Patent ID: 8052685

Claim:
An intramedullary rod and system for introducing it into a longitudinally extending bore in the bone of a patient, said system comprising a guide tube, a cutter assembly and an intramedullary rod, said guide tube comprising an elongated tubular member having a central passageway and a plurality of longitudinally extending slots communicating with the central passageway, said guide tube being arranged to be located within the bore in the bone of the patient to extend therealong, said cutter assembly comprising a body member having a plurality of blades extending outward therefrom, said body member being arranged to be disposed within said central passageway of said guide tube with said plurality of blades extending outward through respective slots in said guide tube, said body member being arranged to be moved longitudinally along said guide tube, whereupon said blades produce a plurality of longitudinal grooves in the bore of the bone of the patient, said intramedullary rod comprising an elongated linear member having a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs projecting outward therefrom, said intramedullary rod being arranged to be disposed within said central passageway in said guide tube whereupon said ribs of said intramedullary rod extend through respective ones of said slots in said guide tube for disposition within respective ones of the longitudinal grooves in the bore of the bone of the patient to thereby fix the intramedullary rod therein.