Granted Patent B2

US 12,648,803 · App. 17/904,063 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Inventors: Chris M. Powers (Warsaw, IN); Michael Giordano (Osceola, IN); Luis Vega (Warsaw, IN)

Assignee: OrthoPediatrics Corp.

A61B17/90A61B17/72

Abstract

Claims (28)

1 . A system for aligning an intramedullary nail prior to implantation when the intramedullary nail has an intramedullary nail body having a first end having a first interlocking profile and the intramedullary nail body has a first through hole extending therethrough about a first axis, the system comprising:

an alignment device adapted and configured to be separable from the intramedullary nail, the alignment device comprising a second through hole and a second end, the second end comprising a second interlocking profile adapted and configured to establish a predetermined angular orientation between the alignment device and the intramedullary nail when the first interlocking profile and the second interlocking profile are engaged with each other; and

a holding fixture comprising a channel and a projection located within the channel, being configured to cooperatively receive the intramedullary nail in the channel such that the projection extends within the first through hole and the first axis aligns with the second through hole when the first interlocking profile is engaged with the second interlocking profile.

2 . The system of claim 1 wherein said holding fixture includes a bearing adapted and configured to retain the intramedullary nail within the channel.

3 . The system of claim 1 wherein said holding fixture includes a plurality of channels, the plurality of channels being adapted and configured to locate within them intramedullary nails of different sizes.

4 . A system for preparing an intramedullary nail implant prior to implantation, the system comprising:

an intramedullary nail having a body with a first end, the first end having a first interlocking profile, the body having a first through hole extending through the body about a first axis;

an alignment device being separable from the intramedullary nail, the alignment device having a second end having a second interlocking profile that is configured to establish a predetermined angular orientation between the alignment device and the intramedullary nail when the first interlocking profile and the second interlocking profile are engaged with each other, the alignment device having a second through hole; and

a holding fixture having at least one channel and a spring-loaded bearing located adjacent the channel,

wherein the intramedullary nail is receivable in the channel with the spring-loaded bearing being configured to resist removal of the nail from the channel.

5 . The apparatus of claim 2 which further comprises a projection located within the channel, and the projection extends within the first hole when the intramedullary nail is received within the channel.

6 . A method for intramedullary nail alignment prior to implantation, the method comprising:

providing an intramedullary nail having a first end having a first interlocking profile and having a first through hole extending through the intramedullary nail body about a first axis;

providing an alignment device adapted and configured to be separable from the intramedullary nail, the alignment device comprising a second through hole and a second end, the second end comprising a second interlocking profile adapted and configured to establish a predetermined angular orientation between the alignment device and the intramedullary nail when the first interlocking profile and the second interlocking profile are engaged with each other;

providing a holding fixture comprising a channel and a projection adapted and configured to cooperatively receive the intramedullary nail in the channel such that the projection extends within the first through hole and the first axis aligns with the second through hole when the first interlocking profile is engaged with the second interlocking profile;

positioning the intramedullary nail in the channel;

extending the projection within the first through hole concurrently with said positioning the intramedullary nail;

aligning the first axis with the second through hole concurrently with sad extending the projection; and

engaging the first interlocking profile with the second interlocking profile after said aligning the first axis.

7 . The method of claim 6 which further comprises retaining the intramedullary nail within the channel of the holding fixture with a spring loaded bearing.

8 . A system for aligning an intramedullary nail prior to implantation, the system comprising:

a plurality of intramedullary nails each having a body, with one said intramedullary nail having a width different than the width of another of said plurality of intramedullary nails, and with a first end, the body of the intramedullary nail having a first through hole extending through the body of the intramedullary nail about a first axis, and the body of the intramedullary nail having a second threaded hole in the first end;

a fastener having a shank threadably engageable with the second threaded hole;

an alignment device being separable from the intramedullary nail and having a third through hole and a fourth through hole, the fourth through hole being adapted and configured to receive therethrough the shank of the fastener; and

a holding fixture having a plurality of channels with one of said channels configured to receive therein said one intramedullary nail and another of said channels configured to receive therein said other intramedullary nail,

wherein retention of the body of the intramedullary nail within the one of the channels and alignment of the third through hole with first axis further aligns the second threaded hole with the fourth through hole and permits placement of the fastener through the fourth through hole and into threaded engagement with the second threaded hole for attachment of the nail to the alignment device.

9 . The system of claim 8 wherein said plurality of channels each have a corresponding width, the width of one of said plurality of channels being different than the width of another of said plurality of channels.

10 . The system of claim 8 wherein said holding fixture includes a spring loaded bearing for retaining said intramedullary nail within the channel.

Assignments (4)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (25)