Intramedullary rod

• US RE28,502 E
• Filed: 05/06/1974
• Issued: 08/05/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1972
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Kirschner Medical Corporation (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: N/A
• Application Number:
  US05/467,147
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• US Class Current: 606/62
• CPC Class Codes: N/A

Abstract

An intramedullary rod for internal fixation of long bone fractures in the form of an elongated hollow tube having longitudinal flutes about the periphery. Each end is (castellated) formed to provide (alternate) a plurality of sharp cutting surfaces and an angled face guide (projections) means to facilitate emplacement in the medullary canal.

Claims

1. An intramedullary rod for fracture fixation comprising an elongated hollow tube open at each end and hollow throughout, said tube having at least one end surface castellated and defined by a plurality of longitudinal projections, a first group of said projections having pointed, relatively sharp, end surfaces defining cutting faces, a second group of said projections being spaced alternately with said first set of projections and having angled flat end surfaces defining guiding faces.

2. An intramedullary rod as defined in claim 1, wherein each end surface of said tube is castellated.

3. An intramedullary rod as defined in claim 1, wherein said tube is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending elongated flutes about the external surface thereof.

4. An intramedullary rod as defined in claim 3, wherein the flutes extend longitudinally and join the first group of projections.

5. An intramedullary rod for fracture fixation comprising an elongated tube open at each end and hollow throughout, a plurality of longitudinally extending elongated flutes about the external surface of said tube, on at least one end face of said tube the flutes being sharply sloped inwardly at an acute angle to define a plurality of cutting surfaces, the tube portions intermediate said flutes having their end surfaces on said one end face sloped gradually inwardly at an obtuse angle to define a plurality of guide surfaces.

6. An intramedullary rod as defined in claim 5 and including a rectangular slot in the tube wall surface for reception of a retraction tool.

7. An intramedullary rod for fracture fixation comprising an elongated tube open at each end and hollow throughout, a plurality of longitudinally extending elongated flutes about the external surface of said tube, on at least one end face of said tube the flutes being sharply sloped inwardly at an acute angle to define a plurality of cutting surfaces, guide means extending axially from said one end face beyond said cutting surfaces and having a guide surface sloped gradually inwardly at an obtuse angle.