Orthopedic jig, pin, and method

Abstract

An orthopedic jig and pins therefore are disclosed that allow the pins to be pre-loaded into apertures through the jig before the jig is positioned at a desired location with respect to a bone during an orthopedic surgical procedure. At least one of the pin and/or jig includes a retention mechanism whereby the pin can be inserted into the bore and releasably restrained therein until the jig is place in the selected position and the pins driven into the bone.

1 . A pin for use with an orthopedic jig, the pin comprising:
 a shaft adapted to slide through an aperture associated with the jig; and   a restraining member disposed on the shaft, wherein the restraining member is adapted to releasably hold the pin within the aperture.   
   
   
       2 . The pin of  claim 1 , wherein the restraining member is disposed proximate an insertion tip end of the pin. 
   
   
       3 . The pin of  claim 1 , wherein the restraining member comprises a resilient member that is adapted to clamp the pin inside the bore. 
   
   
       4 . The pin of  claim 3 , wherein the restraining member comprises a tension ring adapted to fit through the aperture and resiliently engage an interior surface of the aperture. 
   
   
       5 . The pin of  claim 4 , further comprising a peripheral groove in the shaft, wherein the tension ring is disposed in the groove. 
   
   
       6 . The pin of  claim 5 , wherein the tension ring has a peripheral surface disposed radially beyond an adjacent surface of the shaft in a relaxed state. 
   
   
       7 . The pin of  claim 6 , wherein the tension ring has an outside diameter larger than an adjacent portion of the shaft and larger than an inside diameter of the aperture in a relaxed state. 
   
   
       8 . The pin of  claim 3 , wherein the restraining member comprises a ball plunger. 
   
   
       9 . The pin of  claim 1 , wherein the restraining member comprises an adhesive located so as to engage an interior surface of the aperture. 
   
   
       10 . The pin of  claim 9 , wherein the adhesive comprises a film of adhesive disposed around the pin. 
   
   
       11 . The pin of  claim 1 , further comprising threads adapted for screwing the shaft into a bone. 
   
   
       12 . An orthopedic jig in combination with a pin, the combination comprising:
 a pin disposed through a bore defined by the jig; and   a restraining member associated with at least one of the jig and the pin, wherein the restraining member releasably restrains the pin within the bore prior to fixation of the pin to a support surface.   
   
   
       13 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the restraining member comprises an adhesive disposed on the pin. 
   
   
       14 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the restraining member comprises a clamping member associated with the jig that restrains the pin. 
   
   
       15 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein the pin further comprises a recess that releasably locks with the clamping member. 
   
   
       16 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein the clamping member comprises a tension ring carried by the jig. 
   
   
       17 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein the clamping member comprises a ball plunger carried by the jig. 
   
   
       18 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the restraining member comprises a clamping member associated with the pin that resiliently engages an inner surface of the bore. 
   
   
       19 . The combination of  claim 18 , wherein the restraining member comprises a plurality of clamping members associated with the pin, each clamping member adapted to resiliently engage the inner surface of the bore. 
   
   
       20 . The combination of  claim 18 , further comprising a recess in the inner surface of the bore that releasably locks with the clamping member. 
   
   
       21 . The combination of  claim 18 , wherein the clamping member comprises a tension ring carried by the pin. 
   
   
       22 . The combination of  claim 21  further comprising a groove in the pin, wherein the groove is adapted to completely receive the tension ring therein. 
   
   
       23 . The combination of  claim 22 , wherein the tension ring has a peripheral edge that is disposed beyond a radial periphery of the pin in a relaxed state. 
   
   
       24 . The combination of  claim 18 , wherein the clamping member comprises a ball plunger carried by the pin. 
   
   
       25 . A jig adapted for fixation to a bone with a pin during an orthopedic surgical procedure, the jig comprising:
 a body;   an aperture associated with the body and adapted to receive the pin therethrough; and   a retention mechanism adapted to releasably restrain the pin in the aperture.   
   
   
       26 . The jig of  claim 25 , wherein the retention mechanism comprises a resilient member adapted to engage the pin when disposed in the aperture. 
   
   
       27 . The jig of  claim 25 , wherein the retention mechanism comprises a ball plunger adapted to resiliently engage the pin when disposed in the aperture 
   
   
       28 . The jig of  claim 25 , wherein the retention mechanism comprises a tension ring adapted to resiliently engage the pin when disposed in the aperture. 
   
   
       29 . A method of attaching a jig to a bone during a surgery, the method comprising the steps of:
 releasably securing a pin within a bore defined by a jig using a retention mechanism associated with one of the jig and the pin at a location removed from the bone;   engaging the jig with the bone;   driving the pin through the bore into the bone.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising the step of using the pin in conjunction with a surgical navigation system. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the retention mechanism comprises an adhesive carried by the pin disposed proximate a tip end of the pin. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the step of securing further comprises the step of releasably locking the pin in the bore. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the step of securing comprises the step of engaging the pin with a clamping mechanism associated with the jig to releasably retain the pin in the bore. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the clamping mechanism comprises a ball plunger. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the clamping mechanism comprises a tension ring. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the step of securing further comprises the step of engaging the bore with a clamping mechanism associated with the pin adapted to releasably retain the pin in the bore. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the clamping mechanism comprises a resilient member that engages the bore. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the resilient member comprises a tension ring. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the resilient member comprises a ball plunger. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the step of securing is performed by a first person, and wherein the steps of engaging and driving are performed by at least a second person.