Patent · US Expired

Intramedullary nail and method of use

US6019761A · kind A · utility

165Cited by
4References
35Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 23, 1998
Grant dateFeb 1, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 23, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B17/744
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention is an intramedullary nail (IM nail) device suitable for implanting within a medullary canal of a fractured long bone and subsequently interlocking the IM nail at least once to the cortical bone of the long bone. The IM nail includes a hollow center and at least a proximal opening into the hollow center and an optional distal tip opening. The IM nail is initially manufactured without any holes, channels, or the like, for the alignment and passage of screws or similar devices suitable for interlocking the IM nail with the long bone. The IM nail includes a material suitably adapted for providing post implanting drilling there through and interlocking with the long bone using these post implantation holes. The present invention makes use of removable and expandable first and optional second sealing plugs in operable sealing contact within the hollow center. The present invention also includes a cylindrical sleeve having a hollow bore open at both ends on a longitudinal axis. The cylindrical sleeve is suitable for receiving a drill bit through the hollow bore to act as a drill bit guide. The cylindrical sleeve also includes a resilient gasket at one end suitable fo…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.