Steerable fastener for bone

• US 9,848,930 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2014
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acumed Llc (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Acumed Llc (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated), Acute Innovations LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Huebner, Randall J., Gillard, Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): Boles, Sameh
• Application Number:
  US14/322,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20150012048A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/863 with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/864 hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8685 comprising multiple separate parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/869 characterised by an open form, e.g. wire helix
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8875 Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8897 Guide wires or guide pins
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/681 Alignment, compression, or distraction mechanisms

Abstract

Bone fixation system including methods, apparatus, and kits, for steering a leading end of a fastener within bone. In some embodiments, the system may include (a) a flexible fastener having an external thread, and (b) a guide including a graspable handle attached or attachable to a wire having a distal end portion with a preformed longitudinal curvature in a direction indicated by the handle. The wire may be extendable through the fastener and configured to be advanced longitudinally, while extending through the fastener, such that the distal end portion of the wire penetrates bone ahead of a leading end of the fastener and creates a curved travel path for the leading end of the fastener.

Claims

1. A method of bone fixation, the method comprising:

moving a wire longitudinally, while the wire extends through a flexible fastener having a leading end in bone, such that a distal end portion of the wire having a preformed longitudinal curvature penetrates the bone ahead of the leading end of the fastener to create a curved path in the bone; and

advancing the leading end of the fastener along at least a portion of the curved path with the leading end of the fastener guided by the distal end portion of the wire;

wherein the steps of moving and advancing also are performed with a different wire such that the leading end of the fastener is advanced along at least a portion of a path created by a distal end portion of the different wire.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of placing the leading end of the fastener into the bone on a linear path before the steps of moving and advancing.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the distal end portion of the different wire is linear.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the distal end portion of the different wire is curved longitudinally.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of pivoting the wire about its long axis after the step of advancing and while the wire is extending into the fastener, to change a pivotal orientation of the distal end portion of the wire.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising a step of repeating the steps of moving and advancing with the distal end portion of the wire generally in the changed pivotal orientation.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of pivoting the wire is performed while the wire extends out of the fastener at the leading end, to adjust a position of a first bone portion and a second bone portion relative to one another.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of moving includes a step of applying a driving force to the wire via a handle that indicates a direction of the preformed longitudinal curvature of the distal end portion of the wire.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of inserting an elongate insert into the fastener after the steps of moving and advancing, wherein the insert remains in the fastener while the bone heals.

10. A method of bone fixation, the method comprising:

placing a leading end of a fastener into a first portion of bone;

moving a wire longitudinally, while the wire extends through the fastener, such that a distal end portion of the wire contacts a second portion of bone ahead of the leading end of the fastener;

pivoting the wire to change a position of the first portion and the second portion relative to each other; and

advancing a leading end of the fastener into the second portion of bone.

11. A method of bone fixation, the method comprising:

moving a wire longitudinally, while the wire extends through a flexible fastener having a leading end in bone, such that a distal end portion of the wire having a preformed longitudinal curvature penetrates the bone ahead of the leading end of the fastener to create a curved path in the bone;

advancing the leading end of the fastener along at least a portion of the curved path with the leading end of the fastener guided by the distal end portion of the wire; and

pivoting the wire about its long axis after the step of advancing and while the wire is extending into the fastener, to change a pivotal orientation of the distal end portion of the wire.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of placing the leading end of the fastener into the bone on a linear path before the steps of moving and advancing.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of repeating the steps of moving and advancing with the distal end portion of the wire generally in the changed pivotal orientation.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of pivoting the wire is performed while the wire extends out of the fastener at the leading end, to adjust a position of a first bone portion and a second bone portion relative to one another.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step of moving the wire longitudinally, while the wire extends through the fastener, such that a distal end portion of the wire contacts the second bone portion ahead of the leading end of the fastener.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of moving includes a step of applying a driving force to the wire via a handle that indicates a direction of the preformed longitudinal curvature of the distal end portion of the wire.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of inserting an elongate insert into the fastener after the steps of moving and advancing, wherein the insert remains in the fastener while the bone heals.

18. A method of bone fixation, the method comprising:

moving a wire longitudinally, while the wire extends through a flexible fastener having a leading end in bone, such that a distal end portion of the wire having a preformed longitudinal curvature penetrates the bone ahead of the leading end of the fastener to create a curved path in the bone, wherein the step of moving includes a step of applying a driving force to the wire via a handle that indicates a direction of the preformed longitudinal curvature of the distal end portion of the wire; and

advancing the leading end of the fastener along at least a portion of the curved path, with the leading end of the fastener guided by the distal end portion of the wire.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising a step of placing the leading end of the fastener into the bone on a linear path before the steps of moving and advancing.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising a step of inserting an elongate insert into the fastener after the steps of moving and advancing, wherein the insert remains in the fastener while the bone heals.