Segmented intramedullary fracture fixation devices and methods
First Claim
1. A segmented bone fixation device comprising:
- an elongate body having a longitudinal axis and a flexible-to-rigid portion, the flexible-to-rigid portion comprising a plurality of segments, the flexible-to-rigid portion being flexible in a first state and being generally rigid in a second state which allows the elongate body to go between a flexible state to a rigid state;
an actuatable bone engaging mechanism disposed within the elongate body, wherein the bone engaging mechanism comprises a gripper having at least one bendable member such that as the gripper is actuated, the bendable member pivots away from the longitudinal axis of the elongate body and the gripper is deployed from a retracted configuration to an engaged configuration; and
an actuator operably connected to the bone engaging mechanism to actuate the bone engaging mechanism from a disengaged configuration to the engaged configuration, wherein the actuator is full enclosed within the elongate body, wherein the actuator comprises a first ramped surface that is slideably coupled to an interior surface of the bendable member of the gripper, wherein proximally moving the first ramped surface of the actuator causes the first ramped surface to slideably engage the interior surface of said bendable member at an angle thereby pivoting the bendable member of the gripper away from the longitudinal axis away from the elongate body to deploy the bone engaging mechanism into the engaged configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A segmented bone fixation device is provided with an elongate body having a longitudinal axis and having a first state in which at least a portion of the body is flexible and a second state in which the body is generally rigid. Methods of repairing a fracture of a bone are also disclosed. One such method comprises inserting a segmented fixation device into an intramedullary space of the bone to place at least a portion of the fixation device in a flexible state on one side of the fracture, providing rigidity across the fracture, and operating an actuator to deploy at least one gripper to engage an inner surface of the intramedullary space to anchor the fixation device to the bone. Various configurations allow a segmented device body to change shape as it moves from a flexible state to a rigid state.
752 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A segmented bone fixation device comprising:
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an elongate body having a longitudinal axis and a flexible-to-rigid portion, the flexible-to-rigid portion comprising a plurality of segments, the flexible-to-rigid portion being flexible in a first state and being generally rigid in a second state which allows the elongate body to go between a flexible state to a rigid state; an actuatable bone engaging mechanism disposed within the elongate body, wherein the bone engaging mechanism comprises a gripper having at least one bendable member such that as the gripper is actuated, the bendable member pivots away from the longitudinal axis of the elongate body and the gripper is deployed from a retracted configuration to an engaged configuration; and an actuator operably connected to the bone engaging mechanism to actuate the bone engaging mechanism from a disengaged configuration to the engaged configuration, wherein the actuator is full enclosed within the elongate body, wherein the actuator comprises a first ramped surface that is slideably coupled to an interior surface of the bendable member of the gripper, wherein proximally moving the first ramped surface of the actuator causes the first ramped surface to slideably engage the interior surface of said bendable member at an angle thereby pivoting the bendable member of the gripper away from the longitudinal axis away from the elongate body to deploy the bone engaging mechanism into the engaged configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A segmented bone fixation device comprising:
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a generally tubular body having a circumferential surface, an inner lumen, and a wall extending therebetween, the body being sized to fit within an intramedullary space within a bone, the body having a longitudinal axis; a plurality of individual segments interlinked around the circumferential surface and axially along at least a portion of the body; a compression mechanism configured to apply an axial compression to the body to move the plurality of individual segments towards a closed position, thereby transforming the body from a generally flexible state to a generally rigid state; at least one radially expandable gripper disposed within the body for engaging a surface of the intramedullary space; and an actuator comprising a distal actuator head, wherein the distal actuator head is fully circumferentially enclosed within the tubular body, the distal actuator head comprising a ramped surface slideably disposed on an interior of the at least one radially expandable gripper, the actuator configured to outwardly actuate the at least one radially expandable gripper away from the longitudinal axis and away from the body. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of repairing a bone fracture comprising:
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providing an elongate fixation device having a longitudinal axis and at least a portion transformable between a generally flexible state and a generally rigid state, the transformable portion having a plurality of segments; inserting the device in the generally flexible state into an intramedullary canal of the bone across the fracture; actuating a compression mechanism on the device to move the plurality of segments towards a closed position, thereby transforming the device portion from the generally flexible state to the generally rigid state; extending a radially expandable gripper disposed within the elongate fixation device away from the longitudinal axis by moving an actuator along the longitudinal axis, the actuator comprising a distal actuator head with a ramped surface slideably disposed on an interior of the radially expandable gripper, wherein the distal actuator head is fully circumferentially enclosed within the radially expandable gripper; and engaging the radially expandable gripper to a surface of the intramedullary canal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification