Intramedullary nail for femoral lengthening

An intramedullary nail for the lengthening of bones, comprising:

• an elongated base means having a longitudinal axis, an axial opening therethrough and having an inner surface and distal and proximal ends;
• adjustment means having an axis, an outer surface and disposed within the distal end of said base means;
• rectilinear means formed on said inner and outer surfaces of said axial opening of said base means and said adjustment means, respectively, for permitting rectilinear motion to said adjustment means toward said proximal end of said base means;
• and
• an extension means having an axis, and telescopically disposed within the proximal end of said base means, and affixed to said adjustment means
• wherein said rectilinear means comprises a ratchet and pawl, the ratchet formed on one of said inner and outer surfaces of said base means and said adjustment means, respectively, and the pawl formed on the other said inner and outer surfaces of said base means and said adjustment means, respectively.

An intramedullary nail for the lengthening of bones, comprising:

• an elongated base means having a longitudinal axis, an axial opening therethrough and having an inner surface and distal and proximal ends;
• adjustment means having an axis, an outer surface and disposed within the distal end of said base means;
• rectilinear means formed on said inner and outer surfaces of said axial opening of said base means and said adjustment means, respectively, for permitting rectilinear motion to said adjustment means toward said proximal end of said base means;
• and
• an extension means having an axis, and telescopically disposed within the proximal end of said base means, and affixed to said adjustment means,
• wherein said base means has lower portions mounting said extension means in telescoping, frictional engagement therewith.

A modular intramedullary nail for the lengthening of bones, comprising:

• an elongated, cylindrical, metal base means having a longitudinal axis, an axial opening therethrough, an inner surface, and distal and proximal ends;
• a plunger having a cylindrical shape having an axis an outer surface, disposed within the distal end of said base means;
• ratchet means disposed on the outer surface of said plunger;
• holding pawl means formed on the inner surface of said base means, said pawl comprising a plurality of slots extending axially along said inner surface, said ratchet and pawl permitting unidirectional rectilinear motion to said plunger towards said proximal end of said base means;
• a cylindrical extension means having an axis and mounted telescoping within the proximal end of said base means and in frictional engagement therewith and axially aligned with one another;
• and
• a rod means fixedly connected at one end to said plunger and at another end to said inner end of said extension means;
• said base means having upper portions mounting said plunger and a radially, inwardly, extending flange having a central aperture, said flange being disposed between said upper and lower portions of said base means and adapted to overlie the inner end of said extension means;
• said base means and extension means including groove key means disposed therebetween for preventing relative rotational motion between said base means and extension means, and
• transversal bores formed in the distal and outer ends of said base means, respectively, to allow the passage of a fixation pin through each bore.