Low profile drill and/or k-wire guide and method for use thereof

Abstract

A drill and/or K-wire guide for receipt in an aperture formed in a bone plate is provided. The drill and/or K-wire guide can include a first end, an opposite second end, an annular outer surface extending between the first end and the second end, a maximum diameter, a maximum thickness perpendicular to the maximum diameter, a first opening at the first end, a second opening at the second end, and an aperture extending between the first opening and the second opening. The aperture formed in the drill and/or K-wire guide can be configured for receipt of at least one of a drill and a K-wire therethrough, and the drill and/or K-wire guide can be configured for receipt in the aperture formed in the bone plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drill and/or K-wire guide for receipt in an aperture formed in a bone plate, the drill and/or K-wire guide comprising:
 a first end, an opposite second end, an annular outer surface extending between the first end and the second end, a maximum diameter, a maximum thickness perpendicular to the maximum diameter, a first opening at the first end, a second opening at the second end, and an aperture extending between the first opening and the second opening;   wherein the aperture formed in the drill and/or K-wire guide is configured for receipt of at least one of a drill and a K-wire therethrough, and   wherein the drill and/or K-wire guide is configured for receipt in the aperture formed in the bone plate, the aperture formed in the bone plate having a maximum diameter and a maximum thickness perpendicular to the maximum diameter, the maximum diameter of the drill and/or K-wire guide corresponding to the maximum diameter of the aperture formed in the bone plate, and the maximum thickness of the drill and/or K-wire guide being less than, equal to, or slightly greater than maximum depth of the aperture formed in the bone plate to provide a low profile for the drill and/or K-wire guide.   
     
     
         2 . The drill and/or K-wire guide of  claim 1 , further comprising threads provided on the annular outer surface for engaging complimentary threads provided in the aperture formed in the bone plate to facilitate attachment of the drill and/or K-wire guide to the bone plate. 
     
     
         3 . The drill and/or K-wire guide of  claim 1 , wherein the annular outer surface includes a surface protuberance and/or a surface roughening that provides for an interference fit with the aperture formed in the bone plate to facilitate attachment of the drill and/or K-wire guide to the bone plate. 
     
     
         4 . The drill and/or K-wire guide of  claim 1 , wherein, to facilitate attachment of the drill and/or K-wire guide to the bone plate, one of the annular outer surface is slightly oversized for receipt in the aperture formed in the bone plate to provide for an interference fit therebetween, and the aperture formed in the bone plate is slightly undersized for receiving the drill and/or K-wire guide therein to provide for an interference fit therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . The drill and/or K-wire guide of  claim 1 , wherein the annular outer surface is at least one of substantially cylindrical and frusto-conical. 
     
     
         6 . The drill and/or K-wire guide of  claim 1 , further comprising a first end surface and a tool-engaging recess, the first end surface being provided at the first end, the tool-engaging recess being formed in the first end surface, and the first opening communicating with a portion of the tool-engaging recess. 
     
     
         7 . The drill and/or K-wire guide of  claim 6 , further comprising a second end surface provided at the second end, the second opening being formed in the second end surface. 
     
     
         8 . A combination of a bone plate and a drill and/or K-wire guide, the combination comprising:
 a first end, an opposite second end, an annular outer surface extending between the first end and the second end, a maximum diameter, a maximum thickness perpendicular to the maximum diameter, a first opening at the first end, a second opening at the second end, and an aperture extending between the first opening and the second opening; and   a bone plate having an upper surface, a lower surface, and an aperture formed in the bone plate that extends between the upper surface and the lower surface;   wherein the aperture formed in the drill and/or K-wire guide is configured for receipt of at least one of a drill and a K-wire therethrough, and   wherein the drill and/or K-wire guide is configured for receipt in the aperture formed in the bone plate, the aperture formed in the bone plate having a maximum diameter and a maximum thickness perpendicular to the maximum diameter, the maximum diameter of the drill and/or K-wire guide corresponding to the maximum diameter of the aperture formed in the bone plate, and the maximum thickness of the drill and/or K-wire guide being less than, equal to, or slightly greater than maximum depth of the aperture formed in the bone plate to provide a low profile for the drill and/or K-wire guide.   
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 8 , further comprising threads provided on the annular outer surface and complimentary threads provided in the aperture formed in the bone plate, the threads and the complimentary threads engageable to one another to facilitate attachment of the drill and/or K-wire guide to the bone plate. 
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the annular outer surface includes a surface protuberance and/or a surface roughening that provides for an interference fit with the aperture formed in the bone plate to facilitate attachment of the drill and/or K-wire guide to the bone plate. 
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein, to facilitate attachment of the drill and/or K-wire guide to the bone plate, one of the annular outer surface is slightly oversized for receipt in the aperture formed in the bone plate to provide for an interference fit therebetween, and the aperture formed in the bone plate is slightly undersized for receiving the drill and/or K-wire guide therein to provide for an interference fit therebetween. 
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the annular outer surface is at least one of substantially cylindrical and frusto-conical. 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 8 , further comprising a first end surface and a tool-engaging recess, the first end surface being provided at the first end, the tool-engaging recess being formed in the first end surface, and the first opening communicating with a portion of the tool-engaging recess. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 13 , further comprising a second end surface provided at the second end, the second opening being formed in the second end surface. 
     
     
         15 . A combination of a bone plate and a drill and/or K-wire guide, the combination comprising:
 a first end, an opposite second end, an annular outer surface extending between the first end and the second end, a maximum diameter, a maximum thickness perpendicular to the maximum diameter, a first engagement feature provided on the annular outer surface, a first opening at the first end, a second opening at the second end, and an aperture extending between the first opening and the second opening; and   a bone plate having an upper surface, a lower surface, an aperture formed in the bone plate that extends between the upper surface and the lower surface, and a second engagement feature provided in the aperture formed in the bone plate;   wherein the first engagement feature and the second engagement feature are configured for engagement to one another;   wherein the aperture formed in the drill and/or K-wire guide is configured for receipt of at least one of a drill and a K-wire therethrough, and   wherein the drill and/or K-wire guide is configured for receipt in the aperture formed in the bone plate, the aperture formed in the bone plate having a maximum diameter and a maximum thickness perpendicular to the maximum diameter, the maximum diameter of the drill and/or K-wire guide corresponding to the maximum diameter of the aperture formed in the bone plate, and the maximum thickness of the drill and/or K-wire guide being less than, equal to, or slightly greater than maximum depth of the aperture formed in the bone plate to provide a low profile for the drill and/or K-wire guide.   
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein the first engagement feature is threads provided on the annular outer surface, and the second engagement feature is complimentary threads provided in the aperture formed in the bone plate, the threads and the complimentary threads engageable to one another to facilitate attachment of the drill and/or K-wire guide to the bone plate. 
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein the first engagement feature is a surface protuberance and/or a surface roughening, and the second engagement feature is a complimentary surface protuberance and/or a complimentary surface roughening that provides for an interference fit with the aperture formed in the bone plate to facilitate attachment of the drill and/or K-wire guide to the bone plate. 
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein the annular outer surface is at least one of substantially cylindrical and frusto-conical. 
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 15 , further comprising a first end surface and a tool-engaging recess, the first end surface being provided at the first end, the tool-engaging recess being formed in the first end surface, and the first opening communicating with a portion of the tool-engaging recess. 
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 19 , further comprising a second end surface provided at the second end, the second opening being formed in the second end surface.