in the lateral direction across the frame, the second slide block including a second locking mechanism that is engagable with the frame to secure the second slide block at a second securement location;
a first adapter block attachable to the frame via the first slide block, the first adapter block being configured to secure a first bone tunnel drill guide, the first adapter block being rotatable about a first axis that passes through the first slide block when the positioning bracket is fully assembled;
a third locking mechanism configured to lock the first adapter block at a first angle of rotation with respect to the first slide block;
a second adapter block attachable to the frame via the second slide block, the second adapter block being configured to secure a second bone tunnel drill guide, the second adapter block being rotatable about a second axis that passes through the second slide block when the positioning bracket is fully assembled; and
a fourth locking mechanism configured to lock the second adapter block at a second angle of rotation with respect to the second slide block.

2. The positioning bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first adaptor block is rotatable about a third axis.

3. The positioning bracket of claim 2 , wherein the second adaptor block is rotatable about a fourth axis.

4. The positioning bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first locking mechanism that is engagable with the frame comprises a compression locking mechanism.

5. The positioning bracket of claim 4 , wherein the second locking mechanism that is engagable with the frame comprises a compression locking mechanism.

6. The positioning bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first adaptor block is configured to secure a bone tunnel drill guide via a friction locking mechanism.

7. The positioning bracket of claim 6 , wherein the second adaptor block is configured to secure a bone tunnel drill guide via a friction locking mechanism.

8. A method for locating multiple bone tunnel drill guides on the positioning bracket of claim 1 comprising:
securing a first bone tunnel drill guide to the first adapter block of the positioning bracket;
securing a second bone tunnel drill guide to the second adapter block of the positioning bracket;
moving the first slide block and the second slide block of the positioning bracket laterally with respect to one another along the frame of the positioning bracket, the first and second slide blocks being attached to the first and second adapter blocks, respectively;
locking the first and second slide blocks to the frame.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising rotating the first and second adapter blocks with respect to the first and second slide blocks, respectively, and locking the adapter blocks in place by use of the third and fourth locking mechanisms.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising rotating the first and second bone tunnel drill guides with respect to one another and locking the first and second bone tunnel drill guides in place at a predetermined relationship to one another.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first and second bone tunnel drill guides are secured to the first and second adapter blocks by a friction lock.

12. The positioning bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first and second slide blocks are removably attachable to the first and second adapter blocks.

13. The positioning bracket of claim 1 , the first and second slide blocks each further comprising positional markings at angular increments of about 5° or less located with respect to the third and fourth locking mechanisms, respectively, for identifying the first and second angles of rotation.

14. The positioning bracket of claim 1 , wherein the frame exhibits bending of about 0.1 millimeter or less under a force of 11 Newtons.

15. The positioning bracket of claim 1 , the first adapter block comprising a first shaft that passes through the first slide block along the first axis and the second adapter block comprising a second shaft that passes through the second slide block along the second axis, wherein each of the first shaft and the second shaft exhibit negligible deflection under a force of 50 Newtons.

16. The positioning bracket of claim 1 , further comprising the first bone tunnel drill guide and the second bone tunnel drill guide.

17. The positioning bracket of claim 16 , wherein upon securing the first and second bone tunnel drill guides, the first adapter block and the second adapter block each prevent release of the respective first and second bone tunnel drill guide under a pulling force of about 50 Newtons.

Assignees

• Univ Clemson

Inventors

• Marionneaux Alan Michael
• Stokes Michael David
• Seignious Iv George Marion
• Santillo Alison
• Mercuri Jeremy
• Freeman Nicholas
• Marrocco Adam
• Singleton Steven Brian
• Keim Brian Curtis

Classifications

• A61B17/1757

  for the spine · CPC title

• A61B17/1778

  for the shoulder · CPC title

• A61B17/1764 Primary

  for the knee · CPC title

• A61B17/1714

  for applying tendons or ligaments (implements for applying tendons or ligaments A61F2/0805) · CPC title