Systems and Methods for Separating Bone Fixation Devices from Introducer

• US 20140018806A1
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illuminoss Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illuminoss Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: DiPoto, Gene P., O'Leary, Anthony W., Rabiner, Robert A., Brousseau, Jeffrey P., Wong, Chi Y.
• Granted Patent: US 8,939,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/63
• 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 17/72 Intramedullary pins, nails or other devices A61B17/744 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7275 with expanding cylindrical parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8836 for heating, cooling or curing of bone cement or fluid fillers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/921 for intramedullary devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3966 Radiopaque markers visible in an X-ray image

Abstract

Systems and methods for separating an internal bone fixation device from an introducer are disclosed. In some embodiments, a separation system includes a stabilizer configured to slide over an introducer for delivery of a bone fixation device to a bone cavity, the stabilizer being further configured to score a proximal end of the bone fixation device; and a separator configured to engage the introducer and to provide an impact to the introducer to separate the introducer from the bone fixation device.

Claims

1. A separation system comprising:

a stabilizer configured to slide over an introducer for delivery of a bone fixation device to a bone cavity, the stabilizer being further configured to score a proximal end of the bone fixation device; and

a separator configured to engage the introducer and to provide an impact to the introducer to separate the introducer from the bone fixation device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the stabilizer includes a tube assembly having a cutting distal edge and a swivel assembly engaged to a proximal end of the tube assembly for rotating the tube assembly.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the swivel assembly comprises a swivel coupling rotatably engaged to the tube assembly and a knob engaged to the swivel coupling to rotate the tube assembly.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the swivel assembly comprises a clamping collet into which the tube assembly may be inserted and a knob engaged to the clamping collet for rotating the tube assembly.

5. The system of claim 2 further comprising a handle attached to the swivel assembly of the stabilizer.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the separator comprises a shaft attachable to the introducer and a hammer slidably disposed on the shaft to provide an impact force on the introducer.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a chuck disposed at a distal end of the shaft for receiving the introducer to attach the shaft to the introducer.

8. The system of claim 6 further comprising inner jaws slidably disposed within an outer sleeve and a trigger for moving the outer sleeve between an open position in which the inner jaws are exposed allowing the inner jaws to move apart for receiving the introducer between the inner jaws and a closed position in which the outer sleeve is moved over the inner jaws causing the inner jaws toward one another to engage the introducer to the shaft.

9. The system of claim 6 further comprising a chamber disposed at a distal end of the shaft for receiving the distal end of the introducer and a trigger moveable from an open position in which the trigger is withdrawn from the inner chamber to allow the introducer to be inserted into the inner chamber to a closed position in which the trigger is inserted into the inner chamber to pinch the introducer to secure the introducer within the inner chamber.

10. A separation system comprising:

an introducer having a distal end and a proximal end;

a bone fixation device engaged to the distal end of the introducer;

a stabilizer advanceable over the introducer to a proximal end of the bone fixation device, the stabilizer having a cutting distal edge to score the proximal end of the bone fixation device; and

a separator having a shaft attachable to the proximal end of the introducer, and a hammer slidably disposed along the shaft to provide an impaction force on the introducer to separate the introducer from the bone fixation device.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the stabilizer includes a tube assembly having a cutting distal edge and a swivel assembly engaged to a proximal end of the tube assembly for rotating the tube assembly.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the swivel assembly comprises a swivel coupling rotatably engaged to the tube assembly and a knob engaged to the swivel coupling to rotate the tube assembly.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the swivel assembly comprises a clamping collet into which the tube assembly may be inserted and a knob engaged to the clamping collet for rotating the tube assembly.

14. The system of claim 11 further comprising a handle attached to the swivel assembly of the stabilizer.

15. The system of claim 10 further comprising a chuck disposed at a distal end of the shaft for receiving the introducer to attach the shaft to the introducer.

16. The system of claim 10 further comprising inner jaws slidably disposed within an outer sleeve and a trigger for moving the outer sleeve between an open position in which the inner jaws are exposed allowing the inner jaws to move apart for receiving the introducer between the inner jaws and a closed position in which the outer sleeve is moved over the inner jaws causing the inner jaws toward one another to engage the introducer to the shaft.

17. The system of claim 10 further comprising a chamber disposed at a distal end of the shaft for receiving the distal end of the introducer and a trigger moveable from an open position in which the trigger is withdrawn from the inner chamber to allow the introducer to be inserted into the inner chamber to a closed position in which the trigger is inserted into the inner chamber to pinch the introducer to secure the introducer within the inner chamber.

18. A method of separating an internal bone fixation device from an introducer, the method comprising:

forming an internal bone fixation device engaged to an introducer in an intramedullary cavity of a bone;

scoring a proximal end of the internal bone fixation device; and

providing an impact force on the introducer to separate the introducer from the bone fixation device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the bone fixation device is formed by filling an expandable portion of the introducer with a light-sensitive liquid and exposing the light-sensitive liquid within the expandable portion to light to cure the light-sensitive liquid.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the light is delivered into the expandable member from an outside light source by a light-conducting fiber passed though the introducer.