Resorption-controlled compression devices and processes for making and using the same

A medical device comprising:

• a compression element;
• a first anchor for attachment to a first bone fragment;
• a second anchor coupled to the first anchor via the compression element, the second anchor for attachment to a second bone fragment;
• the compression element being between the first anchor and the second anchor;
• and
• a resorbable element maintaining the first anchor and the second anchor at a first distance, wherein:
• the resorbable element is configured to at least partially resorb after insertion into a patient;
• and
• after the resorbable element is at least partially resorbed, the compression element forces the first anchor and/or the second anchor to translate such that the first anchor and the second anchor are at a second distance, thereby compressing the first bone fragment and the second bone fragment,
• wherein the shape of the resorbable element is a substantially cylindrical shape.

A method comprising:

• coupling a first anchor of a medical device to a first bone fragment within a patient;
• coupling a second anchor of the medical device to a second bone fragment within the patient;
• and
• positioning the first bone fragment adjacent to the second bone fragment in a first position, wherein the positioning comprises the steps of:
• coupling the first anchor to the second anchor by a compression element;
• holding the first anchor and the second anchor in a fixed position via a resorbable element comprising a substantially cylindrical shape;
• and
• upon at least partial resorption of the resorbable element, the first anchor and/or the second anchor translate toward a midpoint of the medical device via the compression element, thereby moving the first bone fragment and the second bone fragment to a second position and compressing the first bone fragment and the second bone fragment.