Variable wall thickness interlocking intramedullary nail
US4875474A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 29, 1988 |
| Grant date | Oct 24, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 29, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2220/0041
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An intramedullary nail comprises a unitary piece of elongate material of tubular cross-section having variations in wall thickness along its length. The nail has a proximal portion, a distal portion and an intermediate portion between the proximal and distal portions. The wall thicknesses of the proximal and distal portions are substantially greater than the wall thickness of the intermediate portion. In preferred embodiments, the outside diameters of the proximal, intermediate and distal portions are substantially equal or, alternatively, the outside diameter of the proximal portion is larger than the substantially equal outside diameters of the distal and intermediate portions. The nail is provided with a longitudinal slot which preferably extends along substantially the entire length of the nail. The nail is also provided with transverse openings through the proximal and distal portions to receive interlocking screws, and a portion of the inside diameter of the proximal portion is threaded to provide a point of attachment for insertion and extraction devices. The invention further includes an advantageous method of making the nail from a single length of material, such as stainl…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.