Paragraph Number

266

FIG. 10B illustrates one example of a navigation guide 1000 that may not include an explicit coupler, but instead includes another aspect or feature that enables separation of the proximal end 902 and the distal end 904. The force required to break up the frangible section 1002 can be of a variety of different types such as a strike force, a prying force, a torque, cutting, drilling, or the like. Further, a variety of different instruments may be used to break the frangible section 1002 such as a cutting tool, a mallet, a clamp, a probe, an osteotome, a bone rongeur, or the like. In one embodiment, the breaking of the frangible section 1002 separates the proximal end 902 from the distal end 904 or the set of proximal holes 924 from the set of distal holes 926 in a manner that does not leave any shards or parts of the frangible section 1002 behind in the patient. Alternatively, or in addition, the frangible section 1002 is made of a material that can biodegrade safely in the patient if left behind. Of course, certain shards may be removed as part of the surgical procedure.

Added by DJM Jan 2024