Surgical drill guide

Claim 2

The drill guide of claim 1 wherein said chamfered end portion has a plurality of concave recesses, and wherein junctures between adjacent concave recesses form sharp edges ending in points at said second end.

Claim 3

A drill guide for use in surgical procedures in incisions in a patient, comprising: a tubular member having first and second end portions and inner and outer walls, for guiding a drill bit to a desired location for drilling; and articulated connecting means for joining said tubular member to an extended handle, wherein said connecting means allows for adjusting the orientation of said tubular member with respect to said extended handle.

Claim 4

The drill guide of claim 3, wherein said articulated connecting means comprises a radiolucent drill guide holder for spacing other drill guide components away from said tubular member and avoiding interference in radiographic images taken while using the drill guide, said holder connected to the first end portion of said tubular member.

Claim 5

The drill guide of claim 3, wherein the second end portion of said tubular member has an internally chamfered surface extending from the outer wall of said tubular member at said second end toward the first end of said tubular member, to the inner wall of said tubular member, for anchoring said tubular member on a surface in the area of a location to be drilled.

Claim 6

The drill guide of claim 5, wherein said chamfered end portion has a plurality of concave recesses, and wherein junctures between adjacent concave recesses form sharp points at said second end.

Claim 7

The drill guide of claim 3, wherein said extended handle is of sufficient length to stabilize said tubular member by bracing said handle against the patients body a sufficient distance from the incision to avoid obstructing the surgical procedure.

Claim 8

The drill guide of claim 3, wherein said connecting means comprises a rod member joined at a first end to said handle, and a drill guide holder joined at a first end to a second end of said rod member and at a second end to said first end of said tubular member, and wherein said rod member is angularly adjustable with respect to said handle.

Claim 9

The drill guide of claim 8, wherein said drill guide holder is radiolucent, spacing other non-radiolucent drill guide components away from said tubular member and avoiding interference in radiographic images taken while using the drill guide, and wherein the second end portion of said tubular member has an internally chamfered surface extending from the outer wall of said tubular member at said second end toward the first end of said tubular member, to the inner wall of said tubular member, for anchoring said tubular member on a surface in the area of a location to be drilled.

Claim 10

A drill guide, comprising: a tubular member for guiding a drill bit to a desired location for drilling, said tubular member having first and second end portions and inner and outer walls, said second end portion having an internally chamfered surface extending from the outer wall of said tubular member at said second end, toward the first end of said tubular member, to the inner wall of said tubular member, said chamfered end portion having a plurality of concave recesses, and wherein junctures between adjacent concave recesses form sharp points at said second end; an extended handle of sufficient length to stabilize said tubular member by bracing said handle against an external surface spaced a distance away from the location of drilling; and articulated connecting means for joining said tubular member to said extended handle, said connecting means comprising a rod member having first and second ends, joined at the first end to said handle, and a radiolucent drill guide holder having first and second ends, joined at the first end to the second end of said rod member and joined at the second end to said first end of said tubular member, said rod member being positionally adjustable with respect to said handle and said drill guide holder, for facilitating adjustment of and controlling the position of said tubular member with respect to said handle.

Claim 11

A drill guide tube holder for securing a drill guide tube to a drill guide handle, comprising an elongated member of a radiolucent material having a first end portion defining a hole for receiving a drill guide tube and side portions extending from said first end portion, said side portions defining a slot there between and said hole opening into said slot, whereby said side portions may be spread apart to widen said hole to facilitate insertion of a drill guide tube and urged together for biased engagement of the tube.

Claim 12

The drill guide tube holder of claim 11, wherein said radiolucent material is selected from the group consisting of plastic and fiberglass.

Claim 14

The method of claim 13, wherein said tubular member is connected to the handle structure by articulated connecting means, and said method further comprising bracing said handle structure against a surface external to the spine for stabilizing said tubular member in said alignment.

Claim 15

The method of claim 14, wherein said articulated connecting means comprises a radiolucent drill guide holder for securing said tubular member to said articulated connecting means.