Shape adaptable intramedullary fixation device

A method, comprising:

• inserting a guidewire into an intramedullary space of a bone along a curved path that spans a fracture of the bone;
• advancing an intramedullary fixation device over the guidewire such that the device acquires a curved shape that corresponds to the curved path;
• removing the guidewire such that the intramedullary fixation device retains the curved shape after the guidewire is removed;
• and
• fixating the fracture with the intramedullary fixation device in the curved shape after the guidewire is removed by prohibiting axial movement of a flexible member of the device relative to another flexible member of the device, the flexible member and the other flexible member each extending axially from a proximal region of the device, through a curved through a curved middle region of the device, to a distal region of the device.

A method, comprising:

• advancing an intramedullary fixation device through a curved intramedullary space of a fractured bone, wherein the intramedullary fixation device comprises a plurality of individual segments each having a mechanical engagement structure for interlocking individual segments together, and wherein the intramedullary fixation device is in a flexible state while advancing the intramedullary fixation device through the curved intramedullary space such that adjacent individual segments can move relative to each other;
• shape locking the intramedullary fixation device into a rigid state and curved shape to fixate the bone fracture;
• wherein each of the plurality of individual segments comprises a plurality of apertures distributed circumferentially around the respective individual segment to generally form a plurality of lumens extending longitudinally through the individual segment;
• wherein the intramedullary fixation device further comprises a plurality of fibers extending through the plurality of lumens of each of the individual segments;
• and
• wherein shape locking the intramedullary fixation device comprises fixing each of the plurality of fibers in a respective position relative to the other fibers.