Intramedullary, Longitudinal Implant

A guide sleeve for insertion of an implant into an intramedullary space of a bone, comprising:

• a distal portion which, when the guide sleeve is in an operative position, extends into an intramedullary space of a bone along a curved path;
• a proximal portion which, when the guide sleeve is in the operative position, extends out of the body to a proximal end which remains accessible to a user;
• an intermediary portion coupled between the proximal and distal portions, the intermediary portion extending along a curve corresponding to a curve along which an intramedullary implant is to be inserted through the bone into the intramedullary space;
• and
• a lumen extending through the guide sleeve from a proximal opening at the proximal end to a distal opening at a distal end of the distal portion.

A system for insertion of an implant into an intramedullary space of a bone, comprising:

• a guide sleeve including:
• a distal portion which, when the guide sleeve is in an operative position, extends into an intramedullary space of a bone along a curved path;
• a proximal portion which, when the guide sleeve is in the operative position, extends out of the body to a proximal end which remains accessible to a user;
• an intermediary portion coupled between the proximal and distal portions, the intermediary portion extending along a curve corresponding to a curve along which an intramedullary implant is to be inserted through the bone into the intramedullary space;
• and
• a lumen extending through the guide sleeve from a proximal opening at the proximal end to a distal opening at a distal end of the distal portion;
• and
• an implant including:
• a curved proximal portion extending along an arc substantially similar to an arc of the curved insertion path, the proximal portion including a coupling arrangement at a proximal end thereof adapted to couple to a tool for one of intramedullary implantation and explanation;
• and
• a flexible distal portion extending from a distal end of the proximal portion, the distal portion extending substantially straight in an unstressed state and having flexibility sufficient to permit being along the arc of the insertion path substantially without permanent deformation.

A method for inserting a longitudinal implant into an intramedullary space of a longitudinal bone, comprising:

• a) inserting a curved guide sleeve into the bone so that a lumen of the guide sleeve extends along a path over which an implant is the be inserted into the bone to a proximal opening open to the intramedullary space;
• b) inserting an implant into the intramedullary space via the lumen of the guide sleeve, a distal portion of the implant being flexible to bend along the path of the lumen of the guide sleeve, but being biased to return, after leaving the guide sleeve, to a shape corresponding to a shape of a portion of the intramedullary space extending distally from the distal end of the guide sleeve, a proximal portion of the implant being substantially rigid and curved in a manner corresponding to a curvature of the lumen of the guide sleeve;
• and
• c) removing the guide sleeve from the bone.