Patent ID: 8267975
Filing Date: 2012-09-18
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: inserting a first tap of a plurality of taps into and through an intramedullary canal of a proximal bone fragment of a fifth metatarsal bone, the first tap having a thread major diameter between about 4.4 mm to about 4.6 mm, each of the plurality of taps having a distal tap thread portion with identical thread profile characteristics to a corresponding one of a plurality of screws in which each screw has a low profile head on a trailing end, a thread portion on a leading portion, and a smooth shank portion between the head portion and the thread portion, the identical thread profile characteristics comprising a pitch, a leading edge angle, a trailing edge angle, a leading edge radius, a trailing edge radius, and a land; threading the distal tap thread portion of the first tap into an intramedullary canal of the distal bone fragment, to thereby form a bone thread path in the intramedullary canal of the fifth metatarsal bone; determining that the first tap is undersized for the fifth metatarsal bone; removing the first tap from the fifth metatarsal bone; inserting a second tap of the plurality of taps into and through the intramedullary canal of the proximal bone fragment, the second tap having a thread major diameter between about 5.4 mm to about 5.6 mm; and threading the distal tap thread portion of the second tap into the bone thread path in the intramedullary canal of the distal bone fragment such that the distal tap thread portion of said second tap preserves the bone thread path while also axially enlarging an outer edge of the bone thread path.