Bone fixation device

• US 6,270,499 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2000
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Synthes USA LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Synthes USA LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Leu, Dieter, Däscher, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): REIP, DAVID OWEN
• Application Number:
  US09/529,718
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 606/60, 606/62, 606/63, 606/64, 606/65, 606/67, 606/68, 606/72, 606/73
• US Class Current: 606/64
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/72 Intramedullary pins, nails or other devices A61B17/744 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7241 the nail having separate elements through which screws pass
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/725 with locking pins or screws of special form

Abstract

A bone fracture fixation device according to the present invention includes an intramedullary nail and an intramedullary nail head. The intramedullary nail head can be set and fixed on the proximal end of the intramedullary nail and has at least one bore which extends transversely to the central axis of the intramedullary nail for form-fittingly receiving at a stable angle a bone fastener. At least one threaded bore is provided between the distal end and the proximal end of the intramedullary nail.

Claims

1. A fracture fixation device for fixation of bone fractures comprising:

an intramedullary nail with a distal end, a proximal end, and a central axis and having a threaded bore near the distal end for positioning the intramedullary nail in a medullary canal of bone;

an intramedullary nail head operatively associated with the intramedullary nail and having at least one through hole transverse to the central axis of the intramedullary nail; and

a screw configured and dimensioned for insertion in the at least one through hole of the intramedullary nail head and having a threaded head portion and a threaded shaft portion, the screw head threaded portion having a pitch smaller than that of the threaded shaft portion for bone fragment compression,

wherein the at least one through hole accommodates the screw at a fixed angle.

2. The fracture fixation device of claim 1 wherein the intramedullary nail head is detachable from the intramedullary nail.

3. The fracture fixation device of claim 2 wherein the intramedullary nail head has a body and a stem configured and dimensioned for coupling with the proximal end of the intramedullary nail.

4. The fracture fixation device of claim 3 wherein the proximal end of the intramedullary nail includes a cylindrical extension configured and dimensioned for insertion in the stem of the intramedullary nail head.

5. The fracture fixation device of claim 4 wherein the cylindrical extension has a groove and the stem has a fastener hole for receiving a fastener, the fastener cooperating with the groove to secure the intramedullary nail head to the intramedullary nail.

6. The fracture fixation device of claim 1 wherein the intramedullary nail head has the shape of a cylinder with one end cut at an angle of about 45°

.

7. The fracture fixation device of claim 1 wherein the intramedullary nail head is integral with the intramedullary nail.

8. The fracture fixation device of claim 1 wherein the intramedullary nail has at least one aperture near the distal end for receiving a locking pin.

9. The fracture fixation device of claim 1 wherein the intramedullary nail has at least one aperture near the proximal end for receiving a locking pin.

10. The fracture fixation device of claim 1 wherein the at least one through hole comprises three through holes.

11. The fracture fixation device of claim 10 wherein the three through holes have divergent axes.

12. The fracture fixation device of claim 10 wherein the three through holes have parallel axes.

13. The fracture fixation device of claim 1 wherein the at least one through hole is at least partially threaded.

14. The fracture fixation device of claim 1 wherein the bone screw has a continuous central channel.

15. The fracture fixation device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the screw is unthreaded.

16. The fracture fixation device of claim 1 wherein the screw is a self-tapping and self-cutting screw.

17. The fracture fixation device of claim 1 wherein the intramedullary nail includes a recess for receiving a blade having a body with a cutout for receiving fasteners to secure the blade to bone.

18. The fracture fixation device of claim 17 wherein the recess is slotted for receiving the body of the blade.

19. The fracture fixation device of claim 1 wherein the intramedullary nail includes a recess for receiving a plate having a plurality of plate holes for receiving fasteners to secure the plate to bone.

20. The fracture fixation device of claim 1 wherein the intramedullary nail has a threaded bore near the proximal end.