# US 12,178,489 B2 · Systems and methods for intramedullary nail implantation

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- Number: US 12,178,489 B2
- Document ID: US12178489B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/336,844
- Filed: 2021-06-02
- Published: 2021-11-18
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-22
- Assignees: Globus Medical, Inc.
- Applicants: Globus Medical, Inc.
- Inventors: Mark Hedgeland; Mark Rossney; David R. Jansen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178489B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/1725: {for applying transverse screws or pins through intramedullary nails or pins}
- A61B 17/8872: {Instruments for putting said fixation devices against or away from the bone (A61B17/7074, A61B17/808 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/1717: {for applying intramedullary nails or pins}
- A61B 17/1721: {for applying pins along or parallel to the axis of the femoral neck}
- A61B 17/744: {the longitudinal elements coupled to an intramedullary nail}
- A61B 17/921: {for intramedullary devices}
- A61B 17/90: Guides therefor
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Intramedullary nails, aiming guide assemblies, and methods. The aiming guide assembly can include an aiming guide having a collet and a connection bolt configured to engage a connection bolt driver. The connection bolt may be self-retaining and engage with the connection bolt driver in a manner to prevent unintentional disengagement.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for inserting an intramedullary nail into a bone, the system comprising:
an intramedullary nail; and
a J-shaped aiming guide comprising an elongate proximal handle portion and a distal implant alignment tip extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the proximal handle portion, wherein the aiming guide includes:
a collet configured to engage the intramedullary nail, the collet including internal threads;
a connection bolt configured to engage the internal threads of the collet to connect the collet with the intramedullary nail; and
a connection bolt driver configured to engage the connection bolt,
wherein the connection bolt comprises a head containing a circlip, the circlip configured to splay open upon insertion of the connection bolt driver into the head and provide tension around the connection bolt driver to retain the connection bolt driver in the head of the connection bolt.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the collet is configured to expand to engage an opening of the intramedullary nail.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system according to claim 2, wherein the collet includes a hollow body with a through passage from a proximal end to a distal end of the collet.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system according to claim 3, wherein the distal end of the collet has a radially outwardly extending collar.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system accordingly to claim 4, wherein the collar is configured to be received in the opening of the intramedullary nail.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system accordingly to claim 5, wherein the distal end of the body contains axial slots.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system accordingly to claim 6, wherein the distal end of the collet contains internal threads.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the connection bolt engages the internal threads to expand the collet within the opening of the intramedullary nail.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the circlip is disposed in a radial groove of the head of the connection bolt.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the head contains a hex-shaped recess that engages the connection bolt driver.

### Claim 11

A method for inserting an implant into a bone, the method comprising:
coupling an implant to a J-shaped aiming guide comprising an elongate proximal handle portion and a distal implant alignment tip extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the proximal handle portion;
disposing the implant into a medullary canal of a patient via the aiming guide;
inserting a fixation device into the implant via the aiming guide, wherein the aiming guide further includes:
a collet configured to engage the implant;
a connection bolt configured to engage the collet to connect the collet with the implant; and a connection bolt driver configured to engage the connection bolt,
wherein the connection bolt comprises a head containing a circlip, the circlip configured to splay open upon insertion of the connection bolt driver into the head and provide tension around the connection bolt driver to retain the connection bolt driver in the head of the connection bolt.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, wherein the collet is configured to expand to engage an opening of the implant.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, wherein the collet includes a hollow body with a through passage from a proximal end to a distal end of the collet.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method according to claim 13, wherein the distal end of the collet has a radially outwardly extending collar.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method accordingly to claim 14, wherein the collar is configured to be received in the opening of the implant.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method accordingly to claim 15, wherein the distal end of the body contains axial slots.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method accordingly to claim 16, wherein the distal end of the collet contains internal threads.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the connection bolt engages the internal threads to expand the collet within the opening of the implant.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the circlip is disposed in a radial groove of the head of the connection bolt.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the head contains a hex-shaped recess that engages the connection bolt driver.