US 11,446,073 B2Granted

Flexible shaft support rod

AssigneeDePuy Synthes Products, Inc.

InventorStanley J. Kmiec, Jr.

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Abstract

A support rod for a hollow, flexible torque transmitting shaft for treating a bone includes support and flex portions. When the rod is received at a desired position within the shaft, the support portion extends through a first non-bendable portion of the shaft. An outer diameter of the support portion substantially corresponds to an inner diameter of the shaft to support the first portion. When the support rod is received at the desired position, the flex portion extends through a second bendable portion of the shaft. The flex portion includes a holding portion having an outer diameter substantially corresponding to an inner diameter of the second portion and a gap portion having an outer diameter reduced relative to the outer diameter of the holding portion to form an annular gap between the gap portion and an inner surface of the holding portion.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A support rod configured for use with a hollow, flexible torque transmitting shaft for treating a bone, comprising:

a proximal portion configured so that, when the support rod is received at a desired position within the shaft, the proximal portion of the support rod extends through a proximal portion of a length of the shaft that is not configured to bend in use, an outer diameter of the proximal portion substantially corresponding to an inner diameter of a proximal portion of a lumen of the shaft to support the proximal portion of the shaft;
and
a distal portion configured so that, when the support rod is received at the desired position within the shaft, the distal portion of the support rod extends through a second distal portion of a length of the shaft that is configured to bend in use, the distal portion of the support rod including a holding portion having an outer diameter substantially corresponding to an inner diameter of a distal portion of the second portion lumen of the shaft and a gap portion having an outer diameter reduced relative to the outer diameter of the holding portion to form an annular gap between the gap portion and an inner surface of the holding portion the distal portion of the lumen of the shaft.

A system for treating a bone, comprising:

a hollow, flexible torque ransmitting shaft;
and
a support rod sized and shaped to be received within the shaft, the support rod including a proximal portion configured so that, when the support rod is received at a desired position within the shaft, the proximal portion of the support rod extends through a proximal portion of a length of the shaft that is not configured to bend in use, an outer diameter of the proximal portion of the support rod substantially corresponding to an inner diameter of a proximal portion of a lumen of the shaft to support the proximal portion of the shaft and a distal portion configured so that, when the support rod is received at the desired position within the shaft, the distal portion of the support rod extends through a distal portion of a length of the shaft that is configured to bend in use, the distal portion of the support rod including a holding portion having an outer diameter substantially corresponding to an inner diameter of a distal portion of the lumen of the shaft and a gap portion having an outer diameter reduced relative to the outer diameter of the holding portion to form an annular gap between the gap portion and an inner surface of the distal portion of the lumen of the shaft.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/551,154Filed 26 Aug 2019
Published: US 2021/0059736 A14 Mar 2021
Granted: 20 Sep 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

A61B 17/8875
Osteosynthesis instruments; Methods or means for implanting or extracting internal or external fixation devices: screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches
A61B 17/1631
Component parts: special drive shafts, e.g. flexible shafts
B25B 15/00
Screwdrivers
B25B 23/0021
Connections or joints between tool parts: prolongations interposed between handle and tool