Patent ID: 7901410
Filing Date: 2011-03-08
Classification: A61B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A combination comprising an intramedullary nail and a nailing instrument connecting to a proximal end of the nail, wherein the nailing instrument has a bore extending along an axis directed towards the nail, the bore having an inclined opening inclined towards the axis on moving away from an outer surface of the nailing instrument from the proximal end of the nail, and a radial slot extending perpendicular to the axis from an inner surface of the bore to the outer surface of the nailing instrument, the radial slot located on the outer surface between an end of the inclined bore and a connecting end of the nailing instrument, the connecting end of the nailing instrument has an axially parallel projection, which cooperates with an axially parallel recess on a hollow connection end of the nail, in order to fasten the nail under axial engagement on the connection end of the nailing instrument in predefined rotational position, the nailing instrument further comprising a quick-fastener element having radially outwardly extending projections rotationally mounted on the connection end of the nailing instrument which engages the connection end of the nail and the quick-fastener element and nail each having coupling means, the coupling means configured so that in a first rotational position of the quick-fastener element the quick-fastener element has a rotational position relative to the axially parallel projection and can be introduced into the connection end of the nail and in a second rotational position of the quick-fastener element, the coupling means of the quick-fastener element and nail cooperate, so that the nail is held axially fixedly on the nailing instrument wherein the quick-fastener element is pre-stressed in the first rotational position by a spring acting thereon and the coupling means are configured so that they automatically cooperate when the quick-fastener has been introduced by a predefined distance axially into the connection end of the nail wherein the connection end of the nail has an internal threaded section with three axially parallel grooves, the quick-fastener element has three radial projections one of which can be introduced into each axially parallel groove and upon rotation of the quick-fastener element from the first into the second rotational position cooperates with a lead section of the thread section wherein the three radial projections are arranged in 120° spacing and are axially offset from each other around a thread pitch and the inside of the axially parallel grooves are offset at 120° wherein the thread section is configured so that each radial projection cooperates with one lead section of the thread section wherein the quick-fastener element is a sleeve which is axially fixed but rotatable in a bore hole of the connection end of the nailing instrument and the sleeve further comprised a radial actuating pin which projects outwardly through the radial slot of the nailing instrument allowing a user to rotate the sleeve against the spring.