Fracture fixation device, tools and methods

摘要

Bone fixation methods and devices with an elongate body having a longitudinal axis and having a flexible state and a rigid state, a plurality of grippers, a rigid hub connected to the elongated body, and an actuator operably connected to the grippers to deploy the grippers from a first shape to an expanded second shape. One method can include inserting a bone fixation device into an intramedullary space of the bone to place at least a portion of an elongate body of the fixation device in a flexible state on one side of the fracture and at least a portion of a rigid hub on another side of the fracture, and operating an actuator to deploy a plurality of grippers of the fixation device to engage an inner surface of the intramedullary space to anchor the fixation device to the bone.

主权项

1. A method of repairing a fracture of a long bone, the method comprising:
advancing a bone fixation device across a fracture of an intramedullary space of a long bone, wherein the bone fixation device comprises a rigid hub, a plurality of gripper elements, and an elongate body, wherein the rigid hub comprises a first end and a second end and the rigid hub is advanced to a position spanning the fracture; operating an actuator from the second end of the rigid hub so as to inhibit movement of the elongate body; and deploying the plurality of gripper elements of the bone fixation device from an advancement configuration to a deployed configuration extending radially outwardly from the elongate body so as to engage an inner surface of the intramedullary space to anchor the bone fixation device to the long bone, further comprising inserting a screw into the bone on one side of the fracture and through the rigid hub so that, when implanted, the gripper elements and the screw affix the bone fixation device to the bone on the one side of the fracture, wherein the step of advancing a bone fixation device is performed while the rigid hub has a preformed bore, the step of inserting a screw comprising inserting the screw through the bone and the preformed bore, wherein the rigid hub has a plurality of preformed holes, the method comprising inserting a first screw dorsal to volar through two portions of the bone and a first and second of the preformed holes and inserting a second screw volar to dorsal through two other portions of the bone and a third and fourth of the preformed holes.