Importance

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Abstract

A guide assembly for surgical instruments used for performing surgical procedure on a bone having a longitudinal axis. At least one stand-off member secured to and extending from the bone is coupled to a support member holding the support member laterally from and in parallel relationship with the longitudinal axis of the bone. The support member provides a base for a locating assembly which comprises an arm a positioning member and a guide member. The arm is coupled to the support member and is movable linearly between the extremes thereof, along a path related to the longitudinal axis of the bone. The positioning member which includes a plurality of positioning apertures along its length, is defined by a constant radius equal to the distance the support member is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the bone. A guide member, defined by a mounting rod and a tubular guide member, is coupled to the positioning member at one of the positioning apertures with the line-or-sight of the tubular guide member aimed at a predetermined spot on the surface of the bone. The line-of-sight, which is latent, is made visible by inserting a rod in the tubular guide member in coincidence with the line-of-sight. When the line-of-sight is aimed or sighted on a predetermined spot on the surface of the bone, the rod may be removed from the tubular guide member and be replaced with a surgical instrument which is thus aligned by the tubular guide member.

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First Claim