IP Library Granted Patent US 12685649
Granted Patent B2
US 12685649 · App. 18/828,743 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Implant bearing removal guide

Inventor: Kevin Miller (Wakarusa, IN)
Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.
A61F2/4612A61B17/1778A61F2002/462A61F2002/4627A61F2002/4641
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12685649
App. No.
18/828,743
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A drill guide for separation a bearing from a tray of an implant assembly can include a body, a collar, a first projection, a second projection, and a third projection. The body can be engageable with the bearing. The collar can be connected to the body and can define a guide bore configured to guide a drill bit into the bearing when the drill guide is engaged with the bearing. The first projection and the second projection can be engageable with a radially outer surface of the bearing. The third projection can be configured to engage an articulation surface of the bearing to, together with the first projection and the second projection, position the guide bore along a trajectory to guide the drill bit to form a hole in the bearing between the articulation surface and the tray when the bearing is connected to the tray.

Claims (34)

1 . A drill guide for separation and removal of a bearing from a tray of an implant assembly, the drill guide comprising:

a body engageable with the bearing to orient the body with respect to the bearing and the tray;

a collar connected to the body and defining a guide bore configured to guide a drill bit into the bearing when the drill guide is engaged with the bearing;

a first projection and a second projection engageable with a radially outer surface of the bearing;

a third projection connected to the body and configured to engage an articulation surface of the bearing to, together with the first projection and the second projection, position the guide bore along a trajectory to guide the drill bit to form a hole in the bearing between the articulation surface and the tray when the bearing is connected to the tray; and

a sleeve insertable into the guide bore, the sleeve defining a drill bore to receive the drill bit at least partially therethrough to guide the drill bit along the trajectory, the guide bore configured to receive a screw at least partially therethrough when the sleeve is removed from the guide bore, the screw having a diameter larger than a diameter of the drill bit.

2 . The drill guide of claim 1 , wherein the first projection and the second projection are connected to the collar.

3 . The drill guide of claim 2 , wherein the first projection and the second projection each extend from the collar in a direction that is axially offset and axially parallel to the guide bore of the collar.

4 . The drill guide of claim 2 , wherein the first projection and the second projection each include a rounded distal portion, individually engageable with the radially outer surface of the bearing.

5 . The drill guide of claim 1 , comprising:

a finger plate connected to the body and configured to:

transfer a force from a finger of a user to the first projection and the second projection to the radially outer surface of the bearing; and

transfer the force to the third projection to the articulation surface to secure the drill guide to the bearing.

6 . The drill guide of claim 5 , wherein a first force and a second force transferred by the finger plate to the first projection and the second projection, respectively, to the radially outer surface of the bearing are in a first direction and a second direction, respectively, that are towards a center plane of the bearing and the tray.

7 . The drill guide of claim 6 , wherein a third force transferred by the finger plate to the third projection to the articulation surface is in a third direction that is away from the center plane of the bearing and the tray.

8 . The drill guide of claim 1 , wherein the first projection and the second projection are axially aligned with the guide bore of the collar.

9 . The drill guide of claim 1 , wherein the third projection is laterally offset from a drill path of the drill bit when the drill bit is inserted into the guide bore of the collar.

10 . The drill guide of claim 1 , wherein a distal portion of the third projection has a spherical shape and is configured to engage a curved surface of the articulation surface of the bearing.

11 . A drill guide for separation and removal of a bearing from a tray of an implant assembly, the drill guide comprising:

a body engageable with the bearing to orient the body with respect to the bearing and the tray;

a collar connected to the body and defining a guide bore for receiving a drill bit at least partially therethrough to guide the drill bit into the bearing when the drill guide is engaged with the bearing;

a first projection and a second projection engageable with a radially outer surface of the bearing;

a third projection connected to the body and configured to engage an articulation surface of the bearing to, together with the first projection and the second projection, position the guide bore along a trajectory to form a hole in the bearing between the articulation surface and the tray; and

a sleeve insertable into the guide bore, the sleeve defining a drill bore to receive the drill bit at least partially therethrough to guide the drill bit along the trajectory, the guide bore configured to receive a screw at least partially therethrough when the sleeve is removed from the guide bore, the screw having a diameter larger than a diameter of the drill bit.

12 . The drill guide of claim 11 , wherein the first projection and the second projection each extend from the collar in a direction that is axially offset and axially parallel to the guide bore of the collar.

13 . The drill guide of claim 12 , wherein the first projection and the second projection include a rounded distal portion engageable with the radially outer surface of the bearing.

14 . The drill guide of claim 12 , comprising:

a finger plate connected to the body and configured to:

transfer a force from a finger of a user to the first projection and the second projection to the radially outer surface of the bearing; and

transfer the force to the third projection to the articulation surface to secure the drill guide to the bearing.

15 . The drill guide of claim 14 , wherein a first force and a second force transferred by the finger plate to the first projection and the second projection, respectively, to the radially outer surface of the bearing are in a first direction and a second direction, respectively, that are towards a center plane of the bearing and the tray.

16 . The drill guide of claim 15 , wherein a third force transferred by the finger plate to the third projection to the articulation surface is in a third direction that is away from the center plane of the bearing and the tray.

17 . The drill guide of claim 11 , wherein the first projection and the second projection are axially aligned with the guide bore of the collar, and wherein the third projection is laterally offset from a drill path of the drill bit when the drill bit is inserted into the guide bore of the collar.

18 . The drill guide of claim 11 , wherein a distal portion of the third projection has a spherical shape and is configured to engage a curved surface of the articulation surface of the bearing.