Instruments for targeting a joint defect

摘要

Instruments and associated methods are disclosed for treating joints, and particularly bone tissue. One of these instruments may be a positioning instrument for controlled delivery of a device to a target site of the bone tissue being treated. The positioning instrument may comprise an alignment guide having a device portal for insertion of a device therethrough. The positioning instrument may have an indicator probe having an extended arm, and a handle portion for maneuvering the positioning instrument. Another instrument may be a device for placement through the device portal of the alignment guide and to the target site. The device may comprise an implant insertion tool, an injection catheter, a cavity creation tool such as a bone drill, for example, or the device may be an implantable device.

主权项

1. A surgical positioning instrument for controlled delivery of a device to a target region of a bone, comprising:
an alignment guide having a plurality of device portals for insertion of a device therethrough and toward the target region of the bone, wherein the device portals have a predetermined spatial relationship relative to each other; a rail attachable, in the alternative, to a left side of the alignment guide and a right side of the alignment guide; a positioning instrument having a body with a slot extending therethrough, the slot sized and shaped to receive the rail to allow for adjustable angular positioning of the alignment guide relative to the positioning instrument; and an indicator probe adjustably coupled to the positioning instrument, the indicator probe serving as a reference to the bone and being configured for placement against an anatomical landmark of the bone without breaching a cartilage surface of the bone; wherein each device portal is configured to provide accurate and controlled delivery of the device to the target region indicated by the indicator probe; and wherein the target region is a projected location that resides along trajectories defined by the device portals and the target region is spaced apart from the indicator probe, the trajectories of the device portals extending parallel or at an angle relative to the indicator probe.