ANGULAR LAG IMPLANT FOR INTRAMEDULLARY NAILS

• US 20110066152A1
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zimmer GmbH (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zimmer GmbH (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Senger, Reto, Stricker, Hermann, Keller, Samuel
• Granted Patent: US 8,926,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/725 with locking pins or screws of special form
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7266 with fingers moving radially outwardly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/744 the longitudinal elements coupled to an intramedullary nail
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/748 with means for adapting the angle between the longitudinal elements and the shaft axis of the femur

Abstract

An orthopedic assembly for stabilizing a fractured bone. The orthopedic assembly includes a support structure and an anchor. The anchor includes a first portion and a second portion moveably coupled to the first portion to adjust an angular orientation of the anchor relative to the femur.

Claims

1. An orthopedic assembly comprising:

a support structure configured for securement to a femur, the support structure having an outer periphery and defining a transverse bore that extends through the support structure; and

an anchor comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the anchor configured to extend through the transverse bore of the support structure and the second portion of the anchor being movably coupled to the first portion of the anchor for pivoting movement about at least one pivot axis relative to the first portion of the anchor, the at least one pivot axis being located beyond the outer periphery of the support structure when the first portion of the anchor extends through the transverse bore of the support structure.

2. The orthopedic assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the anchor extends through the transverse bore of the support structure in a fixed angular orientation relative to the support structure.

3. The orthopedic assembly of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the anchor is coupled to the first portion of the anchor for movement in at least one plane.

4. The orthopedic assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one pivot axis is located medially beyond the outer periphery of the support structure when the support structure is secured to the femur.

5. The orthopedic assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the anchor comprises a first longitudinal axis and the second portion of the anchor comprises a second longitudinal axis, and wherein a junction is defined at an intersection of the first and second longitudinal axes.

6. The orthopedic assembly of claim 1, wherein the anchor includes at least one adjustment rod configured to translate through the first portion of the anchor to move the second portion of the anchor.

7. The orthopedic assembly of claim 1, wherein the anchor includes at least one rotatable adjustment rod configured to engage a gear to move the second portion of the anchor.

8. The orthopedic assembly of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises one of an intramedullary nail and a bone plate.

9. The orthopedic assembly of claim 1, wherein the anchor comprises one of a lag screw and a blade.

10. An orthopedic assembly comprising:

a support structure configured for securement to a femur, the support structure having an outer periphery and defining a transverse bore that extends through the support structure; and

an anchor configured to extend through the transverse bore of the support structure, the anchor comprising a first portion having a first longitudinal axis and a second portion having a second longitudinal axis, the second portion of the anchor moveably coupled to the first portion of the anchor to adjust an angle defined between the second longitudinal axis and the first longitudinal axis, the second portion of the anchor being located outside of the transverse bore of the support structure when the first portion of the anchor extends through the transverse bore of the support structure.

11. The orthopedic assembly of claim 10, wherein the second portion of the anchor is located beyond the outer periphery of the support structure when the first portion of the anchor extends through the transverse bore of the support structure.

12. The orthopedic assembly of claim 10, wherein the first portion of the anchor extends through the transverse bore of the support structure in a fixed angular orientation to define a fixed angle between the first longitudinal axis and the support structure.

13. The orthopedic assembly of claim 10, wherein the first portion of the anchor projects outwardly from the transverse bore of the support structure to a terminal end located beyond the outer periphery of the support structure, the second portion of the anchor being moveably coupled to the terminal end of the first portion of the anchor.

14. The orthopedic assembly of claim 10, wherein the second portion of the anchor is configured to pivot about at least one pivot axis relative to the first portion of the anchor, the at least one pivot axis being radially offset from the first longitudinal axis.

15. The orthopedic assembly of claim 10, wherein the second portion of the anchor is configured to pivot about at least one pivot axis relative to the first portion of the anchor, the at least one pivot axis extending substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis.

16. A method of stabilizing a fractured femur using an orthopedic assembly that includes a support structure having an outer periphery and an anchor having a first portion and a second portion moveably coupled to the first portion at a pivot location, the femur including a shaft and a head that extends medially from the shaft, the method comprising the steps of:

securing the support structure to the femur;

inserting the anchor through the support structure; and

moving the second portion of the anchor relative to the first portion of the anchor with the pivot location positioned beyond the outer periphery of the support structure.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the inserting step comprises providing the anchor with the first and second portions aligned in a straight configuration.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the inserting step comprises inserting the anchor with the pivot location positioned one of medially of the support structure and laterally of the support structure.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the inserting step comprises substantially aligning the pivot location with a fracture line of the femur.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the securing step comprises one of securing the support structure in the shaft of the femur and securing the support structure outside the shaft of the femur.

21. An orthopedic assembly comprising:

a support structure configured for securement to a femur, the support structure having an outer periphery;

an anchor comprising a first portion and a second portion;

means for coupling the first portion of the anchor to the support structure; and

means for moving the second portion of the anchor relative to the first portion of the anchor at a location beyond the outer periphery of the support structure.

22. The orthopedic assembly of claim 21, wherein the support structure comprises one of an intramedullary nail and a bone plate.

23. The orthopedic assembly of claim 21, wherein the anchor comprises one of a lag screw and a blade.