Protection sleeve holding mechanism

1. A system for inserting an intramedullary nail into a bone, comprising:

a handle extending from a proximal end to a distal end configured to couple to an intramedullary nail only in a desired orientation; and

an aiming device extending from a proximal end to a distal end configured for attachment to the proximal end of the handle, the aiming device including a guide opening extending therethrough along a guide opening axis, the guide opening being sized and shaped to accommodate a protective sleeve therein, the guide opening being located and oriented so that, when the aiming device and the handle are coupled to one another, a bone fixation receiving hole in an intramedullary nail coupled to the handle is aligned with the guide opening, the aiming device further including a hollow elastic locking pin mounted therein, the aiming device including a pin opening extending thereinto along a pin opening axis transverse to the guide opening axis, a length of the pin opening is less than a thickness of the aiming device such that the pin opening defines a blind bore, the locking pin including a transverse portion extending away from the pin opening axis and into the guide opening to engage a protective sleeve received therein.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pin opening extends substantially perpendicular to the guide opening, the pin opening including a window formed in a side wall thereof, the window opening into the guide opening.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the pin is press-fit into the pin opening.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pin is fixed to the aiming device via an adhesive.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pin is compressed when the sleeve is inserted through the guide opening.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the aiming device is attached to the handle via a coupling element.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the coupling element is a knob including a shaft received through both the handle and the aiming device.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the aiming device and the handle are integrally formed.

9. An aiming device for guiding a bone fixation element, the aiming device extending from a proximal end to a distal end and comprising:

a guide opening extending through the aiming device along a guide opening axis, the guide opening being sized and shaped to accommodate a protective sleeve therein, the guide opening located such that when the aiming device is coupled to a bone fixation device, the guide opening is aligned with a fixation element receiving hole of the bone fixation device;

a pin opening extending through the aiming device along a pin opening axis, the pin opening axis extending transverse to the guide opening axis, a length of the pin opening is less than a thickness of the aiming device such that the pin opening defines a blind bore; and

a hollow elastic locking pin mounted within the pin opening and including a transverse portion extending away from the pin opening axis into the guide opening to engage a protective sleeve inserted therein.

10. The aiming device of claim 9 , wherein the a pin opening extends substantially perpendicular to the guide opening, the pin opening including a window formed in a side wall thereof, the window opening into the guide opening.

11. The aiming device of claim 10 , wherein the pin is press-fit into the pin opening.

12. The aiming device of claim 9 , wherein the pin is fixed to the aiming device via an adhesive.

13. The aiming device of claim 9 , wherein the pin is compressed when the sleeve is inserted through the guide opening.

14. The aiming device of claim 9 , wherein the bone fixation device is a bone plate.

15. The aiming device of claim 9 , wherein the bone fixation device is an intramedullary nail.