Distal Tip for Bone Fixation Devices

• US 20140180288A1
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illuminoss Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illuminoss Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: DiPoto, Gene P., Rabiner, Robert A., O'Leary, Anthony W., Wong, Chi Y., Shanahan, Augustus C., Unger, John, Brousseau, Jeffrey P., Ferrer, Nicholas
• Granted Patent: US 9,687,281 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 17/7275 with expanding cylindrical parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8855 inflatable, e.g. kyphoplasty balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3966 Radiopaque markers visible in an X-ray image
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body

Abstract

Distal tip designs for bone fixation devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a system for bone fixation includes a delivery catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; an expandable member having a proximal region and a distal region, wherein the expandable member is releasably attached about the distal end of the delivery catheter at the proximal region of the expandable member; a distal cap attached to the distal region of the expandable member to seal the expandable member; a light conducting fiber; and a light-sensitive liquid; wherein the delivery catheter has an inner void for passage of a light-sensitive liquid into the expandable member to expand the expandable member and an inner lumen for passage of the light conducting fiber into the expandable member to cure the light-sensitive liquid inside the expandable member.

Claims

1. A device for bone fixation comprising:

a delivery catheter comprising an outer tube and an inner tube disposed within the outer tube and extending beyond the outer tube;

an expandable member having a proximal region and a distal region, the expandable member being releasably attached about a distal end of the delivery catheter at the proximal region of the expandable member; and

a distal cap attached to the distal region of the expandable member to seal the expandable member; and

an inner compartment in the distal region of the expandable member, the inner compartment being configured to receive the inner tube and enable movement of the inner tube within the inner compartment.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the distal cap comprises a tubular body defining the inner compartment for receiving the inner tube.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the inner tube moves within the inner compartment in a radial direction, a longitudinal direction or both a radial direction and a longitudinal direction.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the delivery catheter includes:

an inner void between the inner tube and the outer tube and in fluid communication with a cavity within the expandable member to deliver a light-sensitive liquid into the inner cavity of the expandable member, and

an inner lumen extending along the inner tube for passing a light-conducting fiber into the expandable member cure a light sensitive liquid inside the inner cavity of the expandable member.

5. The device of claim 4 further comprising a seal formed between the inner lumen and the inner compartment.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the inner tube includes a plug insertable into the inner compartment of the distal cap.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the distal cap includes a slotted wall into which the expandable member is inserted.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the distal cap includes a recessed outer surface to which the expandable member is attached.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the expandable member is inserted into an inner compartment defined by the distal cap.

10. A system for bone fixation comprising:

a delivery catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;

an expandable member having a proximal region and a distal region, wherein the expandable member is releasably attached about the distal end of the delivery catheter at the proximal region of the expandable member;

a distal cap attached to the distal region of the expandable member to seal the expandable member;

a light conducting fiber; and

a light-sensitive liquid;

wherein the delivery catheter has an inner void for passage of a light-sensitive liquid into the expandable member to expand the expandable member and an inner lumen for passage of the light conducting fiber into the expandable member to cure the light-sensitive liquid inside the expandable member.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the delivery catheter includes an outer tube and an inner tube disposed within the outer tube, the inner tube being inserted into an inner compartment defined by the distal cap.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the inner tube is free floating within the inner compartment of the distal cap.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the inner tube includes a plug insertable into the inner compartment of the distal cap.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the distal cap includes a slotted wall into which the expandable member is inserted.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the distal cap includes a recessed outer surface to which the expandable member is attached.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the expandable member is inserted into an inner compartment defined by the distal cap.

17. A method for bone fixation comprising:

advancing to a fractured bone a device comprising;

a delivery catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;

an expandable member having a proximal region and a distal region, wherein the expandable member is attached about the distal end of the delivery catheter at the proximal region of the expandable member; and

a distal cap attached to the distal region of the expandable member to seal the expandable member

positioning the expandable member within an intramedullary cavity of the fractured bone;

expanding the expandable member with a light-sensitive liquid; and

curing the light-sensitive liquid within the expandable member.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the delivery catheter includes an outer tube and an inner tube disposed within the outer tube, the inner tube being inserted into an inner compartment defined by the distal cap.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the inner tube is free floating within the inner compartment of the distal cap.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising releasing the expandable member from the delivery catheter to form a photodynamic bone fixation device inside the intramedullary cavity of the fractured bone.