Paragraph Number

108

Referring to FIGS. 33 and 34, the inboard gaps 620, 622 diminish as the fastener is advanced until at some point in the fastener's travel, the fastener leg inboard surfaces 128, 130 contact the inboard bone hole walls. Since the inboard surfaces 128, 130 diverge at the same angle as the bone holes 610, 612, the fastener leg inboard surfaces 128, 130 contact the bone all along the length of the portions of the legs that have been inserted. Further advancing the fastener will compress the bone between the fastener legs uniformly along the fastener legs proximally to distally. In other words, as the fastener is further advanced, the bone is compressed between the fastener legs normal to the insertion direction the same amount at every point along the fastener legs proximally to distally. For bones having a longitudinal axis 628 normal to the insertion direction 630, the bone portions will be compressed axially relative to the longitudinal axis 628. The amount of compression can be tailored by setting the spacing of the inboard surfaces of the bone holes 610, 612 relative to the fastener leg inboard surfaces 128, 130. With the inboard bone hole surfaces further apart, the inboard fastener surfaces will contact the bone holes earlier in the fastener's travel and further advancing the fastener to a final resting position will cause relatively more compression. Alternatively, with the inboard bone hole surfaces closer together, the inboard leg surfaces will contact the bone holes later in the fastener's travel and further advancing the fastener to the same final resting position will cause relatively less compression. In one aspect, the fastener 100 is seated with the trailing ends of the fastener legs flush with or below the bone surface to reduce irritation of surrounding tissues. In one embodiment, the fastener 100 is seated with the trailing end 108 of the body below flush and, in one embodiment, below the proximal cortex 607 to allow for cortical healing above the fastener body 104. To remove the fastener, it is pulled proximally. The sharpened trailing edge of the body 104 aids in passing the body through any bone that has grown over the body 104. In one embodiment, the leading end 106 of the body stays inside the bone and, in one embodiment, the leading end 106 is above the distal cortex 609 to preserve bone strength.

Added by DJM 12 2021