Intramedullary nail
AssigneeSynthes USA, LLC
InventorsRobert Frigg, Marcel Fuhrer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The intramedullary nail has a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, at least one hole that extends transversely to the longitudinal axis and is situated in a plane with a defined diameter to accommodate a locking element, as well as a longitudinal slot extending in the plane parallel to the longitudinal axis. In the unexpanded state of the intramedullary nail the longitudinal slot has a width b, measured perpendicularly to the plane in the region outside of the holes, said slot being maximum 0.6 times that of the smallest defined diameter of the holes.
Claims20
An intramedullary nail comprising:
- a nail body having a central longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end;
- at least one hole extending through the nail body and having a central hole axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the nail body, the at least one hole further having a diameter configured to accommodate a locking element, and the central hole axis located in a first plane;
- a longitudinal slot extending through the nail body in the first plane parallel to the longitudinal axis, the longitudinal slot having an unexpanded width b measured perpendicularly to the first plane;
- and
- an expansion limiting structure integral with the nail body for limiting expansion of the longitudinal slot,
- wherein the maximum unexpanded width b of the slot is 0.6 times the diameter of the at least one hole.
An intramedullary nail comprising:
- a nail body having a central longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end;
- at least one hole extending through the nail body and having a central hole axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the nail body, the at least one hole further having a diameter configured to acconunodate a locking element, and the central hole axis located in a first plane;
- a longitudinal slot extending through the nail body in the first plane parallel to the longitudinal axis;
- wherein the longitudinal slot bends before reaching the distal end of the nail body and terminates laterally through the nail body to form a structure that limits expansion of the longitudinal slot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.