Intramedullary nail with expanding mechanism

Abstract

An intramedullary nail comprising an outer tubular sheath and a rod-shaped element movable in the sheath in longitudinal direction, is provided at its front end, with an expandable element in the shape of two or more longitudinal spreadable branches formed out of the front end of the tubular sheath. An expanding mechanism comprises an expander heat provided at the front end of the rod-shaped element and two or more longitudinal links, one link each being pivotally connected at its rear end to one of the spreadable branches close to its front end and being, at its front end, pivotally connected to the expander head. After the nail has been inserted, front-end first, into the bone cavity, with its rear end protruding out of the bone, the expander head-- together with the link ends-- is pulled to the rear by outside manipulation of the rod-shaped element, whereby the links expand sideways and urge the branches towards the flared-out portion of the bone cavity, thus keeping the intramedullary nail in position within the bone.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.