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:
Mar. 21, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 03, 1998
Christian Krettek, Hannover, DE;
Bernd Konemann, Celle, DE;
Alexandre Perrier, Basel, CH;
Peter Senn, Waldenburg, CH;
Synthes (U.S.A.), Paoli, PA (US);
Abstract
The alignment device serves for the positioning and insertion of osteosynthetic fasteners, in particular locking screws or bolts, in the base part of an intramedullary nail implanted in a bone, with an alignment bracket detachably connected to the top end of the intramedullary nail, and with a longitudinal alignment bar attached to the bracket by means of a coupling unit, the bar having a first section and a second section. In the first section, the alignment bar is detachably and movably connected to a coupling unit. By way of the coupling unit, the alignment bar is also detachably and pivotably connected to the alignment bracket. The second section of the alignment bar is provided with at least one guide hole serving to permit the positioning of a bore for locking the base of the intramedullary nail in a bone. The second section of the alignment bar also supports a lockable first spacing-sensor assembly with a spacing sensor whose contact surface making contact with the surface of the base of the intramedullary nail permits a shift perpendicular to the intramedullary nail without losing contact with the nail. In addition, a second spacing-sensor assembly is provided, consisting of an alignment bridge supporting on one side a contactor which is oriented toward a locking hole in the base of the nail and is provided on the other side with guide holes which serve to permit the positioning and insertion of osteosynthetic fasteners in the base part of the nail implanted in a bone. In this manner, the intramedullary nail can be distally locked in two planes in a radially fixed, rotation-resisting position, which constitutes a clinical advantage over conventional systems.