Inflatable bone fixation device

• US 5,102,413 A
• Filed: 11/14/1990
• Issued: 04/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Satish B. Poddar
• Original Assignee: Satish B. Poddar
• Inventors: Poddar, Satish B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US07/612,460
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 606/62, 606/63, 606/64, 606/60, 606/67, 606/68, 128/87 R, 128/82, 128/90, 128/DIG. 20, 128/89 R, 446/220, 600/29-31
• US Class Current: 606/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7233 with special means of locking the nail to the bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7266 with fingers moving radially outwardly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/02 Devices for expanding tissue, e.g. skin tissue implements for holding wounds open, surgical tractors A61B17/02; implantable mammary prosthesis A61F2/12; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3662 Femoral shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30235 tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30581 having a pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30772 Apertures or holes, e.g. of circular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 cylindrical

Abstract

A device for intramedullary fixation of a fractured bone is disclosed. The device includes an elongate support rod and an inflatable bladder which is attached to the support rod and includes a plurality of bone-contacting surfaces. The device is inserted into the medullary cavity of the broken bone and the bladder is inflated to expand the bladder and extend the bone-contacting surfaces to the inner wall of the bone, where they adhere to and stabilize the bone.

Claims

1. An intramedullary bone fixation device comprising:

(a) an elongate hollow support rod having at least one aperture formed therein;

(b) an inflatable bladder disposed within said support rod, said bladder including at least one bone-contacting surface which extends through said aperture and contacts said bone when said bladder is inflated; and

(c) means for inflating said bladder.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bone-contacting surface is serrated.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2 further comprising an adhesive layer applied to each of said bone-contacting surfaces.

4. An intramedullary bone fixation device comprising:

(a) an elongate support rod having an outer surface, said rod including an inflation channel and a plurality of inflation apertures each connected to said inflation channel;

(b) an inflatable bladder including a inner wall and an outer wall, said inner wall adhered to said outer surface of said support rod and including a plurality of bladder apertures each in substantial alignment with one of said inflation apertures, and said outer wall including at least one bone-contacting surface for contacting said bone when said bladder is inflated; and

(c) means for inflating said bladder.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said bone-contacting surface is serrated.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5 further including an adhesive layer applied to each of said bone-contacting surfaces.

7. An intramedullary bone fixation device comprising:

(a) an elongate support rod;

(b) an inflatable bladder carried by said support rod, said bladder including at least one bone-contacting region for contacting said bone when said bladder is inflated, said bone-contacting region being serrated when said bladder is inflated;

(c) an adhesive layer applied to each of said bone-contacting regions; and

(d) means for inflating said bladder.

8. An intramedullary bone fixation device comprising:

(a) an elongate support rod;

(b) an inflatable bladder carried by said support rod, said bladder including at least one bone-contacting region for contacting said bone when said bladder is inflated and said support rod including a longitudinal channel for receiving said bladder and at least one aperture aligned with said bone-contacting region through which said region expands when said bladder is inflated; and

(c) means for inflating said bladder.

9. An intramedullary bone fixation device comprising:

(a) an elongate support rod;

(b) an inflatable sleeve surrounding said rod, said sleeve including at least one bone-contacting region for contacting said bone when said bladder is inflated; and

(c) a means for inflating said bladder, said means including a longitudinal channel in said rod.

10. An intramedullary bone fixation device comprising:

(a) an elongate support rod;

(b) an inflatable bladder carried by said support rod, said bladder including at least one bone contacting region which is expandable to form a bone support finger for contacting said bone when said bladder is inflated, and

(c) means for inflating said bladder.

11. An intramedullary bone fixation device comprising:

(a) an elongate support rod;

(b) an inflatable bladder having an inner wall attached to said support rod and an outer wall, said outer wall including at least one serrated bone-contacting region formed therein;

(c) an adhesive layer applied to each of said bone-contacting regions; and

(d) means for inflating said bladder.