| 主权项 |
1. An alignment device securable to an orthopedic plate holder for aligning an orthopedic plate with a bone attachment site of a patient using at least one superficial anatomic landmark on the exterior of the patient and remote from the bone attachment site, with the orthopedic plate holder having a distal end that is releasably attachable to an orthopedic plate in a fixed angular position to define a plane of interest and a predetermined axis of interest within the plane of interest, and a proximal end adapted for holding by a medical professional, the alignment device comprising:
at least one light source configured to project an illuminated indication pattern onto the plane of interest of the orthopedic plate and aligned with the predetermined axis of interest of the orthopedic plate; and a mounting interface configured to secure the light source to the orthopedic plate holder in a location spaced from the distal end, in a fixed angular position relative to the plate holder, and to maintain the angular relationship between the light source and the orthopedic plate as the distal end of the orthopedic plate holder is inserted into the patient by the medical professional and moved toward a bone attachment site that is at least partially out-of-view of the medical professional, wherein the illuminated indication pattern extends a sufficient lateral distance away from the orthopedic plate holder and has a substantially constant brightness along the length thereof to allow the medical professional to align the axis of interest of the orthopedic plate with the out-of-view bone attachment site using the at least one superficial anatomic landmark. |
