Patent ID: 7749279

Claim:
A bone cement plug for fitting into the intramedullary canal within a bone to restrict flow of bone cement during surgery, comprising: a sleeve having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface configured to contact the wall of the canal, and inner surfaces configured to define an internal cavity whose diameter decreases from a distal end to a proximal end, whereat the internal cavity communicates with an opening formed in the outer surface, the sleeve being formed from a deformable material and configured to be expanded transversely to contact the surface of the canal; an expander comprising a shaft having a distal end and a transverse portion that extends radially from the distal end of the shaft, the shaft dimensioned to extend through the opening; and a washer disposed on the shaft, and having a plurality of radially slots formed therein extending from the outside edge of the washer toward the inside edge thereof; and wherein the expander is movable within the cavity in a direction generally along the longitudinal axis from a distal position to a proximal position, whereat the washer contacts the internal cavity to cause the wall of the sleeve to expand transversely to contact the surface of the canal, wherein the transverse portion of the expander has a diameter, the washer has a first configuration, where the diameter of the washer is approximately equal to the diameter of the transverse portion, and a second configuration, where the diameter of the washer is greater than the transverse portion, and wherein when the expander is at the distal position, the washer is in the first configuration, and when the expander is in the proximal position, the washer is in the second configuration such that the outer perimeter of the washer contacts the internal cavity to cause the wall of the sleeve to expand transversely to contact the surface of the canal.