Patent ID: 8287540

Claim:
A nail-fastener apparatus for implantation into the medullary canal ( 26 ) surrounded by the cortex ( 28 ) of a bone ( 24 ) including a near cortex hole ( 40 ) having a near cortex hole diameter (D NC ) and a far cortex hole ( 42 ) having a far cortex hole diameter (D FC ) and with the near cortex hole diameter (D NC ) being greater than the far cortex hole diameter (D FC ) comprising; an intramedullary nail ( 20 ) extending between a top end ( 30 ) and a bottom end ( 32 ) and defining a bore ( 34 ) extending transverse to said intramedullary nail ( 20 ) for insertion into the medullary canal ( 26 ) in the bone ( 24 ) surrounded by the cortex ( 28 ), a threaded fastener ( 22 ) including a head ( 44 ) and an end ( 46 ) with a compression portion ( 48 ) and a threaded portion ( 50 ) extending along a fastener axis (A) therebetween, said compression portion ( 48 ) having a compression portion diameter (D CP ) and said threaded portion ( 50 ) having a threaded portion diameter (D TP ) for extending through the near cortex hole ( 40 ) and the far cortex hole ( 42 ) both holes ( 40 , 42 ) radially overlapping said bore ( 34 ) with said threaded portion ( 50 ) threadedly engaging said bore ( 34 ), a compression transmission device ( 54 ) having an exterior ( 56 ) and an interior ( 58 ) defining an interior space for transmitting the compressional load of said threaded fastener ( 22 ) to said intramedullary nail ( 20 ) during fixation and contacting the near cortex hole ( 40 ) for preventing movement of said compression transmission device ( 54 ) relative to the near cortex hole ( 40 ), and characterized by, said interior space being greater than said compression portion diameter (D CP ) of said fastener ( 22 ) for providing space at least partially about said threaded fastener ( 22 ) for allowing said fastener axis (A) to be variously disposed relative to said interior space.