Targeting guide and method for an implant

Abstract

A system is provided that includes a first implant including first and second screw receiving holes having respective first and second longitudinal axes. A second implant includes third and fourth screw receiving holes having respective third and fourth longitudinal axes. At least one drill guide has respective fifth and sixth longitudinal axes. A targeting guide is provided for aligning the drill guides with each of the first and second implants simultaneously, so that the first, third and fifth longitudinal axes lie along a same line as each other, and the second, fourth and sixth longitudinal axes lie along a same line as each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drill guide device comprising:
 a first tubular section having a first outer diameter, the first tubular section having a threaded end configured to engage a threaded opening in a bone implant;   a second tubular section having a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter, the second tubular section configured to be slidably received within an opening in a targeting guide, the opening of the targeting guide adapted to be aligned with the threaded opening in the bone implant;   a third tubular section having a third outer diameter greater than the an inner diameter of the opening of the targeting guide, the third tubular section configured to prevent the drill guide device from falling through the opening of the targeting guide,   wherein the drill guide device has a cylindrical passage extending from the threaded end of the first tubular section to an end of the drill guide device opposite the threaded end, the cylindrical passage having an inner diameter smaller than the first outer diameter, the cylindrical passage adapted to receive and align a drill for drilling bone.   
     
     
         2 . The drill guide device of  claim 1 , wherein the drill guide device is a drill guide assembly comprising:
 a drill guide including the first tubular section, wherein the first outer diameter is an outer diameter the cylindrical drill guide, and the cylindrical passage extends throughout an entire length of the drill guide;   a sleeve including the second tubular section and the third tubular section, the sleeve having a second passage with a second inner diameter adapted to receive the drill guide.   
     
     
         3 . The drill guide device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the drill guide has a head at an end opposite the threaded end, the head having an outer diameter greater than the second inner diameter,   the drill guide has a second thread near the head, and   the sleeve has an inner thread adapted to receive the second thread therein.   
     
     
         4 . A system comprising:
 a first implant including first and second screw receiving holes, the first and second screw receiving holes having respective first and second longitudinal axes aligned with a transverse axis of the first implant;   a second implant including third and fourth screw receiving holes, the third and fourth screw receiving holes having respective third and fourth longitudinal axes aligned with a transverse axis of the second implant; and   a drill guide including a first tubular section having a first outer diameter and a threaded end configured to engage a threaded opening in a bone implant;   a second tubular section having a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter, the second tubular section configured to be slidably received within an opening in a targeting guide, the opening of the targeting guide adapted to be aligned with the threaded opening in the bone implant;   a third tubular section having a third outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the opening of the targeting guide, the third tubular section configured to prevent the drill guide device from falling through the opening of the targeting guide,   wherein the drill guide has a cylindrical passageway defined from the threaded end of the first tubular section to an end of the drill guide opposite the threaded end, the cylindrical passageway having an inner diameter smaller than the first outer diameter, the cylindrical passageway adapted to receive and align a drill.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the drill guide is positioned within each of the first and second implants. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the targeting guide includes at least a first drill guide hole. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first drill guide hole is configured for receipt of the drill guide. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the targeting guide alone holds the first implant, and the drill guide is configured to engage and hold the second implant. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the drill guide includes distal/proximal threaded portions at respective ends thereof, and the third and fourth screw receiving holes have mating threads for engaging the threaded portions. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the first implant is an intramedullary nail, and the second implant is a bone plate. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the intramedullary nail and the bone plate have respective longitudinal axes, the longitudinal axes of the intramedullary nail and the bone plate being perpendicular to the first, second, third, and fourth longitudinal axes. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the targeting guide is configured to support the bone plate with the longitudinal axis of the bone plate parallel to the longitudinal axis of the intramedullary nail. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the drill guide is slidably positioned in the targeting guide, for moving the bone plate relative to the intramedullary nail. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein targeting guide with the intramedullary nail attached thereto can rotate around the longitudinal axis of the intramedullary nail. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising first and second sleeves slidably mounted in the targeting guide, wherein drill guide is concentrically held inside a targeting guide sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein each sleeve of the first and second sleeves have a shoulder for retaining the first and second sleeves within a respective opening of the targeting guide. 
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 an intramedullary nail including first and second screw receiving holes;   a bone plate including third and fourth screw receiving holes;   a drill guide including a first tubular section having a first outer diameter and a threaded end configured to engage a threaded opening in a bone implant;   a second tubular section having a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter, the second tubular section configured to be slidably received within an opening in a targeting guide, the opening of a targeting guide adapted to be aligned with the threaded opening in the bone implant;   a third tubular section having a third outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the opening of the targeting guide, the third tubular section configured to prevent the drill guide device from falling through the opening of the targeting guide,   wherein the drill guide has a cylindrical passageway defined from the threaded end of the first tubular section to an end of the drill guide opposite the threaded end, the cylindrical passageway having an inner diameter smaller than the first outer diameter, the cylindrical passageway adapted to receive and align a drill; and   wherein the targeting guide for aligning the drill guide with the screw receiving holes, wherein the targeting guide holds the intramedullary nail, and the drill guide is configured to engage and support the bone plate, without requiring direct contact between the second implant and any other object.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the drill guide has threaded portions at respective distal ends thereof, and the third and fourth screw receiving holes have mating threads for engaging the threaded portions. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the targeting guide with the intramedullary nail attached thereto can rotate around the longitudinal axis of the intramedullary nail.