The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 28, 2006
Filed:
Jun. 14, 2002
Joseph Ferrante, Bartlett, TN (US);
Ed Austin, Bartlett, TN (US);
Anthony James, Bartlett, TN (US);
Smith & Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN (US);
Abstract
Methods, systems, and devices according to this invention provide drill guides for optimal placement of fixation elements, such as half pins, into a patient's bone. According to one embodiment, a collar frame with a collar adapted to receive a bar of an orthopedic external fixation system such that the collar may be moved linearly or rotationally about the bar is coupled to a guide frame including a bore through which a fixation element of the external fixation system may be inserted. The coupling between the collar frame and the guide frame allows for them to rotate about at least one axis relative to each other. In one embodiment, the collar frame and the guide frame may rotate about three axes relative to each other.