Steerable intramedullary fracture reduction device

Claim 2

An intramedullary fracture reduction device comprising an elongated shaft having distal and proximal ends, and a longitudinal axis, means for steering the distal end of said shaft into displaced bone segments, said means comprising, a movable tip pivotally mounted to the distal end of said shaft and extending beyond said distal end, said tip having a neutral position substantially coaxial with and extending beyond said shaft. tip actuating means for causing said tip to pivot through a range of operative positions relative to said shaft, and control means for controlling said tip actuating means, said control means being positioned adjacent said proximal and of said shaft.

Claim 3

An intramedullary fracture reduction device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tip actuating means comprises a cable extending along the length of said shaft on opposite sides thereof.

Claim 4

An intramedullary fracture reduction device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cable is affixed to one end of said movable tip.

Claim 5

An intramedullary fracture reduction device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said elongated shaft has first and second grooves along at least a portion of the length thereof in which said cable is carried.

Claim 6

An intramedullary fracture reduction device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said movable tip has a base portion having a flat end surface adapted to bear against the distal end of said shaft.

Claim 7

An intramedullary fracture reduction device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said distal end of said shaft has a rounded portion and a flat portion, said flat end surface being adapted to bear against said flat portion when the movable tip is aligned with said shaft.

Claim 8

An intramedullary fracture reduction device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said base portion has a bore therein for passage of said cable, said hole being connected to said flat end surface by first and second slots adapted to contain said cable.

Claim 9

An intramedullary fracture reduction device as claimed in claim 7 and further including means for fixing said cable in said bore.

Claim 10

An intramedullary fracture reduction device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said control means comprises a trigger mounting member affixed to said shaft, said trigger mounting member having first and second actuating triggers pivotally mounted thereto, said cable having a first end connected to said first trigger and a second end connected to said second trigger.

Claim 11

An intramedullary fracture reduction device as claimed in claim 9 and further including means in said trigger mounting member for limiting the pivoting movement of said triggers.

Claim 12

An intramedullary fracture reduction device comprising an elongated rigid shaft having a distal end and a proximal end and a longitudinal axis, a steerable tip pivotally mounted at and extending beyond the distal end of said shaft, said steerable tip having a neutral position aligned with said shaft coaxially therewith, means for causing said steerable tip to pivot relative to said shaft through a range of positions from the neutral position to a position of at least ninety degrees to the longitudinally axis, said means including a control assembly adjacent the proximal end of said shaft, a handle mounted to said control assembly, and a sleeve member carried by said shaft and adapted to slide over said shaft and said steerable tip when said tip is in the neutral position.

Claim 13

An intramedullary fracture reduction device comprising an elongated rigid shaft having a distal end and a proximal end and a longitudinal axis, a steerable tip pivotally mounted at and extending beyond the distal end of said shaft, said steerable tip having a neutral position aligned with said shaft coaxially therewith, means for causing said steerable tip to pivot relative to said shaft through a range of positions from the neutral position to a position of at least ninety degrees to the longitudinally axis, said means including a control assembly adjacent the proximal end of said shaft, a handle mounted to said control assembly, and a sleeve member carried by said shaft and adapted to slide over said shaft and said steerable tip when said tip is in the neutral position.

Claim 14

A intramedullary fracture reduction device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said steerable tip has a base having a flat end surface, and a first tang extending from said end surface toward said shaft, said first tang having a transverse hole therein.

Claim 15

An intramedullary fracture reduction device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the distal end of said shaft has a slot cut therein for receiving said first tang.

Claim 16

An intramedullary fracture reduction device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said distal end of said shaft has a transverse hole therein, and a pivot pin extending through said transverse hole and the transverse hole in said first tang.

Claim 17

An intramedullary fracture reduction device as claimed in claim 12 and further including a second tang extending from said end surface and spaced from said first tang, said second tang having a transverse hole therein aligned with the transverse hole in said first tang.

Claim 18

An intramedullary fracture reduction device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the distal end of said shaft has first and second opposed flats thereon, said first and second tangs being adapted to straddle the end of said shaft at said flats.

Claim 19

An intramedullary fracture reduction device as claimed in claim 16 wherein said shaft has a transverse hole therein extending between said flats, and a pivot pin extending through the transverse hole in said first tang, the transverse hole in said shaft, and the transverse hole in said second tang.

Claim 22

The method as claimed in claim 18 and further including the steps of insertinq the tip and a portion of the sleeve into the medullary canal of a bone segment that has been rotationally displaced, actuating the tip to cause it to bear against the inner wall of the bone, at one point, continuing actuating the tip until the sleeve bears against the inner wall of the bone in an area on the other side of the inner wall from the point where the tip bears against the bone, rotating the device to rotate the rotationally displaced bone segment, and aligning the rotated bone segment with the remainder of the bone.