Bone nailer

Claim 2

A bone nailer (10) adapted for use with an elongate nail or screw like insert (20, 50, 60, 80) comprising a head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) having inner and outer end surfaces (22, 52, 62 and 23, 53, 63) and a peripheral surface (24, 54, 64, 84) extending between said end surfaces (22, 52, 62 and 23, 53, 63), and an embedable portion (25, 55, 65, 85) projecting from the inner end surface (22, 52, 62) of said head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) and having a smaller transverse cross sectional area than said head portion (21, 51, 61, 81), said nailer (10) comprising: a housing (28, 88) having an inner surface (29, 89) defining a through passageway extending from an inlet opening (30, 90) to an outlet opening (31, 91), a portion of said inner surface (29, 89) adjacent said outlet opening (31, 91) being adapted to receive the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) with its head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) farthest from said outlet opening (31, 91) and its embedable portion (25, 55, 65, 85) projecting from the head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) toward the outlet opening (31, 91), said portion of said inner surface (29, 89) defining said passageway includes a holding part (33, 93) spaced from said outlet opening (31, 91) adapted for an interference fit with the peripheral surface (24, 54, 64, 84) of the head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) with an end (32, 92) of the embedable portion (25, 55, 65, 85) opposite the head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) slightly projecting through said outlet opening (31, 91), and a guiding part (35, 95) between said holding part (33, 93) and said outlet opening (31, 91) adapted for a close clearance fit with the peripheral surface (24, 54, 64, 84) of the head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) to guide the peripheral surface (24, 54, 64, 84) of the head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) during movement of the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) through the outlet opening (31, 91); a driver (36, 96) having an end (37, 97) adapted to engage the outer surface (23, 53, 63) of said head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) and being mounted on said housing (28, 88) for sliding movement between a load position with the driver (36, 96) spaced from the outlet opening (31, 91) to afford positioning the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) in the passageway, along said passageway so that said end (37, 97) can push the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) toward the outlet opening (31, 91), to an eject position at which the driver (36, 96) has pushed the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) out said outlet opening (31, 91); and drive means (14) adapted to be manually activated for rapidly propelling said driver (36, 96) along said passageway from said load to said eject position to rapidly move said insert (20, 50, 60, 80) through said outlet opening (31, 91) and embed its embedable portion (25, 55, 65, 85) in adjacent bone.

Claim 3

A cartridge (11, 71) adapted for use with a drive assembly (14) comprising a drive assembly housing (15), a piston assembly (16) mounted in said housing (15) for rapid movement in a first direction between first and second positions, and means for manually operating said drive assembly to afford movement of said piston assembly between said first and second positions, said cartridge (11, 71) comprising: an elongate nail or screw like insert (20, 50, 60, 80) comprising a head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) having inner and outer end surfaces (22, 52, 62 and 23, 53, 63) and a peripheral surface (24, 54, 64, 84) extending between said end surfaces (22, 52, 62 and 23, 53, 63), and an embedable portion (25, 55, 65, 85) projecting from the inner end surface (22, 52, 62) of said head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) and having a smaller transverse cross sectional area than said head portion (21, 51, 61, 81); a cartridge housing (28, 88) having an inner surface (29, 89) defining a through passageway having an axis and extending from an inlet opening (30, 90) to an outlet opening (31, 91), a portion of said inner surface (29, 89) adjacent said outlet opening (31, 91) receiving the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) with said head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) farthest from said outlet opening (31, 91) and said embedable portion (25, 55, 65, 85) projecting from said head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) toward said outlet opening (31, 91), said portion of said inner surface (29, 89) defining said passageway includes a holding part (33, 93) spaced from said outlet opening (31, 91) having an interference fit with the peripheral surface (24, 54, 64, 84) of said head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) with an end (32, 92) of said embedable portion (25, 55, 65, 85) opposite said head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) slightly projecting through said outlet opening (31, 91), and a guiding part (35, 95) between said holding part (33, 93) and said outlet opening (31, 91) adapted for a close clearance fit with the peripheral surface (24, 54, 64, 84) of the head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) to guide the peripheral surface (24, 54, 64, 84) of the head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) during movement of the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) through said outlet opening (31, 91); and a driver (36, 96) having an end (37, 97) adapted to engage said outer surface (23, 53, 63) of said head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) and being mounted on said housing (28, 88) in a load position with the driver (36, 96) spaced from said outlet opening (31, 91) and said insert (20, 50, 60, 80) in the passageway, said driver (36, 96) being movable along said passageway with said end (37, 97) pushing the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) to an eject position at which the driver (36, 96) pushes the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) out said outlet opening (31, 91); said cartridge housing (28, 88) being adapted to be removably mounted on said drive assembly housing (15) with the axis of said passageway aligned in said first direction and said driver (36, 96) positioned so that movement of said piston assembly (16) between said first and second positions rapidly propels said driver (36, 96) along said passageway from said load to said eject position to rapidly move said insert (20, 50, 60, 80) through said outlet opening (31, 91) and embed said embedable portion (25, 55, 65, 85) in adjacent bone.

Claim 4

A cartridge (11, 71) adapted for use with a drive assembly (14) comprising a drive assembly housing (15), a piston assembly (16) mounted in said housing (15) for rapid movement in a first direction between first and second positions, and means for manually operating said drive assembly to afford movement of said piston assembly between said first and second positions, said cartridge (11, 71) comprising: an elongate nail or screw like insert (20, 50, 60, 80) comprising a head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) having inner and outer end surfaces (22, 52, 62 and 23, 53, 63) and a peripheral surface (24, 54, 64, 84) extending between said end surfaces (22, 52, 62 and 23, 53, 63), and an embedable portion (25, 55, 65, 85) projecting from the inner end surface (22, 52, 62) of said head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) and having a smaller transverse cross sectional area than said head portion (21, 51, 61, 81); a cartridge housing (28, 88) having an inner surface (29, 89) defining a through passageway having an axis and extending from an inlet opening (30, 90) to an outlet opening (31, 91), a portion of said inner surface (29, 89) adjacent said outlet opening (31, 91) receiving the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) with said head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) farthest from said outlet opening (31, 91) and said embedable portion (25, 55, 65, 85) projecting from said head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) toward said outlet opening (31, 91), said portion of said inner surface (29, 89) defining said passageway includes a holding part (33, 93) spaced from said outlet opening (31, 91) having an interference fit with the peripheral surface (24, 54, 64, 84) of said head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) with an end (32, 92) of said embedable portion (25, 55, 65, 85) opposite said head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) slightly projecting through said outlet opening (31, 91), and a guiding part (35, 95) between said holding part (33, 93) and said outlet opening (31, 91) adapted for a close clearance fit with the peripheral surface (24, 54, 64, 84) of the head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) to guide the peripheral surface (24, 54, 64, 84) of the head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) during movement of the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) through said outlet opening (31, 91); and a driver (36, 96) having an end (37, 97) adapted to engage said outer surface (23, 53, 63) of said head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) and being mounted on said housing (28, 88) in a load position with the driver (36, 96) spaced from said outlet opening (31, 91) and said insert (20, 50, 60, 80) in the passageway, said driver (36, 96) being movable along said passageway with said end (37, 97) pushing the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) to an eject position at which the driver (36, 96) pushes the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) out said outlet opening (31, 91); said cartridge housing (28, 88) being adapted to be removably mounted on said drive assembly housing (15) with the axis of said passageway aligned in said first direction and said driver (36, 96) positioned so that movement of said piston assembly (16) between said first and second positions rapidly propels said driver (36, 96) along said passageway from said load to said eject position to rapidly move said insert (20, 50, 60, 80) through said outlet opening (31, 91) and embed said embedable portion (25, 55, 65, 85) in adjacent bone.

Claim 5

A cartridge (11,71) according to claim 2 wherein said cartridge housing (28, 88) is of a polymeric material.

Claim 6

A cartridge (11, 71) according to claim 2 wherein said insert (50) has threads (57) along said embedable portion (55).

Claim 7

A cartridge (11, 71) according to claim 2 wherein said embedable portion (65) of said insert (60) has a generally rectangular transverse cross section and a helical twist along its length.

Claim 8

A cartridge assembly (11, 71) adapted for use with an elongate nail or screw like insert (20, 50, 60, 80) comprising a head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) having inner and outer end surfaces (22, 52, 62 and 23, 53, 63) and a peripheral surface (24, 54, 64, 84) extending between said end surfaces (22, 52, 62 and 23, 63, 83), and an embedable portion (25, 55, 65, 85) projecting from the inner end surface (22, 52, 62) of said head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) and having a smaller transverse cross sectional area than said head portion (21, 51, 61, 81); and adapted for use with a drive assembly (14) comprising a drive assembly housing (15), a piston assembly (16) mounted in said housing (15) for rapid movement in a first direction between first and second positions, and means for manually operating said drive assembly to afford rapid movement of said piston assembly between said first and second positions, said cartridge (11, 71) comprising: a cartridge housing (28, 88) having an inner surface (29, 89) defining a through passageway having an axis and extending from an inlet opening (30, 90) to an outlet opening (31, 91), a portion of said inner surface (29, 89) adjacent said outlet opening (31, 91) being adapted to receive the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) with the head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) of the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) farthest from said outlet opening (31, 91) and the embedable portion (25, 55, 65, 85) of the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) projecting from its head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) toward said outlet opening (31, 91), said portion of said inner surface (29, 89) defining said passageway includes a holding part (33, 93) spaced from said outlet opening (31, 91) adapted for an interference fit with the peripheral surface (24, 54, 64, 84) of the head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) with an end (32, 92) of the embedable portion (25, 55, 65, 85) opposite the head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) slightly projecting through said outlet opening (31, 91), and a guiding part (35, 95) between said holding part (33, 93) and said outlet opening (31, 91) adapted for a close clearance fit with the peripheral surface (24, 54, 64, 84) of the head portion (21, 51, 61, 81), to guide the peripheral surface (24, 54, 64, 84) of the head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) during movement of the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) through the outlet opening (31, 91); and a driver (36, 96) having an end (37, 97) adapted to engage the outer surface (23, 53, 63) of the head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) of the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) and being mounted on said housing (28, 88) in a load position with the driver (36, 96) spaced from the outlet opening (31, 91) to afford positioning the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) in the passageway, said driver (36, 96) being movable along said passageway with said end (37, 97) pushing the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) to an eject position at which the driver (36, 96) pushes the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) out said outlet opening (31, 91); said cartridge housing (28, 88) being adapted to be removably mounted on said drive assembly housing (15) with the axis of said passageway aligned in said first direction and said driver (36, 96) positioned so that movement of said piston assembly (16) between said first and second positions rapidly propels said driver (36, 96) along said passageway from said load to said eject position to rapidly move the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) through said outlet opening (31, 91) and embed its embedable portion (25, 55, 65, 85) in adjacent bone.

Claim 9

A cartridge assembly (11, 71) adapted for use with an elongate nail or screw like insert (20, 50, 60, 80) comprising a head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) having inner and outer end surfaces (22, 52, 62 and 23, 53, 63) and a peripheral surface (24, 54, 64, 84) extending between said end surfaces (22, 52, 62 and 23, 63, 83), and an embedable portion (25, 55, 65, 85) projecting from the inner end surface (22, 52, 62) of said head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) and having a smaller transverse cross sectional area than said head portion (21, 51, 61, 81); and adapted for use with a drive assembly (14) comprising a drive assembly housing (15), a piston assembly (16) mounted in said housing (15) for rapid movement in a first direction between first and second positions, and means for manually operating said drive assembly to afford rapid movement of said piston assembly between said first and second positions, said cartridge (11, 71) comprising: a cartridge housing (28, 88) having an inner surface (29, 89) defining a through passageway having an axis and extending from an inlet opening (30, 90) to an outlet opening (31, 91), a portion of said inner surface (29, 89) adjacent said outlet opening (31, 91) being adapted to receive the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) with the head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) of the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) farthest from said outlet opening (31, 91) and the embedable portion (25, 55, 65, 85) of the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) projecting from its head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) toward said outlet opening (31, 91), said portion of said inner surface (29, 89) defining said passageway includes a holding part (33, 93) spaced from said outlet opening (31, 91) adapted for an interference fit with the peripheral surface (24, 54, 64, 84) of the head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) with an end (32, 92) of the embedable portion (25, 55, 65, 85) opposite the head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) slightly projecting through said outlet opening (31, 91), and a guiding part (35, 95) between said holding part (33, 93) and said outlet opening (31, 91) adapted for a close clearance fit with the peripheral surface (24, 54, 64, 84) of the head portion (21, 51, 61, 81), to guide the peripheral surface (24, 54, 64, 84) of the head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) during movement of the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) through the outlet opening (31, 91); and a driver (36, 96) having an end (37, 97) adapted to engage the outer surface (23, 53, 63) of the head portion (21, 51, 61, 81) of the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) and being mounted on said housing (28, 88) in a load position with the driver (36, 96) spaced from the outlet opening (31, 91) to afford positioning the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) in the passageway, said driver (36, 96) being movable along said passageway with said end (37, 97) pushing the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) to an eject position at which the driver (36, 96) pushes the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) out said outlet opening (31, 91); said cartridge housing (28, 88) being adapted to be removably mounted on said drive assembly housing (15) with the axis of said passageway aligned in said first direction and said driver (36, 96) positioned so that movement of said piston assembly (16) between said first and second positions rapidly propels said driver (36, 96) along said passageway from said load to said eject position to rapidly move the insert (20, 50, 60, 80) through said outlet opening (31, 91) and embed its embedable portion (25, 55, 65, 85) in adjacent bone.

Claim 10

A cartridge assembly (11) according to claim 6 further including an elongate punch (44) adapted to position a said insert (20) at a predetermined position in said passageway, said punch (44) having a first end surface (45), a socket (46) opening through said first end surface (45) adapted to receive the embedable portion (25) of the insert (20) with the inner surface (22) of the head portion (21) against the first end surface (45) of the punch (44), an end portion (47) adjacent said first end surface (45) adapted to freely enter said passageway, and a shoulder (48) too large to enter said passageway at the end of said end portion (47) opposite said first end surface (45), the distance between said first end surface (45) and said shoulder (48) being selected to position the head portion (21) of the insert (20) a predetermined distance within said passageway when the embedable portion (25) of the insert (20) is positioned in said socket (46) and said end portion (45) of the punch (44) is inserted into said passageway to the depth permitted by said shoulder (48).