Physeal tethering device with non-invasive unlocking apparatus for cessation of guided growth modulation

A guided bone growth plate configured for tethering the physis of a subject, comprising at least two plate segments, each plate segment having a bone contact surface and an attachment portion configured for attachment of each plate to bone;

• a releasable connector mechanism associated with the plate segments that releasably connects and locks the plate segments together, the connector mechanism comprising:
• an engagement surface on at least one of the plate segments;
• a lock having at least one locking surface corresponding to an engagement surface, the lock having a locked position in which the locking surface engages the corresponding engagement surface so that the plates are connected in a fixed, spaced apart relation relative to one another along a longitudinal axis, and an unlocked position in which the locking surface and the engagement surface are fully disengaged so that the plates are disconnected such that the plate segments are configured to move along the longitudinal axis only in response to bone growth;
• a magnetically responsive driver associated with the connector mechanism, the driver capable of being actuated by application of magnetic force to the driver, the actuation of the driver causing the locking surface to disengage from the engagement surface, thereby actuating the lock from the locked position to the unlocked position,
• wherein in the locked position, when the bone contact surfaces are configured to contact bone and the bone plate segments are configured to attach to bone at bone attachment sites, the guided bone growth plate is configured to tether the physis and reduces longitudinal bone growth between the attachment sites.