Intramedullary rod with spiraling flutes
First Claim
1. An intramedullary rod for use in the treatment of long bone fractures comprising:
- an elongated rod with a longitudinal axis, a head and a stem;
at least a first transverse hole extending through the rod, the transverse hole defining a first transverse axis forming a non-zero angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and the first transverse axis and the longitudinal axis defining a first plane; and
a plurality of external spiral flutes located along at least a portion of the stem,wherein the elongated rod includes at least two longitudinal bends in the first plane and at least one longitudinal bend in a second plane, where the second plane is orthogonal to the first plane and includes the longitudinal axis, and wherein the longitudinal bends and the plurality of spiral flutes are configured and adapted to rotate the rod in the same direction about its longitudinal axis during insertion of the rod into the medullary canal.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates generally to devices, systems and methods for the internal fixation of bone fractures, and particularly, to intramedullary fracture fixation devices such as those used in, for example, the treatment of long bone fractures. An IM rod preferably is provided with multiple curved sections in different planes preferably designed to conform with the long bones of a patient, both during insertion and in the rod'"'"'s final position in the long bone. In addition, the overlap of portions of the curved sections results in a co-planar curvature of portions of the IM rod which assist in the insertion process by guiding the proper rotation of the IM rod as it is inserted into the bone. Spiraling flutes extending down the distal portion of the rod also assist in properly guiding and orienting the rod about its longitudinal axis during insertion such that the appropriate segment of the curved rod conforms with the appropriate portion of the long bone at the appropriate place.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An intramedullary rod for use in the treatment of long bone fractures comprising:
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an elongated rod with a longitudinal axis, a head and a stem; at least a first transverse hole extending through the rod, the transverse hole defining a first transverse axis forming a non-zero angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and the first transverse axis and the longitudinal axis defining a first plane; and a plurality of external spiral flutes located along at least a portion of the stem, wherein the elongated rod includes at least two longitudinal bends in the first plane and at least one longitudinal bend in a second plane, where the second plane is orthogonal to the first plane and includes the longitudinal axis, and wherein the longitudinal bends and the plurality of spiral flutes are configured and adapted to rotate the rod in the same direction about its longitudinal axis during insertion of the rod into the medullary canal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An intramedullary rod for use in the treatment of long bone fractures comprising:
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an elongated rod with a longitudinal axis, a head and a stem, the head and stem each having a maximum outer diameter, where the maximum outer diameter of the head is greater than the maximum outer diameter of the stem; at least a first transverse hole extending through the head of the rod, the transverse hole defining a first transverse axis forming a non-zero angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and the first transverse axis and the longitudinal axis defining a first plane; and a plurality of external spiral flutes located along at least a portion of the stem, wherein the elongated rod includes at least two longitudinal bends in the first plane and at least one longitudinal bend in a second plane, where the second plane is orthogonal to the first plane and includes the longitudinal axis, and wherein the longitudinal bends and the plurality of spiral flutes are configured and adapted to rotate the rod in the same direction about its longitudinal axis during insertion of the rod into the medullary canal. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification