Plug for bone tissue

Abstract

A cylindrical plug to close a femoral opening drilled in a femur to receive an intramedullary cutting guide, to prevent bleeding from the opening after removal of the intramedullary cutting guide from the opening.

1 . A femoral plug for sealing a femoral opening drilled in a distal region of a femur forming part of a knee joint to receive an intramedullary rod of an intramedullary cutting guide therein, the femoral plug comprising:
 an elongated body sized for insertion into the femoral opening, the elongated body being free of a through hole; and   threads extending around at least a portion of the elongated body to engage bone surrounding the femoral opening to form a seal with the bone to prevent blood loss from the femoral opening into the knee joint.   
     
     
         2 . The femoral plug of  claim 1 , wherein the threads comprise a helical thread structure. 
     
     
         3 . The femoral plug of  claim 2 , wherein the helical thread structure comprises a series of parallel ridges. 
     
     
         4 . The femoral plug of  claim 3 , wherein the parallel ridges comprise a single helix that spirals about a periphery of the elongated body. 
     
     
         5 . The femoral plug of  claim 3 , wherein the parallel ridges comprise discrete parallel bands around a periphery of the elongated body. 
     
     
         6 . The femoral plug of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body comprises a chamfered edge to facilitate entry of the femoral plug into the femoral opening. 
     
     
         7 . The femoral plug of  claim 1 , further comprising a socket to aid in insertion of the femoral plug into the femoral opening. 
     
     
         8 . The femoral plug of  claim 1 , further comprising a tool-engaging portion configured to be engaged by a tool for driving the femoral plug into the femoral opening. 
     
     
         9 . The femoral plug of  claim 1 , wherein the femoral plug is made of a biodegradable material. 
     
     
         10 . The femoral plug of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body is a substantially cylindrical body. 
     
     
         11 . The femoral plug of  claim 1 , wherein the femoral plug has a femoral plug diameter that is selected based on a diameter of a drill bit used to drill the femoral opening in the distal region of the femur. 
     
     
         12 . A femoral plug for sealing a femoral opening drilled in a distal region of a femur forming part of a knee joint to receive an intramedullary rod of an intramedullary cutting guide therein, the femoral plug comprising:
 a monolithic elongated body sized for insertion into the femoral opening, the monolithic elongated body being configured to fill substantially an entire cross-sectional area of the femoral opening; and   threads extending around at least a portion of the monolithic elongated body to engage bone surrounding the femoral opening to form a seal with the bone;   wherein the femoral plug is configured to prevent blood loss from the femoral opening into the knee joint.   
     
     
         13 . The femoral plug of  claim 12 , wherein the threads are integrally formed with the monolithic elongated body. 
     
     
         14 . The femoral plug of  claim 12 , wherein the monolithic elongated body is a substantially cylindrical body. 
     
     
         15 . The femoral plug of  claim 12 , wherein the threads comprise a helical thread structure. 
     
     
         16 . The femoral plug of  claim 15 , wherein the helical thread structure comprises a series of parallel ridges. 
     
     
         17 . The femoral plug of  claim 16 , wherein the parallel ridges comprise a single helix that spirals about a periphery of the monolithic elongated body. 
     
     
         18 . The femoral plug of  claim 16 , wherein the parallel ridges comprise discrete parallel bands around a periphery of the monolithic elongated body. 
     
     
         19 . The femoral plug of  claim 12 , wherein the monolithic elongated body comprises a chamfered edge to facilitate entry of the femoral plug into the femoral opening. 
     
     
         20 . The femoral plug of  claim 12 , further comprising a tool-engaging portion configured to be engaged by a tool for driving the femoral plug into the femoral opening.