TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to systems, assemblies, and methods for the insertion and fixation of a nail into an intramedullary canal of a bone.

BACKGROUND

Intramedullary nails are commonly used to treat fractures in long bones of the body such as fractures in femurs, tibias, and humeri. To treat such fractures, the intramedullary nail is inserted into a medullary canal of the long bone such that the nail spans across one or more fractures to fragments of the long bone that are separated by the one or more fractures. Bone anchors are then inserted through the bone and into the intramedullary nail at opposing sides of the fracture, thereby fixing the intramedullary nail to the bone. The intramedullary nail can remain in the medullary canal at least until the fracture is fused.

SUMMARY

In an example embodiment, an intramedullary nail comprises a proximal body portion that defines a proximal end of the intramedullary nail, and a distal body portion, offset from the proximal body portion along a distal direction. The distal body portion defines a distal end of the intramedullary nail. The intramedullary nail comprises an outer surface that extends from the proximal end to the distal end, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. The inner surface defines a cannulation that extends into the proximal end towards the distal end. The intramedullary nail defines a bone-anchor fixation hole that extends into the outer surface and through the inner surface such that the bone-anchor fixation hole is configured to receive a bone anchor therein. The receptacle is proximate to the bone-anchor fixation hole and open to the cannulation such that the receptacle is configured to receive a locator of a targeting system therein from the cannulation. The receptacle is defined by at least one guide that is configured to engage the locator so as to secure the locator in at least one of a predetermined longitudinal position and a predetermined rotational orientation relative to the bone-anchor fixation hole.

In another example embodiment, a system comprises a targeting instrument and an intramedullary nail. The targeting instrument comprises a locator that includes at least one of a sensor and a magnetic field generator. The intramedullary nail comprises a proximal body portion that defines a proximal end of the intramedullary nail, and a distal body portion, offset from the proximal body portion along a distal direction. The distal body portion defines a distal end of the intramedullary nail. The intramedullary nail comprises an outer surface that extends from the proximal end to the distal end, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. The inner surface defines a cannulation that extends into the proximal end towards the distal end. The intramedullary nail defines a bone-anchor fixation hole that extends into the outer surface and through the inner surface such that the bone-anchor fixation hole is configured to receive a bone anchor therein. The intramedullary nail defines a receptacle that is proximate to the bone-anchor fixation hole and open to the cannulation such that the receptacle is configured to receive the locator therein from the cannulation. At least a portion of the receptacle has a shape that is complementary to a shape of at least a portion of the locator such that the receptacle is configured to engage the locator so as to secure the locator in at least one of a predetermined longitudinal position and a predetermined rotational orientation.

In another example embodiment, a method comprises a step of inserting a locator comprising at least one of a sensor and a field generator along a distal direction into a cannulation of an intramedullary nail that extends into a proximal end of the intramedullary nail towards a distal end of the intramedullary nail along the distal direction. The intramedullary nail defines a bone-anchor fixation hole that extends into an outer surface of the intramedullary nail such that the bone-anchor fixation hole is configured to receive a bone anchor therein. The method comprises a step of guiding the locator from the cannulation into a receptacle of the intramedullary nail that is proximate to the bone-anchor fixation hole such that the receptacle engages the locator so as to secure the locator in at least one of a predetermined longitudinal position and a predetermined rotational orientation.

