# US 11,298,165 B2 · Self centering feature for an intramedullary nail > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,298,165 B2 - Document ID: US11298165B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/026,933 - Filed: 2018-07-03 - Published: 2018-11-01 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20 - Assignees: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc. - Applicants: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc. - Inventors: Reto Nardini - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298165B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/7241: {the nail having separate elements through which screws pass} - A61B 17/7233: {with special means of locking the nail to the bone} - A61B 17/725: {with locking pins or screws of special form} - A61B 17/7283: {with special cross-section of the nail} - A61B 17/8052: {immobilised relative to screws by interlocking form of the heads and plate holes, e.g. conical or threaded} - A61B 17/8057: {the interlocking form comprising a thread} - A61B 17/863: {with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper} - A61B 17/1725: {for applying transverse screws or pins through intramedullary nails or pins} - A61B 17/68: Internal fixation devices {, including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin (bone staples A61B17/0642)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An intramedullary nail includes a body sized and shaped for insertion into a medullary canal of a bone and extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end and a channel extending through the body along the longitudinal axis in combination with a locking hole extending laterally through the body along a central axis and in communication with the channel, the locking hole defined by a first opening extending through a first portion of a wall of the nail and a second opening extending through a second portion of the wall substantially opposing the first portion, the first opening being elongated in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the nail and the second opening including a coupling element configured to lock a portion of a bone fixation element therein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for bone fixation, comprising: a plate body sized and shaped for placement at a first target location of a bone, the plate body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end; an insert received within a recess of the plate body, the insert including a first insert locking hole extending laterally through the insert along a central axis, a first plate body locking hole being aligned with the first insert locking hole and extending a distance into the plate body to terminate at a closed end within the plate body; a first bone fixation element including a head, a shaft and a threaded portion, the first bone fixation element being insertable through the bone to extend through the first insert locking hole into the first plate body locking hole so that the threaded portion engages a locking feature of the first plate body locking hole; and wherein the first target location is a medullary canal and the plate body is an intramedullary plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first insert locking hole is elongated in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the plate body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the first insert locking hole includes an interior surface angled to guide the first bone fixation element toward the first plate body locking hole. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the first insert locking hole is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the first plate body locking hole is a variable angle hole including a plurality of columns separated from one another and extending radially inward, the columns including protrusions extending therealong to engage the threaded portion of the bone fixation element that is inserted through the first insert_locking hole at an angle within a permitted range of angulations relative to the central axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the shaft of the bone fixation element includes an enlarged distal portion with a threading extending thereabout to engage the first insert locking hole at an angle within a permitted range of angulations relative to the central axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the shaft includes an enlarged proximal portion separated from the enlarged distal portion by an unthreaded middle portion having a smaller diameter than the enlarged proximal and distal portions, the enlarged proximal portion having a threading extending thereabout to engage a hole drilled in a bone. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, further comprising a self-drilling tip extending distally from the enlarged distal portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the enlarged distal portion tapers from a proximal end to a distal end thereof or includes a curved exterior surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a length of the first bone fixation element is selected to correspond to a distance from an outer surface of the cortex of the bone and the first plate body locking hole when the plate body is in a desired location within a bone. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first plate body locking hole is open only in a direction facing the insert. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the central axis of the first plate body locking hole is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the plate at the first plate body locking hole. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the locking feature is a threading corresponding to the threaded portion of the first bone fixation element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: an aiming arm removably engaging the proximal end of the plate body, the aiming arm including a handle extending from a first end to a second end and a guide plate comprising a plurality of aiming holes to align with the first insert locking holes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the handle further includes a threaded locking mechanism extending therethrough to attach the handle to the plate body.