Trauma Nail Accumulator

• US 20100241122A1
• Filed: 02/16/2010
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AOI Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AOI Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Keller, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 8,221,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/63
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7275 with expanding cylindrical parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence

Abstract

Provided is an accumulator that may store energy within a pressurized inflatable nail to compensate for small changes or losses in a system volume. Alternatively, the accumulator may be external to a pressurized inflatable nail and attached to the nail after the nail is implanted. The accumulator may be comprise a piston or a pressurized bladder. The energy may be stored in a spring, compressed air, or other pressure source. The accumulator may stabilize a system pressure by supplying fluid to the closed system. Alternatively, the accumulator may stabilize a system pressure by replacing the volume of the lost fluid.

Claims

1. An apparatus for maintaining a pressure level in a closed system, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a means for providing energy to the system, the means for providing energy being capable of moving between a contracted state and an expanded state in reaction to an outside force; and

(b) a means for providing the outside force that can be positioned in a first position and a second position, wherein positioning the means for providing the outside force from the first position to the second position causes the means for providing energy to move to maintain a system pressure level.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means for adjusting fluid flow in the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is coupled with a device comprising at least one inflatable balloon, the device being insertable into a bone cavity.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus is externally coupled with the device.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus is internally coupled with the device.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the means for providing energy is a mechanism selected from the group consisting of a spring and a volume of compressed air.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the means for providing the outside force is a piston, the translation of the piston between the first position and the second position causing the mechanism selected from the group consisting of a spring and a volume of compressed air to move to maintain a constant pressure in the closed system.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the means for providing the outside force is a gas-filled bladder that can be expanded or contracted, the expansion and contraction of the bladder causing the mechanism selected from the group consisting of a spring and a volume of compressed air to move to maintain a constant pressure in the closed system.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the gas-filled bladder further comprises nitrogen.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus comprises two chambers, each of the two chambers housing one piston, and wherein the two pistons are coupled by a spring to equalize the pressure between each chamber.

11. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the means for adjusting fluid flow is a mechanism selected from the group consisting of an adjustable valve and a coupler.

12. An inflatable device that maintains a system pressure in a bone cavity, the inflatable device comprising:

(a) at least one inflatable balloon; and

(b) an accumulator device in fluid communication with the at least one inflatable balloon, the accumulator device comprising

a source of energy moveable between a contracted state and an expanded state; and

a pressurized apparatus that can be positioned in a first position and a second position, wherein positioning the pressurized apparatus from the first position to the second position causes the source of energy to move to maintain a pressure level.

13. The inflatable device of claim 12, wherein the device is an inflatable nail.

14. The inflatable device of claim 13, wherein the device is an inflatable intramedullary nail.

15. The inflatable device of claim 12, wherein the accumulator is positioned in a housing external to the at least one inflatable balloon.

16. The inflatable device of claim 12, wherein the at least one inflatable balloon is positioned within a housing, and wherein the accumulator is positioned in the housing along with the at least one inflatable balloon.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the device is an inflatable nail having an inner shaft, and wherein the accumulator is positioned within a nail shaft of the device.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a flexible lumen to ease the insertion of the inflatable nail.

19. A method of maintaining a stable pressurized system in a bone cavity, comprising:

providing an inflatable device, the inflatable device comprising;

(a) at least one inflatable balloon; and

(b) an accumulator device in fluid communication with the at least one inflatable balloon, the accumulator device comprising

a source of energy moveable between a contracted state and an expanded state; and

a pressurized apparatus that can be positioned in a first position and a second position, wherein positioning the pressurized apparatus from the first position to the second position causes the source of energy to move to maintain a pressure level;

inserting the inflatable device into a bone cavity;

inflating the at least one inflatable balloon to a certain pressure;

moving the pressurized apparatus from a first position to a second position to cause energy to be stored within the source of energy; and

releasing the energy stored within the source of energy to maintain the certain pressure in the bone cavity.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the inflatable device is an intramedullary nail.