Paragraph Number

59

The coupling 110 of the distal end 104 serves to connect the intramedullary nail 100 with a driver (See FIG. 3A) for deployment of the intramedullary nail 100. The coupling 110 may use a variety of features and/or interfaces for making a coupling/connection between the coupling 110 and the driver. In the illustrated embodiment, the coupling 110 includes an arrangement of grooves 234 (See FIG. 2C) that accept ridges or “tongues” that may extend from a corresponding driver of an inserter. The grooves 234 engage the tongues to permit the driver to force, or move, the intramedullary nail 100 longitudinally when deploying the intramedullary nail 100. The grooves 234 permit some torque forces to be applied to the coupling 110 to facilitate deployment of the intramedullary nail 100. In certain embodiments, the grooves 234 may engage with the tongues in a friction fit such that the intramedullary nail 100 can be retracted as needed during a deployment procedure. In certain embodiments, the coupling 110 may engage with a driver such that retraction of the driver also retracts the coupling 110 and structures connected to the coupling 110.

Added by DJM 8 2021