The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 04, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 14, 1998
Mark Gosney, Memphis, TN (US);
Donna D Holland, Atlanta, GA (US);
Anthony James, Bartlett, TN (US);
John R Pepper, Germantown, TN (US);
Thomas A Russell, Memphis, TN (US);
Roy Sanders, Tampa, FL (US);
Smith & Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN (US);
Abstract
An intramedullary nail apparatus includes an elongated nail body having a longer section and a shorter section. A detachable connection affixes the larger and shorter sections together end to end, using a taper lock connection, for example. The shorter section can provide transverse openings therethrough for enabling one or more fasteners to attach it to bone tissue, depending upon the medical indication. The nail includes a bow that consists of two tangent radii. This bow allows for the anterior bow of the femur and the relative straightness of the tibia. Thus, the apparatus of the present invention enables the same stems to be used in the treatment of femoral and tibial fractures. A stem is selected for any indication based on the desired diameter and length. The bow allows for a simplified surgical technique and a reduction in inventory of the nail system.