Condylar fracture fixation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10792082-B2
Application number	US-201816137592-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2018
Priority date	Mar 6, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2020
Grant date	Oct 6, 2020

Abstract

A condylar fracture fixation system for use with an intramedullary nail includes a longitudinally extending rod having first and second ends, each end having outwardly extending threads or ridges. The rod extends along a first longitudinal axis which extends in a medial-lateral direction in use. A first and second nut is provided each nut having first and second ends. The second end of each nut having an opening formed by a plurality of resilient legs for respectively receiving the first and second ends of the rod. The second end of the first and second nuts include ridges or threads extending into the opening in each nut. The inwardly extending ridges of nuts respectively engaging the outwardly extending threads or ridges of the rod. A flexible washer is connected to the first end of each nut.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fracture fixation system comprising:
a longitudinally extending rod having first and second terminal ends, each terminal end having ridges extending in a radially outward direction;
first and second nuts each extending along an axis between first and second ends, the first and second nuts each having a body portion and a cavity portion, the cavity portion defining a cavity extending from the second end toward the first end and terminating at an axial location between the first and second ends for respectively receiving the first and second terminal ends of the rod, the cavity portion of the first and second nuts including radially inwardly extending ridges for respectively engaging the outwardly extending ridges of the first and second terminal ends of the rod, the body portion of the first and second nuts extending from the first end of the nut to the axial location; and
a washer mounted about the body portion of each of the first and second nuts, each of the washers having opposed bendable portions engaging the first and second nuts so as to be axially fixed on the body portion and rotatable about the axis.

2. The fracture fixation system of claim 1 , wherein the radially outwardly extending ridges of the first and second terminal ends of the rod are formed as a helical thread.

3. The fracture fixation system of claim 2 , wherein the radially inwardly extending ridges of the first and second nuts are formed as helical threads.

4. The fracture fixation system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible washer is made of metal having a thickness of 1 to 3 mm.

5. The fracture fixation system of claim 1 , wherein the cavity portion of the first and second nuts comprises a plurality of flexible legs attached to and extending away from the body portion such that the legs surround and define the cavity, the radially inward extended ridges being located on an inner surfaces of the legs.

6. The fracture fixation system of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of legs of the first and second nuts include four legs.

7. The fracture fixation system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible washer is non-circular.

8. The fracture fixation system of claim 7 , wherein the flexible washer has two diametrically opposed oval portions.

9. The fracture fixation system of claim 1 , wherein the body portion of each nut has a circumferential groove for receiving an inner surface of each washer and each washer is secured within its respective groove via a snap fit connection.

10. The fracture fixation system of claim 1 , further comprising an intramedullary nail having a bore for receiving the longitudinally extending rod.

11. A fracture fixation system comprising:
a longitudinally extending rod having first and second terminal ends, the first and second terminal ends having a plurality of radially outwardly extending protrusions;
first and second nuts extending along an axis between first and second ends, each nut having a hollow interior portion having an open end at the second end for respectively receiving the first and second terminal ends of the rod and a closed end axially disposed between the first and second ends for limiting respective movement of the first and second terminal ends of the longitudinally extending rod, the interior portion of the first and second nuts having a plurality of recesses for receiving the outwardly extending protrusions on the first and second ends of the rod;
a flexible washer mounted on the first and second nuts such that the flexible washer is axially fixed between the first end and the closed end and rotatable about the axis.

12. The fracture fixation system as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the radially outwardly extending protrusions of the first and second terminal ends of the rod are formed as a helical thread.

13. The fracture fixation system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the radially inwardly extending recesses of the first and second nuts are formed as helical threads.

14. The fracture fixation system as set forth in claim 11 , wherein each of the nuts and respective washers are made of a material selected from the group consisting of a polymeric material, titanium, a titanium alloy and stainless steel.

15. The fracture fixation system as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the hollow interior portion comprises a plurality of flexible legs extending from the closed end towards the second end such that the plurality of legs surround and define a hollow interior of the hollow interior portion, the plurality of recesses being located on inner surfaces of the legs.

16. The fracture fixation system as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the plurality of legs of the first and second nuts include four legs.

17. The fracture fixation system of claim 11 , wherein the flexible washer is non-circular.

Assignees

• Stryker European Holdings I Llc

Inventors

• Zander Nils
• Wieland Manfred
• Ricciardi Giovanni

Classifications

• A61B17/683 Primary

  comprising bone transfixation elements, e.g. bolt with a distal cooperating element such as a nut · CPC title

• A61B17/744

  the longitudinal elements coupled to an intramedullary nail · CPC title

• A61B17/8685

  comprising multiple separate parts · CPC title

• A61B17/7233

  with special means of locking the nail to the bone · CPC title

• A61B17/84 Primary

  Fasteners therefor {or fasteners being internal fixation devices} · CPC title