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Publication Number
US-11246634-B2
Publication Date
2022-02-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
A means of fastening an intramedullary nail to the surface of a bone.
Core Innovation
The invention describes an implant for coupling an intramedullary nail inserted into the interior of a bone to the bone’s exterior surface. Its body has a bone securement portion with a surface arranged to bear on the bone and at least one through hole for a bone fastener, and a nail securement portion with a receptacle that receives a portion of the nail.
The receptacle opening is oriented toward the bone’s interior when the bone securement portion is fastened to the bone, and the receptacle and through-hole axes are nonparallel, while other claims specify perpendicular axes. The supplied content does not include the background section, so the problem identified in that section is not explicitly described in patent.
Claims Coverage
The claims contain three independent claims reciting three inventive features relating to an implant with bone- and nail-securement portions, an inwardly oriented nail receptacle, and specified axial relationships.
Implant with nonparallel receptacle and through-hole axes
Claim 1 recites a body with a bone securement portion having a bone-fastener through hole and a nail securement portion defining a receptacle for slidingly receiving a portion of an intramedullary nail. The through-hole and receptacle axes are not parallel, the receptacle opening is oriented toward the bone’s interior when the implant is fastened to the bone, and the receptacle excludes a channel for passage of the nail into the bone.
Implant with a conical receptacle portion and perpendicular axes
Claim 11 recites integral bone and nail securement portions, a through hole for a bone fastener, and a receptacle for a portion of an intramedullary nail. The receptacle’s interior surface proximate to its closed end includes a conical portion; its opening is oriented toward the long bone’s interior, and the through-hole and receptacle axes are perpendicular.
Implant with two fastener holes and perpendicular axes
Claim 12 recites integral bone and nail securement portions, two through holes for bone fasteners, and a receptacle for a portion of an intramedullary nail. The receptacle opening is oriented toward the long bone’s interior, the two holes are located on opposite sides of the receptacle axis, and the through-hole and receptacle axes are perpendicular.
The three independent claims cover variations of an implant that couples an intramedullary nail to the exterior of a bone, specifying bone-fastener holes, a nail receptacle, inward opening orientation, and perpendicular or nonparallel axis configurations.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Coupling an intramedullary nail inserted into the interior of a bone to the bone’s exterior surface.
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