# US 9,517,098 B2 · Bone fusion device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,098 B2 - Document ID: US9517098B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/935,107 - Filed: 2013-07-03 - Published: 2015-01-08 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-07-03 - Assignees: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC - Applicants: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC - Inventors: David Anderson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517098B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/7291: {for small bones, e.g. in the foot, ankle, hand or wrist} - A61B 17/686: {Plugs, i.e. elements forming interface between bone hole and implant or fastener, e.g. screw} - A61B 17/7233: {with special means of locking the nail to the bone} - A61B 17/8872: {Instruments for putting said fixation devices against or away from the bone (A61B17/7074, A61B17/808 take precedence)} - A61B 17/8875: {Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches} - A61B 2090/037: {with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A bone fusion device includes a first anchor for insertion into a hole formed in a first phalange, and a second anchor for insertion into a hole formed in a second phalange. A rod includes a handle and a distal end, with the distal end being associated with each of the first anchor and the second anchor. The rod includes a breakaway portion between the handle and the distal end allowing the handle to be manually separated from the distal end. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bone fusion device, comprising: a first anchor for insertion into a first hole formed in a first phalange; a second anchor for insertion into a second hole formed in a second phalange; and a rod including a handle and a distal end, said rod including a breakaway portion between said handle and said distal end allowing said handle to be manually separated from said distal end, said distal end adapted to couple the first anchor and the second anchor rigidly to one another to enable fusion of the first phalange to the second phalange after the handle has been manually separated from the distal end at the breakaway portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bone fusion device of claim 1, wherein said breakaway portion has a reduced cross section relative to the handle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The bone fusion device of claim 2, wherein said reduced cross section is substantially circular. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The bone fusion device of claim 2, wherein said handle may be manually separated from said distal end by at least one of manually bending and twisting said handle and breaking said rod at said breakaway portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bone fusion device of claim 1, wherein said first anchor and said second anchor are discrete parts, said first anchor including a first axial bore and said second anchor including a second axial bore, and wherein said distal end of said rod defines a pin including a first end insertable into said first axial bore and a second end insertable into said second axial bore. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The bone fusion device of claim 5, wherein at least one of said first anchor and said second anchor includes at least one anti-rotation feature to inhibit rotational movement relative to a respective phalange when placed within a respective hole of the phalange. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The bone fusion device of claim 6, wherein each said anti-rotation feature includes at least one radially movable tab, each said tab being biased radially outward upon insertion of said pin into said respective first axial bore and said second axial bore. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The bone fusion device of claim 5, wherein said first end is insertable into said first axial bore when said breakaway portion is intact, and wherein said second end is insertable into said second axial bore after said breakaway portion is detached. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The bone fusion device of claim 8, wherein said first end has an external threaded surface for mating with said first axial bore, and said second end is pressed into said second axial bore. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The bone fusion device of claim 9, wherein said second end includes an anti-rotation feature to inhibit rotational movement of said pin relative to said second anchor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The bone fusion device of claim 10, wherein said second end has a non-circular cross section defining said anti-rotation feature. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The bone fusion device of claim 5, wherein at least one of said first end and said second end includes an anti-rotation feature to inhibit rotational movement of said pin. ### Claim 13 A bone fusion device, comprising: a first anchor for insertion into a first hole formed in a first portion of bone; a second anchor for insertion into a second hole formed in a second portion of bone, wherein the first portion of bone is disconnected from the second portion of bone; and a rod including a handle and a distal end, said rod including a breakaway portion between said handle and said distal end allowing said handle to be manually separated from said distal end, said distal end including a in structure adapted to rigidly couple the first anchor adjacent to the second anchor on the in structure to enable fusion of the first portion of bone with the second portion of bone after the handle has been manually separated from the distal end at the breakaway portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The bone fusion device of claim 13, wherein said breakaway portion has a reduced cross section relative to the handle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The bone fusion device of claim 13, wherein said handle may be manually separated from said distal end by at least one of manually bending and twisting said handle and breaking said rod at said breakaway portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The bone fusion device of claim 13, wherein the first anchor includes an axial bore, and said distal end of said rod is insertable into said axial bore. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The bone fusion device of claim 16, wherein said first anchor includes at least one anti-rotation feature to inhibit rotational movement relative to the bone. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The bone fusion device of claim 17, wherein each said anti-rotation feature includes a radially movable tab which is biased radially outward upon insertion of said distal end of said rod into said axial bore. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The bone fusion device of claim 13, wherein said pin structure includes an externally threaded first end for threaded engagement with an axial bore in the first anchor, and a second end for insertion into a second axial bore within the second anchor after the handle is broken off at the breakaway portion.