Apparatus for treating a fractured bone

Abstract

An apparatus for treating a fracture of a bone of a subject includes an intramedullary (IM) nail insertable into a medullary canal of the bone of the subject. The IM nail has a proximal head that defines at least one hole therethrough. A sleeve, which includes a locking mechanism, is engaged with the hole when the sleeve is inserted in the hole. This engagement prevents rotational movement between the sleeve and the nail and inward and outward longitudinal movement of the sleeve relative to the nail.

1 . An apparatus for treating a fracture of a bone of a subject, the apparatus comprising:
 an intramedullary (IM) nail insertable into a medullary canal of the bone of the subject and comprising a proximal head that defines at least one hole therethrough; and   at least one sleeve insertable into a respective one of the at least one hole;   wherein:   each of the at least one sleeve comprises a locking mechanism which engages a portion of the nail around the respective hole after the sleeve is inserted into the respective hole;   the locking mechanism of each of the at least one sleeve is integral with the at least one sleeve;   the locking mechanism is structured and arranged to cooperate with the portion of the nail around the respective one of the at least one hole to prevent relative rotational movement between the sleeve and the nail and prevent inward and outward longitudinal movement of the sleeve relative to the nail once the sleeve is inserted into the respective hole in the nail; and   the nail further comprises a stem adjacent a first end of the nail, the proximal head having a distal portion including the at least one hole and a proximal portion removable from the distal portion, the distal portion being arranged adjacent the stem and the proximal portion being arranged adjacent a second end of the nail opposite the first end of the nail such that the distal portion of the head is between the proximal portion of the head and the stem, the distal portion having a distal diameter, and the proximal portion having a proximal diameter less than or equal to about 80% of the distal diameter.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for treating a fracture of a bone of a subject, the apparatus comprising:
 an intramedullary (IM) nail insertable into a medullary canal of the bone of the subject and defining at least one hole therethrough;   at least one sleeve insertable into a respective one of said at least one hole; and   locking means arranged on each of said at least one sleeve for locking said sleeve in connection with said nail when said sleeve is inserted in the respective one of said at least one hole in said nail, said locking means preventing relative rotational movement between said sleeve and said nail and also preventing prevent inward and outward longitudinal movement of said sleeve relative to said nail;   wherein the nail further comprises a stem adjacent a first end of the nail, the proximal head having a distal portion including the at least one hole and a proximal portion removable from the distal portion, the distal portion being arranged adjacent the stem and the proximal portion being arranged adjacent a second end of the nail opposite the first end of the nail such that the distal portion of the head is between the proximal portion of the head and the stem, the distal portion having a distal diameter, and the proximal portion having a proximal diameter less than or equal to about 80% of the distal diameter.   
     
     
         3 . An apparatus for treating a fracture of a bone of a subject, the apparatus comprising:
 an intramedullary (IM) nail insertable into a medullary canal of the bone of the subject and defining at least one hole therethrough;   at least one sleeve insertable into a respective one of said at least one hole; and   a cooperating locking arrangement having a first part arranged on each of said at least one sleeve and a second part formed in said nail, said locking arrangement being arranged to lock said sleeve in connection with said nail when said sleeve is inserted in the respective one of said at least one hole in said nail in order to prevent relative rotational movement between said sleeve and said nail and to prevent inward and outward longitudinal movement of said sleeve relative to said nail;   wherein the nail further comprises a stem adjacent a first end of the nail, the proximal head having a distal portion including the at least one hole and a proximal portion removable from the distal portion, the distal portion being arranged adjacent the stem and the proximal portion being arranged adjacent a second end of the nail opposite the first end of the nail such that the distal portion of the head is between the proximal portion of the head and the stem, the distal portion having a distal diameter, and the proximal portion having a proximal diameter less than or equal to about 80% of the distal diameter.   
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for treating a fracture of a bone of a subject, the apparatus comprising:
 an intramedullary (IM) nail insertable into a medullary canal of the bone of the subject and comprising a proximal head that defines at least one hole therethrough; and   at least one sleeve insertable into a respective one of the at least one hole;   wherein each of the at least one sleeve comprises a locking mechanism which engages a portion of the nail around the respective hole after the sleeve is inserted into the respective hole,   wherein the locking mechanism of each of the at least one sleeve is integral with the at least one sleeve, and   wherein the locking mechanism is structured and arranged to cooperate with the portion of the nail around the respective one of the at least one hole to prevent relative rotational movement between the sleeve and the nail and prevent inward and outward longitudinal movement of the sleeve relative to the nail once the sleeve is inserted into the respective hole in the nail.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the nail further comprises a stem adjacent a first end of the nail; and   the proximal head includes a distal portion including the at least one hole and a proximal portion removable from the distal portion, the distal portion being arranged adjacent the stem and the proximal portion being arranged adjacent a second end of the nail opposite the first end of the nail such that the distal portion of the head is between the proximal portion of the head and the stem, the distal portion having a distal diameter, and the proximal portion having a proximal diameter less than or equal to about 80% of the distal diameter.   
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for treating a fracture of a bone of a subject, the apparatus comprising:
 an intramedullary (IM) nail insertable into a medullary canal of the bone of the subject and defining at least one hole therethrough;   at least one sleeve insertable into a respective one of said at least one hole; and   locking means arranged on each of said at least one sleeve for locking said sleeve in connection with said nail when said sleeve is inserted in the respective one of said at least one hole in said nail, said locking means preventing relative rotational movement between said sleeve and said nail and also preventing prevent inward and outward longitudinal movement of said sleeve relative to said nail.   
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for treating a fracture of a bone of a subject, the apparatus comprising:
 an intramedullary (IM) nail insertable into a medullary canal of the bone of the subject and defining at least one hole therethrough;   at least one sleeve insertable into a respective one of said at least one hole; and   a cooperating locking arrangement having a first part arranged on each of said at least one sleeve and a second part formed in said nail, said locking arrangement being arranged to lock said sleeve in connection with said nail when said sleeve is inserted in the respective one of said at least one hole in said nail in order to prevent relative rotational movement between said sleeve and said nail and to prevent inward and outward longitudinal movement of said sleeve relative to said nail.