Apparatus for Delivery of Reinforcing Materials to Bone

• US 20120289968A1
• Filed: 07/30/2012
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illuminoss Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illuminoss Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Rabiner, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,668,701 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/94
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7097 Stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant, e.g. balloon; devices for inserting or filling such implants disc prostheses made of inflatable chambers or pockets filled with fluid A61F2/441; replacing the nucleus pulposus A61F2002/444
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7275 with expanding cylindrical parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7291 for small bones, e.g. in the foot, ankle, hand or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8805 for introducing fluid filler into bone or extracting it A61B17/7097, A61B17/8833 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8816 characterised by the conduit, e.g. tube, along which fluid flows into the body or by conduit connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8822 characterised by means facilitating expulsion of fluid from the introducer, e.g. a screw pump plunger, hydraulic force transmissions, application of vibrations or a vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8836 for heating, cooling or curing of bone cement or fluid fillers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8897 Guide wires or guide pins
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/564 Methods for bone or joint treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure

Abstract

An apparatus and methods for delivery of reinforcing materials to a weakened or fractured bone is disclosed. An apparatus for delivering a reinforcing mixture to a bone including a tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the tube has at least one inner lumen capable of allowing a bone reinforcing mixture to pass therethrough; a balloon engaging the tube wherein the balloon expands from a substantially deflated state to a substantially inflated state upon the bone reinforcing mixture entering the balloon; and at least one light guide extending through the tube into the balloon to guide a light into the balloon.

Claims

1. An apparatus for delivering a bone reinforcing mixture to a fractured or a weakened fibula comprising:

a tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the tube has at least one inner lumen for passing the bone reinforcing mixture therethrough;

a balloon engaging the distal end of the tube, wherein the balloon expands from a substantially deflated state to a substantially inflated state upon the bone reinforcing mixture entering the balloon; and

at least one light guide extending through the tube into the balloon to guide a light into the balloon to illuminate and cure the bone reinforcing mixture.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the balloon aligns the bone fragments of the fractured fibula when the balloon is in the inflated state in a cavity of the fractured fibula.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the balloon strengthens the weakened fibula when the balloon is in the inflated state in a cavity of the weakened fibula.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a light source that provides ultraviolet light or visible light to the tube.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an optical taper adjacent to the proximal end of the tube to guide light into the tube.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a separation area on the distal end of the tube to separate the tube from the balloon.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one radiopaque marker on the balloon and/or the tube.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the balloon is transparent to permit the passage of radiation.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an outer balloon surrounding the balloon.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a surface of the balloon is preformed to be contained within a cavity of the fractured or the weakened fibula.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a light reflective material on an inner surface of the balloon or the tube.

12. An apparatus for delivering a light cured material to a fractured or a weakened tibia comprising:

a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the catheter has at least one inner lumen for passing the light cured material therethrough;

a balloon engaging the distal end of the catheter, wherein the balloon expands from a substantially deflated state to a substantially inflated state upon the light cured material entering the balloon; and

at least one light guide extending through the catheter into the balloon to guide a light into the balloon to illuminate and cure the light cured material.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the balloon aligns the bone fragments of the fractured tibia when the balloon is in the inflated state in a cavity of the fractured tibia.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the balloon strengthens the weakened tibia when the balloon is in the inflated state in a cavity of the weakened tibia.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a light source that provides ultraviolet light or visible light to the catheter.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising an optical taper adjacent to the proximal end of the catheter to guide light into the catheter.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a separation area on the distal end of the catheter to separate the catheter from the balloon.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising at least one radiopaque marker on the balloon and/or the catheter.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the balloon is transparent to permit the passage of radiation.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising an outer balloon surrounding the balloon.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a surface of the balloon is preformed to be contained within a cavity of the fractured or the weakened tibia.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a light reflective material on an inner surface of the balloon or the catheter.

23. A system for delivering a bone reinforcing mixture to a fractured or a weakened ulna comprising:

a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the catheter has at least one inner lumen for passing a bone reinforcing mixture therethrough;

a balloon engaging the distal end of the catheter, wherein the balloon expands from a substantially deflated state to a substantially inflated state upon the bone reinforcing mixture entering the balloon; and

at least one light guide extending through the catheter into the balloon to guide a light into the balloon to illuminate and cure the bone reinforcing mixture.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the balloon aligns the bone fragments of the fractured ulna when the balloon is in the inflated state in a cavity of the fractured ulna.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the balloon strengthens the weakened ulna when the balloon is in the inflated state in a cavity of the weakened ulna.

26. The system of claim 23, further comprising a light source that provides ultraviolet light or visible light to the catheter.

27. The system of claim 23, further comprising an optical taper adjacent to the proximal end of the catheter to guide light into the catheter.

28. The system of claim 23, further comprising a separation area on the distal end of the catheter to separate the catheter from the balloon.

29. The system of claim 23, further comprising at least one radiopaque marker on the balloon and/or the catheter.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the balloon is transparent to permit the passage of radiation.

31. The system of claim 23, further comprising an outer balloon surrounding the balloon.

32. The system of claim 23, wherein a surface of the balloon is preformed to be contained within a cavity of the fractured or the weakened ulna.

33. The system of claim 23, further comprising a light reflective material on an inner surface of the balloon or the catheter.

34. A system for delivering a light cured material to a fractured or a weakened radius comprising:

a tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the tube has at least one inner lumen for passing a light cured material therethrough;

a balloon engaging the distal end of the tube, wherein the balloon expands from a substantially deflated state to a substantially inflated state upon the light cured material entering the balloon; and

at least one light guide extending through the tube into the balloon to guide a light into the balloon to illuminate and cure the light cured material.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the balloon aligns the bone fragments of the fractured radius when the balloon is in the inflated state in a cavity of the fractured radius.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the balloon strengthens the weakened radius when the balloon is in the inflated state in a cavity of the weakened radius.

37. The system of claim 34, further comprising a light source that provides ultraviolet light or visible light to the tube.

38. The system of claim 34, further comprising an optical taper adjacent to the proximal end of the tube to guide light into the tube.

39. The system of claim 34, further comprising a separation area on the distal end of the tube to separate the tube from the balloon.

40. The system of claim 34, further comprising at least one radiopaque marker on the balloon and/or the tube.

41. The system of claim 34, wherein the balloon is transparent to permit the passage of radiation.

42. The system of claim 34, further comprising an outer balloon surrounding the balloon.

43. The system of claim 34, wherein a surface of the balloon is preformed to be contained within a cavity of the fractured or the weakened radius.

44. The system of claim 34, further comprising a light reflective material on an inner surface of the balloon or the tube.