ZA200600714B - Surgical nail - Google Patents

Description

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English translation of the specification cf the Intemational! Patent Application No.

PCT/CH2003/000519 Surgical rail“ in the name of Synthes AG Chur

SURGICAL PIN

The invention relates to a surgical pin, especially an intramedullary pin of the introductory portion of claim 1.

The locking of medullary pins is part of the state of the art. The introduction of locking screws or locking bolts (only the expression, locking screw, is used in the following; however, it is intended to include also the expression locking bolt) into the transverse boreholes of the medullary pin is accomplished either with the help of an imaging process (x-ray control) or a more or less complicated targeting device. In both cases, a certain targeting inaccuracy is unavoidable, that is, the tip of the screw cannot be aligned exactly coaxially with the central axis of the transverse borehole and, instead, deviates therefrom by a certain amount. The external diameter of the screw is underdimensioned relative to the diameter of the transverse borehole, so that, in spite of this targeting error, the locking screw ends up in and can be passed through the transverse borehole. If the targeting inaccuracy remains within the range of this underdimensioning, the locking screw can be passed without problems through the transverse borehole in spite of the targeting error. However, because of the underdimensioning, there is now a certain clearance between the locking screw and the transverse borehole.

This clearance defines the amount, by which the main bone fragments, which are fixed by means of locking screws in the corresponding locking hole, can move relative to the pin and, accordingly, because of the rigidity of the pin, also relative to the other main bone fragments fastened with the same pin. In order to guarantee the applicability of the locking for the surgeon, this clearance, admittedly, is unavoidable. However, for certain indications (for example, in the case of metaphysial fragments) it is ciinically tindesirable.

Even pins with a full cross section, which may have an internal thread in the locking hole, are not without clearance. The internal thread merely prevents axial movement of the pin on the locking screw.

I 5 2806/00714

US patent 6,296,645 of HOVER ET AL. discloses a hollow intramedullary metal pin, which has one or two plastic inserts, through which the locking screw can be introduced, into the diametrically opposite casing openings of the transverse boreholes, also referred to as windows. It is a disadvantage of this known medullary pin that the window-like plastic inserts can easily be pressed in, so that the desired function is lost. However, even with very careful manipulation, the two plastic inserts may well be pressed out of their "window" when the locking screw is passed through, which will also lead to a loss of function.

The invention is to provide a remedy here. It is an object of the invention to provide a surgical pin, especially an intramedullary pin, with which the clearance, existing between it and the locking screw, can be eliminated without risk and an improved holding force as well as an improved guiding effect can be achieved between the locking screw and the medullary pin.

Pursuant to the invention, this objective is accomplished with a surgical pin, which has the distinguishing features of claim 1.

With that, the following advantages can be achieved: a) the targeting accuracy is not affected during the introduction of the locking screw; b) the possibility exists of fixing the bone fragments angularly stably in certain directions for a particular amount of the load; c) after the corticalis is drilled, the component can be brought into the medullary pin, that is, exogenous chips are not formed in the medullary canal and d) a greater or lesser angular stability of the locking screw can be achieved depending on the components selected.

In the case of a particular embodiment, the compcnent consists of a stud, a piece of wire or a piece of cable, which is aligned essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pin.

In the case cf a preferred embodiment, the component consists of the same material as the medullary pin, that is, of titanium or a titanium alioy for a titanium pin or of steel for a steel pin.

However, the component may also consist of a biocompatible plastic, such as polyethylene, especially of a high molecular weight polyethylene (HMWPE).

The advantage of these materials lies therein that, on the one hand, they are not too hard and, on the other, there is no breakdown of the plastic with unknown breakdown products.

The plastic may, however, also be a bioabsorbable polymer, preferably a polylactide. For this embodiment, there is, initially, a clearance-free transverse locking of the medullary pin, which then, with increasing absorption of the polymer, is eliminated successively once again, so that the transverse locking screw becomes movable once again relative to the medullary pin and, with that, also the bone fragments that have been taken care of. Accordingly, after the fracture has been consolidated, there is dynamization of the bone fragments. The fact that the chips, which may be formed when a locking screw is screwed through the transverse borehole of the pin, can be broken down by the body is a further advantage.

The transverse borehole of the pin may be formed either as a circular borehole (a = b) or as an elongated hole (a > b).

The locking screw (or a locking bolt), which can be introduced into the transverse borehole, advisably has a shaft with a diameter d with a<d<b. In the case of a locking screw, the diameter d also includes the external thread. The diameter d, moreover, preferably is at least 5% smaller than the smaller of the two dimensions a, b of the cross-sectionai profiie F.

The component may be mounted or fastened at different places within the medullary pin. Preferably, however, it is fastened to the inner surface of the wall of the medullary pin.

The invention and further developments of the invention are explained in even greater detail in the following by means of the partially diagrammatic representation of several examples. In the drawing

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the inventive medullary pin,

Fig. 2 shows a section through the medullary pin along the line II-1l of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section through a variation of the medullary pin,

Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section through a further variation of the medullary pin and

Fig. 5 shows a section through the medullary pin along the line V-V of Fig. 4.

The surgical pin 1, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is an intramedullary pin for tubular bones with a central axis 2 and consists of a metal or metal alloy, that is, of a material with a relatively high strength. Moreover, the surgical pin 1 has a transverse borehole 5, which extends transversely to the central axis 2, has a cross-sectional profile F and a transverse axis 6. The transverse borehole 5 is produced proximally and constructed as a circular borehole. However, it could also be constructed as an elongated hole with the maximum dimensions a and b, the longer dimensioned a being disposed in the axial direction.

The medullary pin has a longitudinal borehole 3, which extends coaxially with the central axis 2 and, as a result, a casing 4 with the inner surface 6.

In the longitudinal borehole 3 in the region of the transverse borehole 5, a component 7, narrowing the cross-sectional profile F of the transverse borehole 5, is fastened to the inner surface 6 of the casing 4. In the example shown, the component 7 is mounted in the rear region of the longitudinal borehole 3 and has a protruding thickness P. The thickness P is selected so that the locking screw 10 with the external thread 11 can barely still be screwed into the transverse borehole 5.

The component 7 consists of a stud, which is aligned essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis 2. instead of a stud, a different longitudinal component may also be used, such as a piece of wire, a piece of cable or a profiled piece.

in Fig. 3, a variation of the inventive medui:ary pin is shown, for which the component 7 is constructed as a separate element, which can be introduced by means of a suitable instrument 20 intraoperatively into the longitudinal borehole 3 of the medullary pin 1.

In Figs. 4 and 5, a further variation of an inventive medullary pin is shown, for which the inner surface 6 of the casing 4 has a groove 9, which extends parallel to the central axis 2 and in which the component 7 can be introduced into the longitudinal borehole 3 starting from the tip 14 of the medullary pin 1. The length of the component 7 is such that, when it is introduced completely into the medullary pin 1, it reaches the region of the transverse borehole 5, so that the cross-sectional profile F is narrowed by the component 7. The groove 9 has a partially circular cross- section with a center angle of 200°. The diameter of the component 7, moreover, is such, that its part, protruding radially into the longitudinal borehole 6, brings about such a narrowing of the cross-sectional profile F, that passage of the locking bolt 12 with the smooth shaft 13 is barely still possible.

Claims (17)

Fl N ’ English translation of ‘he claims as amended under Article 34 PCT of the International Patent Application No. PCT/CH2003/000519 “Surgical nail” in the name of Synthes AG Chur Claims

1. Surgical pin, with a central axis , a longitudinal borehole extending coaxially with the central axis with the diameter D, a casing with the inner surface and a transverse borehole extending transversely to the central axis , which iS suitable for accommodating a locking screw , the transverse borehole having a cross- sectional profile F and a borehole axis , characterized in that A) the longitudinal borehole is continuous and B) a component , narrowing the cross-sectional profile F but still permitting passage of a locking screw , is provided in the longitudinal borehole in the region of the transverse borehole ; and C) the component comprises a part which radially protrudes into the longitudinal borehole and has a thickness P > 0,01 D.

2. The pin of claim 1, characterized in that the component is fastened to the inner surface of the casing.

3. The pin of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the component is a stud, a piece of wire, a piece of cable or a profiled piece and is aligned essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

4. The pin of one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the component consists of the same material as the pin.

5. The pin of one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the component consists of a biocompatible plastic. 6 AMENDED SHEET

’ *

6. The pin of claim 5, characterized in that the plastic is a bioabsorbable polymer or copolymer.

7. The pin of one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cross- sectional profile F has a maximum length a in the direction of the central axis and, perpendicularly thereto, a maximum width b with a > b.

8. The pin of one of the claims 1 to 7, characterizing that the transverse borehole is a circular borehole, the cross-sectional profile F having the maximum lengths a = b.

9. The pin of one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a locking screw with an external thread , which can be introduced into the transverse borehole , or a locking bolt with a smooth shaft , the external thread or the shaft having a diameter "d" satisfying the condition a > d <b.

10. The pin of claim 9 characterized in that the diameter "d" is at least 5% smaller than the smaller of the two dimensions a, b.

11. The pin of one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it has two penetrating, transverse boreholes and the componentis positioned in the corner region of the transverse boreholes.

12. The pin of one of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the component is constructed as a separate element, which can be introduced into the longitudinal borehole during the operation.

13. The pin of claim 12, characterized in that the inner surface of the casing (4) has a groove, which extends parallel to the central axis and into which the component can be introduced.

14. The pin of claim 13, characterized in that the groove has a partially circular cross section, which is larger than 180°. 7 AMENDED SHEET

15. The pin of one of the claims 8 to *4, characterized in that the component has a thickness of P > 0.01 D and preferably of P > 0.05 D protruding radially into the longitudinal borehole.

16. The surgical pin substantially as herein described and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or in Figure 3 or in Figures 4 and 5.

17 The pin of any one of the preceding claims being an intramedullary pin. 8 AMENDED SHEET