Systems and methods for internal bone fixation
First Claim
1. A device for repairing a fractured bone comprising:
- a delivery catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, the delivery catheter having an inner void for passing at least one reinforcing material, and an inner lumen;
a conformable member releasably engaging the distal end of the delivery catheter, the conformable member moving from a deflated state to an inflated state when the at least one reinforcing material is passed to the conformable member;
an optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber is sized to pass through the inner lumen of the delivery catheter and into the conformable member, and wherein at least a distal portion of the optical fiber is modified by removing a portion of a cladding surrounding the optical fiber; and
an adapter releasably engaging the proximal end of the delivery catheter for receiving the optical fiber and the at least one reinforcing material,wherein, when the optical fiber is in the conformable member, the distal portion of the optical fiber is able to disperse light energy at a terminating face and along a length of the optical fiber to initiate hardening of the at least one reinforcing material within the conformable member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Internal bone fixation devices and methods for using the devices for repairing a weakened or fractured bone are disclosed herein. According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a device for repairing a fractured bone that includes a delivery catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, the delivery catheter having an inner void for passing at least one reinforcing material, and an inner lumen for accepting a light pipe, wherein a distal end of the inner lumen terminates in an optical lens; a conformable member releasably engaging the distal end of the delivery catheter, the conformable member moving from a deflated state to an inflated state when the at least one reinforcing material is delivered to the conformable member; and an adapter releasably engaging the proximal end of the delivery catheter for receiving the light pipe and the at least one reinforcing material.
286 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for repairing a fractured bone comprising:
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a delivery catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, the delivery catheter having an inner void for passing at least one reinforcing material, and an inner lumen; a conformable member releasably engaging the distal end of the delivery catheter, the conformable member moving from a deflated state to an inflated state when the at least one reinforcing material is passed to the conformable member; an optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber is sized to pass through the inner lumen of the delivery catheter and into the conformable member, and wherein at least a distal portion of the optical fiber is modified by removing a portion of a cladding surrounding the optical fiber; and an adapter releasably engaging the proximal end of the delivery catheter for receiving the optical fiber and the at least one reinforcing material, wherein, when the optical fiber is in the conformable member, the distal portion of the optical fiber is able to disperse light energy at a terminating face and along a length of the optical fiber to initiate hardening of the at least one reinforcing material within the conformable member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14)
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9. A device for repairing a fractured bone comprising:
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a delivery catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, the delivery catheter having an inner void for passing a light cure adhesive, and an inner lumen; an optical fiber; a conformable member releasably engaging the distal end of the delivery catheter, the conformable member having an inner lumen for accepting the optical fiber, the conformable member moving from a deflated state to an inflated state when the light cure adhesive is delivered to the conformable member; and an adapter releasably engaging the proximal end of the delivery catheter for receiving the optical fiber and the light cure adhesive, wherein the optical fiber is sized to pass through the inner lumen of the delivery catheter and into the inner lumen of the conformable member, wherein at least a distal portion of the optical fiber is modified by removing a portion of a cladding surrounding the optical fiber, and wherein, when the optical fiber is in the inner lumen of the conformable member, the distal portion of the optical fiber is able to disperse visible light energy at a terminating face and along a length of the optical fiber to initiate hardening of the light cure adhesive within the conformable member. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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15. A method for repairing a fractured bone comprising:
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gaining access to an inner cavity of the fractured bone; providing a device for use in repairing the fractured bone, the device comprising a delivery catheter having an inner void for passing at least one reinforcing material and an inner lumen for accepting an optical fiber, the delivery catheter releasably engaging a conformable member having an inner lumen for passing the optical fiber; positioning the conformable member spanning at least two bone segments of the fractured bone; inserting the optical fiber into the inner lumen of the conformable member, wherein at least a distal portion of the optical fiber is modified by removing a portion of a cladding surrounding the optical fiber; introducing the at least one reinforcing material through the inner void of the delivery catheter for infusing the reinforcing material within the conformable member, wherein the conformable member moves from a deflated state to an inflated state; activating a light source that is connected to the optical fiber so the distal portion of the optical fiber disperses light energy at a terminating face and along a length of the optical fiber to communicate light energy into the inner lumen of the conformable member such that the at least one reinforcing material is hardened; and releasing the hardened conformable member from the delivery catheter. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification