INTRAMEDULLARY IMPLANT, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR INSERTING AN IMPLANT INTO A BONE

摘要

An intramedullary implant system, and method for placement within a bone system are provided by the invention. The implant includes a body with at least one pair of beams arranged about a longitudinal axis of the body. The beams are each fixed to the body and each have an end. The end of one of the beams of a pair is releasably coupled to the other beam of the pair by a k-wire from one end of which extends a flexible tail. The beams are each deflectable between (i) a coupled and biased position for insertion of the beams into a respective bone, and (ii) an uncoupled position for gripping bone. The beams of each pair in the uncoupled position being arranged so as to compressively engage the bone.

主权项

1. An intramedullary implant system comprising:
a body from each opposite end of which project a pair of beams arranged about a longitudinal axis of said body, said beams each being fixed to said body and each having a coupling latch with a bore so that the coupling latch of each of said beams of a pair may be releasably coupled to the other beam of the pair of beams by a removable coupling rod, from one end of which projects a flexible tail such that each of said pair of beams is movable between (i) a coupled and biased position wherein said coupling rod is located in each bore of each latch so that said implant may be inserted into a respective bone with at least a portion of said flexible tail protruding therefrom, and (ii) an uncoupled position for internally gripping the respective bone, the beams of each pair in the uncoupled position diverging away from said longitudinal axis of said body wherein an outer surface of each beam is adapted to form a compressive engagement with the respective bone when disposed in said uncoupled position.