Drill guide with target PCL-oriented marking hook

Claim 1

A drill guide for arthroscopic surgery, comprising: an arc shaped outrigger; a sighting device coupled to the outrigger, the sighting device having a longitudinal axis and being adapted to receive a guide pin for marking a position for drilling a tibial tunnel; and a marking hook attached to the outrigger, the marking hook having a distal end, a proximal end, and a slot located at the distal end and comprising an aperture extending through the marking hook, the aperture having a central axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the sighting device.

Claim 12

An apparatus for accurately marking a location for a tibial tunnel for arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction by referencing a base of a posterior cruciate ligament at an intercondylar floor, the apparatus comprising: a marking hook for referencing a base portion of the posterior cruciate ligament near the intercondylar floor, the marking hook having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end having a slot for receiving a guide pin, the slot comprising an aperture extending through the marking hook; and a sighting device for positioning the guide pin to mark the tibial tunnel location, the sighting device having a longitudinal axis and being coupled to the marking hook by an outrigger such that the guide pin is positioned to locate the tibial tunnel at a predetermined distance from the base of the posterior cruciate ligament at the intercondylar floor, the aperture of the marking hook having a central axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the sighting device.

Claim 13

An apparatus for accurately marking a location for a tibial tunnel for arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction by referencing a base of a posterior cruciate ligament at an intercondylar floor, the apparatus comprising: a marking hook for referencing a base portion of the posterior cruciate ligament near the intercondylar floor, the marking hook having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end having a slot for receiving a guide pin, the slot comprising an aperture extending through the marking hook; and a sighting device for positioning the guide pin to mark the tibial tunnel location, the sighting device having a longitudinal axis and being coupled to the marking hook by an outrigger such that the guide pin is positioned to locate the tibial tunnel at a predetermined distance from the base of the posterior cruciate ligament at the intercondylar floor, the aperture of the marking hook having a central axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the sighting device.

Claim 14

A method of marking a proper location of a tibial tunnel for arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using a drill guide, the drill guide comprising an arc shaped outrigger, a sighting device coupled to the outrigger, the sighting device having a longitudinal axis and being adapted to receive a guide pin for marking the tibial tunnel position, and a marking hook having a distal end, a proximal end and a slot located at the distal end and comprising an aperture extending through the marking hook, the aperture having a central axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the sighting device, the method comprising the steps of: mounting the proximal end of the marking hook onto the outrigger, the marking hook having a tip located at the distal end for anchoring the hook in tissue, and an extension disposed at the distal end for abutting against the base of a posterior cruciate ligament and positioning the slot at a predetermined distance from a leading edge of the posterior cruciate ligament at the intercondylar floor; inserting the distal end of the marking hook into a knee requiring anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction; advancing the sighting device towards the knee until it is directly adjacent the knee; inserting a guide pin into the sighting device, the guide pin being automatically aligned with the center of the slot; drilling the guide pin into the knee; and removing the marking hook, thereby leaving the guide pin in position for drilling a tibial tunnel.

Claim 15

A method of marking a proper location of a tibial tunnel for arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using a drill guide, the drill guide comprising an arc shaped outrigger, a sighting device coupled to the outrigger, the sighting device having a longitudinal axis and being adapted to receive a guide pin for marking the tibial tunnel position, and a marking hook having a distal end, a proximal end and a slot located at the distal end and comprising an aperture extending through the marking hook, the aperture having a central axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the sighting device, the method comprising the steps of: mounting the proximal end of the marking hook onto the outrigger, the marking hook having a tip located at the distal end for anchoring the hook in tissue, and an extension disposed at the distal end for abutting against the base of a posterior cruciate ligament and positioning the slot at a predetermined distance from a leading edge of the posterior cruciate ligament at the intercondylar floor; inserting the distal end of the marking hook into a knee requiring anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction; advancing the sighting device towards the knee until it is directly adjacent the knee; inserting a guide pin into the sighting device, the guide pin being automatically aligned with the center of the slot; drilling the guide pin into the knee; and removing the marking hook, thereby leaving the guide pin in position for drilling a tibial tunnel.