Patent ID: 9192416
Filing Date: 2015-11-24
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for treating long bone fractures, comprising: creating an entry site into a medullary canal of a long bone, the entry site being laterally offset from a longitudinal axis of the medullary canal; positioning an intramedullary rod at an opening of the entry site in an initial position relative to the bone, the intramedullary rod extending along a rod longitudinal axis and including a head and a stem, the stem comprising first, second and third curved segments, wherein the first and second curved segments curve relative to the rod longitudinal axis in a first plane and the third curved segment curving relative to the rod longitudinal axis in a second plane, and the rod includes a plurality of spiral flutes extending along a portion of the stem; and inserting the intramedullary rod into the medullary canal of the bone by moving the intramedullary rod distally with respect to the bone, the spiral flutes rotating the intramedullary rod about the rod longitudinal axis as the intramedullary rod is inserted distally into the bone so that the first and second curved segments conform to the opening of the entry site as the intramedullary rod is moved from the initial position to a desired final position within the medullary canal.