Patent ID: 7833228

Claim:
A broach instrument for preparing the proximal medullary canal of a femur for receiving a hip stem implant, said proximal medullary canal having an axis, said broach instrument comprising: a first serrated broach segment having a first longitudinal surface defining a first longitudinal axis; a second serrated broach segment having a second longitudinal surface; a first, elongate longitudinal shaft disposed at a proximal end of said first broach segment and extending proximally therefrom; and a second, elongate longitudinal shaft disposed at a proximal end of said second broach segment and extending proximally therefrom; wherein said longitudinal shafts are both longer than both of said broach segments; wherein said first and second broach segments have a first configuration in which they are separated and a second configuration in which said second longitudinal surface longitudinally slidably engages said first longitudinal surface along said first longitudinal axis, which in normal use of said broach instrument is substantially parallel to said medullary canal axis, said broach segments having a fully engaged state in which they are side by side with maximum longitudinal overlap of their serrations; and wherein said shafts are designed and arranged to inhibit separate delivery of impact force to said first and second broach segments when they are fully engaged, whereby said segments move as a unit during broaching of said proximal medullary canal.