Apparatus and method to provide compression for a locked intramedullary nail

Claim 1

An apparatus for fixation of a bone having a medullary canal for use with an intramedullary nail that has been inserted into the medullary canal, the intramedullary nail having a longitudinal axis and distal and proximal ends and apertures in said ends, comprising: a compression assembly for providing interfragmentary compression to said bone, comprising a first means and a compression means; said first means in the form of an elongated first member having first and second ends, central portions defining a central aperture, and a longitudinal axis, adapted to be aligned with said longitudinal axis of said intramedullary nail, said first end for engaging only said bone adjacent said proximate end of said intramedullary nail; said compression means, bearing against said second end of said first member, for applying compressive force to said bone through said first member; guide means, disposed parallel to and spaced apart from said intramedullary nail, having a proximal end and a proximal aperture; and alignment means, connected to said guide means and said first means, for aligning said guide means with respect to said intramedullary nail to position the axis of the proximal aperture in said guide means along the axis of the proximal aperture in said intramedullary nail.

Claim 2

An apparatus for fixation of a bone having a medullary canal for use with an intramedullary nail that has been inserted into the medullary canal, the intramedullary nail having a longitudinal axis and distal and proximal ends and apertures in said ends, comprising: a compression assembly for providing interfragmentary compression to said bone, comprising a first means and a compression means; said first means in the form of an elongated first member having first and second ends, central portions defining a central aperture, and a longitudinal axis, adapted to be aligned with said longitudinal axis of said intramedullary nail, said first end for engaging only said bone adjacent said proximate end of said intramedullary nail; said compression means, bearing against said second end of said first member, for applying compressive force to said bone through said first member; guide means, disposed parallel to and spaced apart from said intramedullary nail, having a proximal end and a proximal aperture; and alignment means, connected to said guide means and said first means, for aligning said guide means with respect to said intramedullary nail to position the axis of the proximal aperture in said guide means along the axis of the proximal aperture in said intramedullary nail.

Claim 15

An apparatus for fixation of a bone having a medullary canal for use with an intramedullary nail that has been inserted into the medullary canal, the intramedullary nail having a longitudinal axis and distal and proximal ends and apertures in said ends, comprising: first means in the form of an elongated tubular member having first and second ends, a central aperture, and a longitudinal axis aligned with said longitudinal axis of said intramedullary nail, said first end for directly engaging said bone adjacent said proximate end of said intramedullary nail, compression means, bearing against said second end of said tubular member, for applying compressive force to said bone through said tubular member, guide means, disposed parallel to and spaced apart from said intramedullary nail, having proximal and distal ends and proximal and distal apertures, alignment means, connected to said guide means and said tubular member, for aligning said guide means with respect to said intramedullary nail to position the axes of the proximal and distal apertures in said guide means along the axes of the proximal and distal apertures, respectively, in said intramedullary nail, and an elongated rod member having a lower end having a first threaded end being adapted to be threadingly connected to said proximal end of said nail and a second threaded end which engages said compression means, wherein said first and second ends of said tubular member has upper and lower ends respectively, and an axially extending slot formed in said lower end, wherein said slot has a closed upper end and an open lower end, and said open lower end being defined by two spaced apart portions of the tubular member, wherein said alignment means has first and second ends, the first end thereof disposed within the slot in the tubular member and engaged against the upper end of said slot, and wherein said portions of said tubular member which defines said central aperture being in sliding relationship with said second threaded end of said rod member.

Claim 16

An apparatus for fixation of a bone having a medullary canal for use with an intramedullary nail that has been inserted into the medullary canal, the intramedullary nail having a longitudinal axis and distal and proximal ends and apertures in said ends, comprising: first means in the form of an elongated tubular member having first and second ends, a central aperture, and a longitudinal axis aligned with said longitudinal axis of said intramedullary nail, said first end for directly engaging said bone adjacent said proximate end of said intramedullary nail, compression means, bearing against said second end of said tubular member, for applying compressive force to said bone through said tubular member, guide means, disposed parallel to and spaced apart from said intramedullary nail, having proximal and distal ends and proximal and distal apertures, alignment means, connected to said guide means and said tubular member, for aligning said guide means with respect to said intramedullary nail to position the axes of the proximal and distal apertures in said guide means along the axes of the proximal and distal apertures, respectively, in said intramedullary nail, and an elongated rod member having a lower end having a first threaded end being adapted to be threadingly connected to said proximal end of said nail and a second threaded end which engages said compression means, wherein said first and second ends of said tubular member has upper and lower ends respectively, and an axially extending slot formed in said lower end, wherein said slot has a closed upper end and an open lower end, and said open lower end being defined by two spaced apart portions of the tubular member, wherein said alignment means has first and second ends, the first end thereof disposed within the slot in the tubular member and engaged against the upper end of said slot, and wherein said portions of said tubular member which defines said central aperture being in sliding relationship with said second threaded end of said rod member.

Claim 17

A method for locking an intramedullary nail having proximal and distal ends and apertures in each end, to a bone, the method comprising locking the proximal aperture of the proximal end of the nail, after the distal aperture of the distal end of the nail is locked, by the steps of: engaging a compression assembly having first and second sections, the second section engaging only the proximal end of the nail and the first section engaging only on the bone adjacent said proximal end of said nail; coupling an alignment fixture to the compression assembly; operating the compression assembly to compress the bone adjacent said proximal end of said nail to a predetermined stress level; using the alignment fixture for determining the location of the proximal aperture; drilling a proximal hole in the bone through the proximal aperture in the nail; inserting a locking screw through the drilled proximate hole and through the proximal aperture of the nail; and disabling and disengaging the compression assembly from the bone and nail.

Claim 18

A method for locking an intramedullary nail having proximal and distal ends and apertures in each end, to a bone, the method comprising locking the proximal aperture of the proximal end of the nail, after the distal aperture of the distal end of the nail is locked, by the steps of: engaging a compression assembly having first and second sections, the second section engaging only the proximal end of the nail and the first section engaging only on the bone adjacent said proximal end of said nail; coupling an alignment fixture to the compression assembly; operating the compression assembly to compress the bone adjacent said proximal end of said nail to a predetermined stress level; using the alignment fixture for determining the location of the proximal aperture; drilling a proximal hole in the bone through the proximal aperture in the nail; inserting a locking screw through the drilled proximate hole and through the proximal aperture of the nail; and disabling and disengaging the compression assembly from the bone and nail.