SLEEVE
A sleeve for attachment to an end of a bone fixation element includes an elongated tubular element having a central bore extending therethrough. The tubular element has a proximal portion and a distal portion connected to one another by a web. The proximal and distal portions are separated from one another by a slot extending into the elongated tubular element. The is being sized so that, application of a shearing force to the proximal portion axially displaces the proximal portion relative to the distal portion deforming the web so that the web partially overlays the central bore locking an element received therein in the central bore
1 - 15 . (canceled)
16 . A sleeve for attachment to an end of a bone fixation element comprising:
an elongated tubular element having a central bore extending therethrough, the tubular element having a proximal portion and a distal portion connected to one another by a web, the proximal and distal portions being separated from one another by a slot extending into the elongated tubular element, the web being sized so that, application of a shearing force to the proximal portion axially displaces the proximal portion relative to the distal portion deforming the web so that the web partially overlays the central bore locking an element received therein in the central bore.
17 . The sleeve of claim 16 , wherein an outer diameter of the proximal portion is smaller than an outer diameter of the distal portion by an amount selected so that, when the proximal portion is displaced axially by a distance required to obtain the desired overlay of the web on the central bore, an outer surface of the proximal portion does not extend radially outside an outer diameter of the distal portion.
18 . The sleeve of claim 16 , wherein a diameter of the central bore is the same throughout the proximal and distal portions.
19 . The sleeve of claim 16 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the web is formed as a circular ring segment having a central angle a between 5° and 350°.
20 . The sleeve of claim 19 , wherein a is approximately 90°.
21 . The sleeve of claim 16 , wherein the proximal and distal sections are integrally formed.
22 . The sleeve of claim 16 , wherein a depth of the slot is smaller than a thickness of the distal portion.
23 . The sleeve of claim 22 , wherein a depth of the slot is smaller than a thickness of the proximal portion.
24 . The sleeve of claim 16 , wherein the tubular element is formed of a metal.
25 . The sleeve of claim 16 , wherein a distal length of the tubular element includes threading on an outer wall thereof.
26 . The sleeve of claim 16 , wherein the distal length is conical and tapers toward a distal end of the tubular element.
27 . A method for locking an axial position of a bone fixation element, comprising the steps of:
inserting a sleeve over a bone fixation element, the sleeve including an elongated tubular element having a central bore extending therethrough, the tubular element having a proximal portion and a distal portion connected to one another by a web, the proximal and distal portions being separated from one another by a slot extending into the elongated tubular element; and
shearing the proximal portion to axially displace the proximal portion relative to the distal portion, deforming the web so that the web partially overlays the central bore locking the bone fixation element received in the central bore.
28 . The method of claim 27 , further comprising the step of severing the bone fixation element after shearing the proximal portion.
29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the bone fixation element is sheared at a location adjacent a proximal end of the sleeve.
30 . The method of claim 27 , wherein an outer diameter of the proximal portion is smaller than an outer diameter of the distal portion by an amount selected so that, when the proximal portion is displaced axially by a distance required to obtain the desired overlay of the web on the central bore, an outer surface of the proximal portion does not extend radially outside an outer diameter of the distal portion.
31 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the bone fixation element is a wire.