US5074882A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Progressive elongation centro-medullar nail
Assignee: AMP DEVELOPPEMENT
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Filing: 1989-04-19
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Granted: 1991-12-24
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Expires: 2009-04-19
Abstract
Abstract A device including a nail for gradually lengthening long bones including outer and inner sliding tubes connected by a double ratchet mechanism, the nail being fixed by its two extremities in the bone, and the device being entirely included in the concerned bone, being lengthened post-operatively by maneuvers applied on the limb. Rotation of a distal part of the limb with respect to proximal part of the limb allows rotation of the ratchet mechanism with lengthening of the device in one direction, and keeping of the gained length in the other direction while returning to the neutral axis of the rotation of the device, thereby featuring a dynamization system, and a system, to limit the range of rotation of the device.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Grammont
- 👤 Jean M. Guichet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/72; A61B17/7233; A61B17/725; A61B17/7216; A61B17/80; A61B17/8004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
An intramedullary nail for use in a medullary cavity of a patient's bone, said nail comprising: an elongated hollow barrel; an elongated tube movably mounted within said barrel, one end of said tube being disposed within a hollow portion of said barrel and an other end of said tube being outside of said barrel; locking means positioned within the hollow portion of said barrel, said locking means having first and second opposed ends; means for securing said first end of said locking means against rotation within said barrel; and position-controlling means positioned within said barrel, said position-controlling means cooperating with the hollow portion of said barrel, said one end of said tube and said second end of said locking means, wherein rotation of said tube relative to said barrel in a first direction causes said position-controlling means to operate in a first manner to move said tube out of said barrel a predetermined amount, while said locking means prevents operation of said position-controlling means to maintain the relative longitudinal positions of said barrel and said tube when said tube rotates in a direction opposite to said first direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
An intramedullary nail for use in a medullary cavity of a patient's bone, said nail comprising: an elongated hollow barrel; an elongated tube movably mounted within said barrel, one end of said tube being disposed within a hollow portion of said barrel and an other end of said tube being outside of said barrel; locking means positioned within the hollow portion of said barrel, said locking means having first and second opposed ends; means for securing said first end of said locking means against rotation within said barrel; and position-controlling means positioned within said barrel, said position-controlling means cooperating with the hollow portion of said barrel, said one end of said tube and said second end of said locking means, wherein rotation of said tube relative to said barrel in a first direction causes said position-controlling means to operate in a first manner to move said tube out of said barrel a predetermined amount, while said locking means prevents operation of said position-controlling means to maintain the relative longitudinal positions of said barrel and said tube when said tube rotates in a direction opposite to said first direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
122 words
The intramedullary nail of claim 1, wherein said locking means comprises: a first cylindrically-shaped rod having a first transverse surface at one end of said first rod, the other end of said first rod forming said first end; a second cylindrically-shaped rod having a second transverse surface at one end of said second rod, the other end of said second rod forming said second end, said first and second surfaces complementing each other so that said first and second rods overlap and translate relative to each other within said hollow barrel; and said securing means secures said first rod against rotation within said barrel and limits the movement of said second rod along the longitudinal axis of and within said hollow barrel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The intramedullary nail of claim 2, wherein said first and second transverse surfaces are each planar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
143 words
The intramedullary nail of claim 1, wherein said position-controlling means comprises: an interior threaded portion defined within the hollow portion of said barrel; a bush threadly engaged with said interior threaded portion, said bush terminating in first and second ends; a first ratchet means defined by said first end of said bush and said one end of said tube; and a second ratchet means defined by said second end of said bush and said second end of said locking means, wherein rotation of said tube relative to said barrel in a first direction causes said first ratchet means to rotate said bush in a first direction to move said tube out of said barrel by a predetermined amount, while said locking means prevents rotation of said bush back into said barrel when said tube rotates in a direction opposite to said first direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
122 words
The intramedullary nail of claim 4, wherein said locking means comprises: a first cylindrically-shaped rod having a first transverse surface at one end of said first rod, the other end of said first rod forming said first end; a second cylindrically-shaped rod having a second transverse surface at one end of said second rod, the other end of said second rod forming said second end, said first and second surfaces complementing each other so that said first and second rods overlap and translate relative to each other within said hollow barrel; and second securing means secures said first rod against rotation within said barrel and limits the movement of said second rod along the longitudinal axis of and within said hollow barrel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The intramedullary nail of claim 5, further comprising means for urging said tube in the direction of said bush to facilitate the operation of said first ratchet means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The intramedullary nail of claim 6, wherein said means for urging is a compression spring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The intramedullary nail of claim 5, further comprising means for urging said second end of said locking means in the direction of said bush to facilitate the operation of said second ratchet means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
180 words
The intramedullary nail of claim 1, wherein said hollow barrel has longitudinally-extending bore, and wherein said position-controlling means comprises: a bush terminating in first and second ends; first and second translation means cooperating to limit the rotation of said tube within said bore, said first translation means defined on said barrel within said bore and said second translation means defined on said tube; a first moving means defined on said first end of said bush and said one end of said tube; means for securing said first end of said locking means to said barrel; and a second moving means defined on said second end of said bush and said second end of said movement limiting means, wherein rotation of said tube relative to said barrel in a first direction causes said first moving means to rotate said bush in a first direction to move said tube out of said barrel by a predetermined amount, while said locking means prevents rotation of said bush back into said barrel when said tube rotates in a direction opposite to said first direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
The intramedullary nail of claim 1, further comprising: first securing means defined on the end of said barrel remote from where said tube emerges from said barrel for securing said nail to one end of the patient's bone; and second securing means defined on the other end of said tube for securing said nail to another end of the patient's bone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
The intramedullary nail of claim 1, wherein said locking means comprises: a longitudinally-extending groove defined within said longitudinally-extending bore; a cylindrical member movably mounted within said bore; and a longitudinally-extending key member mounted on the outer surface of said cylindrical member and positioned within said groove to limit rotational movement of said cylindrical member within said bore.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The intramedullary nail of claim 11, wherein said key member positioned within said groove confines movement of said cylindrical member along the longitudinal axis of said barrel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The intramedullary nail of claim 11, wherein said cylindrical member includes a mounting groove for supporting the engagement of said key within said groove defined in said bore.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The intramedullary nail of claim 9, further comprising means affixed to the exterior surface of said tube and cooperating with said groove defined in the bore of said barrel for limiting the relative angular movement of said tube within said barrel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The intramedullary nail of claim 1, further comprising means for fixing the position of said tube relative to said barrel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
The intramedullary nail of claim 15, wherein said fixing means comprises: a hollow volume defined within said tube; a finger movably mounted within said hollow volume; means for fixing said finger in a retracted position within said hollow volume; and disengaging means for moving said finger into engagement with said groove in said bore of said barrel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The intramedullary nail of claim 16, wherein said disengaging means is magnetically actuated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The intramedullary nail of claim 9, further comprising means for urging said tube in the direction of said bush to facilitate the operation of said first ratchet means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The intramedullary nail of claim 18, wherein said means for urging is a compression spring.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The intramedullary nail of claim 9, further comprising means for urging said second end of said locking means in the direction of said bush to facilitate the operation of said second ratchet means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-12-23 | 1995-06-24 | 1995-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-23 | 1999-06-24 | 1999-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-23 | 2003-06-24 | 2003-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |