Drill guide assembly

Abstract

A drill guide includes a first housing, a second housing spaced from and movable relative to the first housing, a drill sleeve received through the first housing, and an alignment bar received through the second housing. A positioning of the drill sleeve is linked to a positioning of the alignment bar such that the alignment bar is maintained in parallel with the drill sleeve as the second housing is moved relative to the first housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drill guide assembly, comprising:
 a first housing;   a second housing spaced from and movable relative to said first housing;   a single-piece drill sleeve received through said first housing; and   an alignment bar received through said second housing;   wherein a positioning of said drill sleeve is linked to a positioning of said alignment bar such that said alignment bar is maintained in parallel with said drill sleeve as said second housing is moved relative to said first housing.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said alignment bar extends in parallel with said drill sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , comprising a handle that extends from at least one of said first housing and said second housing. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first housing and said second housing includes a mechanism that is actuable to lock a positioning of said drill sleeve or said alignment bar relative to said first housing or said second housing. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , comprising at least one guide pin that connects between said first housing and said second housing. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said drill sleeve is received through a bore formed in said first housing. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said bore is transverse to an opening formed in said first housing for receiving a guide pin that connects between said first housing and said second housing. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said alignment bar includes a radiopaque member, said radiopaque member visible in a fluoroscopic image of a joint for estimating said positioning of said drill sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , comprising an instrument insertable through said drill sleeve to form an opening in a bone. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , comprising a first guide pin and a second guide pin that connect between said first housing and said second housing. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said drill sleeve and said alignment bar extend along axes which are transverse to an axis of each of said first guide pin and said second guide pin. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , comprising a locking pin disposed on said second housing and configured to lock movement of said second housing relative to said first housing. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first housing includes a first mechanism that is pivotable to lock a positioning of said drill sleeve relative to said first housing, and said second housing includes a second mechanism that is pivotable to lock a positioning of said alignment bar relative to said second housing. 
     
     
         14 . A drill guide assembly, comprising:
 a first housing;   a second housing spaced apart from said first housing such that said second housing is non-contiguous with said first housing;   a guide pin extending along a first axis between said first housing and said second housing;   a drill sleeve extending through said first housing along a second axis; and   an alignment bar extending through said second housing along a third axis;   wherein said first axis is transverse to each of said second axis and said third axis.