Alignment guide

摘要

A surgical instrument alignment guide comprising a mount (2) arranged to be coupled to a bone of a patient, an alignment rod (4), a guide rod (24) and an indicator (26). The alignment rod (4) has a first end pivotally coupled to the mount (2) such that the inclination of the alignment rod (4) relative to the mount (2) is adjustable. The guide rod (24) is couplable to a second end of the alignment rod (4) at an adjustable angle and orientation such that the guide rod (24) can extend transverse to the alignment rod (4). The indicator (26) is coupled to the guide rod (24) to indicate when the guide rod (24) lies at a desired angle relative to a horizontal axis. Also disclosed is a method of aligning a surgical instrument using the surgical instrument alignment guide.

主权项

1. A method of aligning a surgical instrument, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting a guide pin into a bone of a patient such that the guide pin protrudes from the bone; coupling a surgical instrument alignment guide to the guide pin, the alignment guide comprising a mount having a bore arranged to receive the protruding portion of the guide pin and an alignment rod having a first end pivotally coupled to the mount;coupling a guide rod to a second end of the alignment rod such that the guide rod extends transverse to the alignment rod;
adjusting the inclination and orientation of the alignment rod relative to the mount until the alignment rod extends from the bone such that the alignment rod indicates a desired instrument orientation relative to the bone, the guide rod extends at a predetermined angle relative to a long axis of the patient, and an indicator coupled to the guide rod indicates that the guide rod lies at a desired angle relative to a horizontal axis; and aligning a surgical instrument such that a longitudinal instrument axis is parallel to the alignment rod.