IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,285,181
Granted Patent B2
US 12,285,181 · App. 18/770,306 · Granted Apr 29, 2025

Methods for forming a tunnel in bone

Inventor: Nirav H. Amin (Yorba Linda, CA)
Assignee: Integrity Medical Services Inc.
A61B17/1796A61B17/0482A61B17/171A61B17/1714A61B17/1717A61F2/0805A61F2002/0852
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,285,181
App. No.
18/770,306
Granted
Apr 29, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An orthopedic tool includes a main body and a reference member. The reference member may be configured to engage an anatomical feature of a patient, such as the patient's bone. The angle of the reference member may be adjusted using a knob.

Claims (51)

1. A method of forming a tunnel in bone, comprising:

providing an orthopedic tool, wherein the orthopedic tool comprises:

a main body;

a drill guide having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the drill guide configured to engage the main body;

a reference member having a distal end, the reference member configured to engage the main body, and the reference member comprising an engagement component on the distal end, the engagement component configured to engage a patient's bone; and

adjusting an angle of the reference member relative to the drill guide;

introducing the reference member to a surgical site such that the reference member engages the patient's bone;

introducing the drill guide to a surgical site such that the drill guide engages the patient's bone;

engaging the drill guide with a plurality of locking components configured to selectively lock the drill guide in place with respect to the main body, the plurality of locking components comprising a plurality of spring-loaded caps configured to engage a threaded portion of the drill guide and a ball plunger configured to engage the drill guide; and

advancing a drill pin through the lumen of the drill guide such that a tunnel is formed in the patient's bone.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the reference member relative to the drill guide comprises using a reference member knob to adjust a position of the reference member relative to the main body.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising advancing a suture through the drill guide and the tunnel.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising forcing a drill bit on the distal end of the drill guide into the patient's bone, the drill bit having a circular cross-section.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the plurality of locking components such that the drill guide is locked in place with respect to the main body comprises rotating the drill guide such that a plurality of grooves of the drill guide engages at least one locking component of the plurality of locking components.

6. An orthopedic tool, comprising:

a main body;

a drill guide having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the drill guide configured to engage the main body;

a plurality of locking components configured to selectively lock the drill guide in place with respect to the main body, the plurality of locking components comprising a plurality of spring-loaded caps configured to engage a threaded portion of the drill guide and a ball plunger configured to engage the drill guide; and

a reference member having a distal end, the reference member configured to engage the main body, and the reference member comprising an engagement component on the distal end, the engagement component configured to engage a patient's bone,

wherein the reference member is moveable with respect to the main body.

7. The orthopedic tool of claim 6 , further comprising a reference member knob configured to engage the main body and the reference member, the reference member knob configured to adjust a position of the reference member relative to the main body.

8. The orthopedic tool of claim 7 , wherein the reference member knob is configured to adjust an angle of the reference member relative to the drill guide.

9. The orthopedic tool of claim 6 , wherein the engagement component comprises curved components extending laterally from the distal end of the reference member.

10. The orthopedic tool of claim 6 , further comprising a drill bit having a circular cross-section on a distal end of the drill guide.

11. The orthopedic tool of claim 6 , wherein the reference member comprises a first arm configured to engage the main body, a second arm configured to engage the patient's bone, and an angle between the first arm and the second arm.

12. The orthopedic tool of claim 6 , wherein the engagement component comprises a fork component.

13. A method of forming a tunnel in bone, comprising:

providing an orthopedic tool, wherein the orthopedic tool comprises:

a main body;

a drill guide having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the drill guide configured to engage the main body;

a reference member having a distal end, the reference member configured to engage the main body, and the reference member comprising an engagement component on the distal end, the engagement component configured to engage a patient's bone; and

adjusting an angle of the reference member relative to the drill guide;

introducing the reference member to a surgical site such that the reference member engages the patient's bone;

introducing the drill guide to a surgical site such that the drill guide engages the patient's bone;

engaging the drill guide with a plurality of locking components configured to selectively lock the drill guide in place with respect to the main body, the plurality of locking components comprising a plurality of spring-loaded caps configured to engage a threaded portion of the drill guide and a ball plunger configured to engage the drill guide; and

advancing a drill pin through the lumen of the drill guide such that a tunnel is formed in the patient's bone.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein adjusting the reference member relative to the drill guide comprises using a reference member knob to adjust a position of the reference member relative to the main body.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising advancing a suture through the drill guide and the tunnel.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising forcing a drill bit on the distal end of the drill guide into the patient's bone, the drill bit having a circular cross-section.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein positioning the plurality of locking components such that the drill guide is locked in place with respect to the main body comprises rotating the drill guide such that a plurality of grooves of the drill guide engages at least one locking component of the plurality of locking components.

18. An orthopedic tool, comprising:

a main body;

a drill guide having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the drill guide configured to engage the main body;

a plurality of locking components configured to selectively lock the drill guide in place with respect to the main body, the plurality of locking components comprising a plurality of spring-loaded caps configured to engage a threaded portion of the drill guide and a ball plunger configured to engage the drill guide; and a ball

a reference member having a distal end, the reference member configured to engage the main body, and the reference member comprising an engagement component on the distal end, the engagement component configured to engage a patient's bone, wherein the reference member is moveable with respect to the main body.

19. The orthopedic tool of claim 18 , further comprising a reference member knob configured to engage the main body and the reference member, the reference member knob configured to adjust a position of the reference member relative to the main body.

20. The orthopedic tool of claim 19 , wherein the reference member knob is configured to adjust an angle of the reference member relative to the drill guide.

21. The orthopedic tool of claim 18 , wherein the engagement component comprises curved components extending laterally from the distal end of the reference member.

22. The orthopedic tool of claim 18 , further comprising a drill bit having a circular cross-section on a distal end of the drill guide.

23. The orthopedic tool of claim 18 , wherein the reference member comprises a first arm configured to engage the main body, a second arm configured to engage the patient's bone, and an angle between the first arm and the second arm.

24. The orthopedic tool of claim 18 , wherein the engagement component comprises a fork component.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2024
From: AMIN, NIRAV
To: INTEGRITY MEDICAL SERVICES INC.
Reel/Frame 068042/0320 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63513295 · Jul 12, 2023
Related Publication 20250017605A1 · Jan 16, 2025
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