Radiolucent orthopedic chuck

Claim 1

A radiolucent orthopedic chuck for precision live-action drilling of holes through which interlocking screws may be accurately directed through the holes of an intramedullary nail, said chuck comprising, a housing, an upright driver stem accessible from the top of said housing for attachment to a power drill, means for rotatably supporting a drill bit in upright relation with said bit protruding from the underside of said housing in radially spaced relation from said driver stem, coacting power transfer means on said driver stem and drill bit support means for rotating said drill bit support means in response to rotation of said driver stem, said housing and drill bit support means being substantially radiolucent whereby x-rays may be directed axially of a bit secured in said drill bit support means for aligning said bit with one of the holes of an intramedullary nail for precise drilling of holes into which interlocking nails are inserted, said drill bit support means being radially spaced from said driver stem sufficiently that an orthopedic drill engaging said driver stem is displaced from the path of x-rays directed axially through said drill bit, said drill bit support means comprising a collar having a central opening adapted to receive a drill bit therein for the rotation therewith, and said coacting power transfer means comprising a first gear secured to said driver stem within said housing, a second gear secured to said collar for rotation therewith, an idler gear in said housing and means for rotatably supporting said idler gear in meshed engagement with both of said first and second gears.