Apparatus for delivery of reinforcing materials to bone
First Claim
1. An apparatus for delivering a reinforcing mixture to a fractured bone of a wrist or a hand, resulting in a wrist reduction, the apparatus comprising:
- a tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the tube has at least one inner lumen for passing a bone reinforcing mixture therethrough;
a balloon engaging the distal end of the tube, wherein the balloon expands from a substantially deflated state to a substantially inflated state upon the bone reinforcing mixture entering the balloon;
at least one light guide extending through the tube into the balloon to guide a light into the balloon to cure the bone reinforcing mixture, anda switch coupled to the at least one light guide, the switch being configured to control light guided by the light guide into the balloon to prevent inadvertent illumination of the bone reinforcing mixture,wherein the balloon, when in the inflated state by the bone reinforcing mixture in a cavity of the fractured bone, aligns bone fragments of the fractured bone.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and methods for delivery of reinforcing materials to a weakened or fractured bone is disclosed. An apparatus for delivering a reinforcing mixture to a bone including a tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the tube has at least one inner lumen capable of allowing a bone reinforcing mixture to pass therethrough; a balloon engaging the tube wherein the balloon expands from a substantially deflated state to a substantially inflated state upon the bone reinforcing mixture entering the balloon; and at least one light guide extending through the tube into the balloon to guide a light into the balloon.
478 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for delivering a reinforcing mixture to a fractured bone of a wrist or a hand, resulting in a wrist reduction, the apparatus comprising:
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a tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the tube has at least one inner lumen for passing a bone reinforcing mixture therethrough; a balloon engaging the distal end of the tube, wherein the balloon expands from a substantially deflated state to a substantially inflated state upon the bone reinforcing mixture entering the balloon; at least one light guide extending through the tube into the balloon to guide a light into the balloon to cure the bone reinforcing mixture, and a switch coupled to the at least one light guide, the switch being configured to control light guided by the light guide into the balloon to prevent inadvertent illumination of the bone reinforcing mixture, wherein the balloon, when in the inflated state by the bone reinforcing mixture in a cavity of the fractured bone, aligns bone fragments of the fractured bone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for delivering a reinforcing mixture to a fractured bone of a wrist or a hand, resulting in a wrist reduction, the apparatus comprising:
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a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein the catheter has at least one inner lumen for passing a reinforcing mixture therethrough; a balloon extending from the distal end of the catheter, wherein the balloon begins to expand from a substantially deflated state to a substantially inflated state as the reinforcing mixture enters the balloon, wherein the balloon expands to a shape so a proximal end and a distal end of the balloon have an inflated diameter that is larger than a diameter of a middle portion of the balloon; at least one light guide extending through the catheter into the balloon to guide a light into the balloon to cure the reinforcing mixture; a light source coupled to the at least one light guide and configured to deliver light to the at least one light guide to cure the reinforcing mixture; a switch coupled to the at least one light guide, the switch being configured to control the light guided by the light guide into the balloon to prevent inadvertent illumination of the bone reinforcing mixture; and a junction connecting the catheter to the balloon, wherein the junction concentrates stress applied to the catheter at the junction, wherein the balloon, when in the inflated state by the reinforcing mixture in a cavity of the fractured bone, aligns bone fragments of the fractured bone. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method for reinforcing a bone of a wrist or a hand comprising:
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penetrating the bone to gain access to a cavity in the bone; inserting a balloon engaging a distal end of a catheter into the cavity in the bone; infusing a reinforcing mixture into the balloon through at least one lumen of the catheter, wherein the balloon expands to a shape so a proximal end and a distal end of the balloon have an inflated diameter that is larger than a diameter of a middle portion of the balloon; activating a light source and delivering light from the light source to the balloon through at least one light guide to harden the reinforcing mixture in the balloon; and controlling the light from the light source being delivered by the light guide with a switch coupled to the light guide to prevent inadvertent illumination of the reinforcing mixture. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification