Active compression devices, methods of assembly and methods of use

A method to facilitate bone fracture healing comprising:

• providing a device having a first member, a second member and an actuator, the actuator operatively connecting the first and second member;
• inserting the device between two bones at a bone fracture site in a manner to move the actuator from a resting state to an energy storing state;
• moving the actuator to an energy storing state length corresponding to a specific bone correction length, wherein the energy storing state length is selected from a range of discrete energy storing states that are each associated with a respective distance between the first and second member for a determined bone correction;
• and
• releasing the actuator so that the actuator moves from the energy storing state to the resting state and thereby moves the first member and the second member towards one another, and, further, so that the device shortens in length.

A method of urging at least two bones together for healing comprising:

• providing a device having an elastic member connecting a proximal bone engagement member and a distal bone engagement member;
• inserting the device between two bones at a bone fracture site in a manner to move the elastic member from a non-biased state to a biased state;
• moving the elastic member to biased state length corresponding to a specific bone correction length, wherein the biased state length is selected from a range of discrete biased states that are each associated with a respective distance between the proximal and distal bone engagement members for a determined bone correction;
• releasing the elastic member so that the elastic member moves from the biased state to the non-biased state and thereby moves the proximal and distal bone engagement members towards one another, and, further, so that the device shortens in length.