Quick-release drill guide assembly for bone plate

Abstract

The present invention relates to a surgical drill-guide assembly that can be releasably attached to a part of a bone-fixation system, for example, a plate. The surgical drill-guide assembly of the present invention is used for example, to guide a drill, screw, bone fastener, or other instrument or fastener into bone.

1 . A drill-guide assembly, comprising: 
 an alignment barrel having a proximal end and a distal end;    a bushing configured to slidably receive the alignment barrel, the bushing having a radially expandable forward-end and a proximal end, the forward-end configured to be insertable within a hole or recess in a bone plate;    a release knob having serrations; and    a movable ratchet gear mechanism having a first leg, a second leg and a tail,    the first leg of the ratchet-gear mechanism connected to the alignment barrel,    the second leg of the ratchet-gear mechanism having pawls configured and adapted to engage the serrations to hold the alignment barrel in position,    the tail of the ratchet gear mechanism operable by a user to selectively move the ratchet-gear mechanism,    wherein, movement of the ratchet-gear mechanism slides the alignment barrel relative to the bushing to radially expand the forward end to releasably lock the bushing to the plate, and    a first drill guide coupled to the bushing, wherein the first drill guide is configured to receive and guide a drill-bit.    
   
   
       2 . The drill-guide assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first drill guide is coupled to the bushing by a first connecting element.  
   
   
       3 . The drill-guide assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first connecting element has at least two bores for respectively receiving at least a portion a bushing therethrough and at least a portion of a drill guide therethrough.  
   
   
       4 . The drill-guide assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first drill guide is further coupled to the bushing by a second connecting element.  
   
   
       5 . The drill-guide assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the second connecting element has at least two bores for respectively receiving at least a portion of a bushing therethrough and at least a portion of a drill guide therethrough.  
   
   
       6 . The drill-guide assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the at least two bores of the first connecting element are separated by a first distance, and the at least two bores of the second connecting element are separated by a second distance, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance, and wherein the second connecting element is closer to the distal end of the forward end of the bushing than the first connecting element.  
   
   
       7 . The drill-guide assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the at least two bores of the first connecting element are separated by a first distance, and the at least two bores of the second connecting element are separated by a second distance, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance, and wherein the first connecting element is closer to the distal end of the forward end of the bushing than the second connecting element.  
   
   
       8 . The drill-guide assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first connecting element further comprises a fin bore configured to receive at least a portion of fin therethrough, wherein at least a portion of the fin in configured to engage at least a portion of a hole or recess when the bushing engages a bone-plate.  
   
   
       9 . The drill-guide assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second guide coupled to the bushing, wherein the second drill guide is configured to receive and guide a drill-bit.  
   
   
       10 . The drill-guide assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the second drill guide is coupled to the first drill guide.  
   
   
       11 . The drill-guide assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second drill guide are coupled to the bushing by a first connecting element.  
   
   
       12 . The drill-guide assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first connecting element has at least three bores for respectively receiving at least a portion of the first drill guide therethrough, at least a portion of the second drill guide therethrough, and a least a portion of the bushing therethrough.  
   
   
       13 . The drill-guide assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first connecting element further comprises a fin bore configured to receive at least a portion of fin therethrough, wherein at least a portion of the fin in configured to engage at least a portion of a hole or recess when the bushing engages a bone-plate.  
   
   
       14 . The drill-guide assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first drill guide and second drill guide are further coupled to the bushing by a second connecting element.  
   
   
       15 . The drill-guide assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the second connecting element has at least three bores for respectively receiving at least a portion of the first drill guide therethrough, at least a portion of the second drill guide therethrough, and a least a portion of the bushing therethrough.  
   
   
       16 . The drill-guide assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the bores of the first connecting element receiving first and second drill guides are separated by a first distance, and the bores of the second connecting element receiving first and second drill guides are separated by a second distance, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance, and wherein the second connecting element is closer to the distal end of the forward end of the bushing than the first connecting element.  
   
   
       17 . The drill-guide assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the bores of the first connecting element receiving first and second drill guides are separated by a first distance, and the bores of the second connecting element receiving first and second drill guides are separated by a second distance, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance, and wherein the first connecting element is closer to the distal end of the forward end of the bushing than the second connecting element.  
   
   
       18 . The drill-guide assembly of  claim 1 , the first drill guide having a longitudinal axis, and wherein when the bushing is locked to a bone-plate, the longitudinal axis of the first drill guide is generally aligned with a first bone-fastener hole of the bone-plate.  
   
   
       19 . The drill-guide assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising a second drill guide configured to receive and guide a drill-bit and coupled to the bushing, the second drill guide having a longitudinal axis, and wherein when the bushing is locked to a bone-plate, the longitudinal axis of the second drill guide is generally aligned with a second bone-fastener hole of the bone-plate.  
   
   
       20 . The drill-guide assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the recess of the bone-plate includes at least one shaped area and a slot.  
   
   
       21 . A method for drilling holes in bone, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a drill-guide assembly, comprising an alignment barrel having a proximal end and a distal end; a bushing configured to slidably receive the alignment barrel, the bushing having a radially expandable forward-end and a proximal end, the forward-end configured to be insertable within a hole or recess in a bone plate; a release knob having serrations; and a movable ratchet gear mechanism having a first leg, a second leg and a tail, the first leg of the ratchet-gear mechanism connected to the alignment barrel, the second leg of the ratchet-gear mechanism having pawls configured and adapted to engage the serrations to hold the alignment barrel in position, the tail of the ratchet gear mechanism operable by a user to selectively move the ratchet-gear mechanism, wherein, movement of the ratchet-gear mechanism slides the alignment barrel relative to the bushing to radially expand the forward end to releasably lock the bushing to the plate, and at least a first guide coupled to the bushing, wherein the first drill guide is configured to receive and guide a drill-bit;    (b) inserting the bushing into a recess of a bone plate;    (c) aligning at least the first drill guide with a first bone fastener hole in the bone-plate;    (d) expanding the bushing in the recess;    (e) locking the bushing to the plate;    (f) inserting a drill-bit into the first drill guide; and    (g) drilling a first hole.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the forward end of the bushing is configured to fit in at least a portion of the recess.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the bushing is locked to the plate by locking the alignment barrel and bushing in fixed relation to each other.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the drill guide assembly further comprising a second drill guide coupled to the bushing, wherein the second drill guide is configured to receive and guide a drill-bit.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising the steps of inserting a drill-bit guide into the second drill guide, and drilling a second hole.  
   
   
       26 . A kit for use with drilling bones, comprising: 
 (a) a drill-guide assembly, comprising an alignment barrel having a proximal end and a distal end; a bushing configured to slidably receive the alignment barrel, the bushing having a radially expandable forward-end and a proximal end, the forward-end configured to be insertable within a hole or recess in a bone plate; a release knob having serrations; and a movable ratchet gear mechanism having a first leg, a second leg and a tail, the first leg of the ratchet-gear mechanism connected to the alignment barrel, the second leg of the ratchet-gear mechanism having pawls configured and adapted to engage the serrations to hold the alignment barrel in position, the tail of the ratchet gear mechanism operable by a user to selectively move the ratchet-gear mechanism, wherein, movement of the ratchet-gear mechanism slides the alignment barrel relative to the bushing to radially expand the forward end to releasably lock the bushing to the plate;    (b) at least first and second drill guides able to be coupled to the bushing; and    (c) at least first and second connecting elements for coupling at least one drill guide to the bushing.    
   
   
       27 . The kit of  claim 26 , wherein at least the first and second drill guides have different lengths.  
   
   
       28 . The kit of  claim 26 , wherein at least the first and second drill guides have different diameters.  
   
   
       29 . The kit of  claim 26 , wherein at least the first and second connecting elements each have a bore for receiving at least one drill guide therethrough and a bore for receiving a bushing therethrough, wherein the bores of the first connecting element have a first arrangement, and the bores of the second connecting element have a second arrangement, and wherein the first arrangement is substantially different than the second arrangement.