Systems and methods for internal bone fixation
First Claim
1. An internal bone fixation device comprising:
- a conformable member engaging a distal end of a delivery catheter, wherein an inner lumen of the delivery catheter connects to the conformable member to guide light energy from a light source into the conformable member to minimize thermal egress of the light energy to supporting tissue from the conformable member; and
at least one reinforcing material contained within the conformable member, wherein the conformable member moves from a deflated state to an inflated state when the at least one reinforcing material is added to the conformable member, andwherein the at least one reinforcing material is hardened by the light energy emitted from the light source.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Internal bone fixation devices and methods for using the devices for repairing a weakened or fractured bone are disclosed herein. A device for use in repairing a fractured bone includes a delivery catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the delivery catheter has an inner void for passage of at least one reinforcing material and an inner lumen for passage of a light source; a conformable member releasably engaging the distal end of the delivery catheter, wherein the conformable member moves 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 source and the at least one reinforcing material.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An internal bone fixation device comprising:
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a conformable member engaging a distal end of a delivery catheter, wherein an inner lumen of the delivery catheter connects to the conformable member to guide light energy from a light source into the conformable member to minimize thermal egress of the light energy to supporting tissue from the conformable member; and at least one reinforcing material contained within the conformable member, wherein the conformable member moves from a deflated state to an inflated state when the at least one reinforcing material is added to the conformable member, and wherein the at least one reinforcing material is hardened by the light energy emitted from the light source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An internal bone fixation device comprising:
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at least a portion of a distal end of a delivery catheter; a balloon portion engaging the distal end of the delivery catheter wherein an inner lumen of the delivery catheter connects to the balloon portion to guide a visible light into the balloon portion to harden a light cure adhesive within the balloon portion and to minimize thermal egress of the visible light to supporting tissue from the balloon portion; and a hardened light cure adhesive within the balloon portion, wherein the hardened light cure adhesive has been cured by the visible light. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for internal fixation of a fractured bone comprising:
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a light cure adhesive curable by exposure to visible light; a delivery catheter having an elongated shaft with a distal end and a proximal end for accepting a light pipe and the light cure adhesive, wherein the delivery catheter has an inner void for passage of the light cure adhesive and an inner lumen for passage of the light pipe; and a balloon portion releasably engaging the distal end of the delivery catheter, wherein the balloon portion expands from a deflated state to an inflated state when the light cure adhesive is delivered through the inner void of the delivery catheter into the balloon portion, and wherein the inner lumen of the delivery catheter connects to the balloon portion to guide the light into the balloon portion to harden the light cure adhesive within the balloon portion and to minimize thermal egress of the light to supporting tissue from the balloon portion. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for internal fixation of a fractured bone comprising:
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gaining access to an internal space within the fractured bone; providing a device comprising a balloon portion engaging a delivery catheter, wherein the delivery catheter has an inner void for passage of a light cure adhesive to the balloon portion and an inner lumen for passage of a light pipe to the balloon portion, and wherein the balloon portion includes one or more radiopaque markers; positioning the balloon portion of the device within the internal space of the fractured bone; expanding the balloon portion by infusion of the light cure adhesive into the inner void of the delivery catheter and into the balloon portion; using an imaging device to determine a position of the balloon portion and an expansion of the balloon portion within the internal space of the fractured bone by visibly monitoring the one or more radiopaque markers on the balloon portion; inserting the light-pipe into the inner lumen of the delivery catheter and towards the balloon portion, wherein the inner lumen connects to the balloon portion to guide the light from the light pipe into the balloon portion to cure the light cure adhesive within the balloon portion and to minimize thermal egress of the light to supporting tissue from the balloon portion; and activating the light pipe to cure the light cure adhesive. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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Specification