Bone stabilization device and method
AssigneeFlexfix, LLC
InventorDaniel F. Justin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is disclosed a device and method for stabilizing a bone. The device includes a polymer with a glass transition temperature. The polymer is relatively deformable at a temperature above the glass transition temperature and relatively rigid at a temperature below the glass transition temperature. The device, while the polymer is above the glass transition temperature, is responsive to a bending force to bend during insertion into the intramedullary canal of the bone. The device, while the polymer is below the glass transition temperature, is relatively rigid and able to provide reinforcement to the bone.
Claims20
A bone stabilization device for insertion into the intramedullary canal of a bone, the device comprising:
- an elongated body having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, the body including a polymer with a glass transition temperature greater than 37 degrees Celsius, wherein the polymer is in a relatively deformable first state at a temperature above the glass transition temperature and a relatively rigid second state at a temperature below the glass transition temperature, the device, while the polymer is in the first state above the glass transition temperature, being responsive to a bending force to bend during insertion into the intramedullary canal of the bone, and the device, when cooled to the second state below the glass transition temperature, being relatively rigid and able to provide reinforcement to the bone.
A method for inserting a bone stabilization device into the intramedullary canal of a bone, the bone stabilization device including an elongated body having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, the body including a polymer with a glass transition temperature greater than 37 degrees Celsius, wherein the polymer is relatively deformable at a temperature above the glass transition temperature and relatively rigid at a temperature below the glass transition temperature, the device, while the polymer is heated above the glass transition temperature, being responsive to a bending force to bend during insertion into the intramedullary canal of the bone, and the device, while the polymer is cooled below the glass transition temperature, being relatively rigid and able to provide reinforcement to the bone sufficient to promote healing of the fractured bone, the method comprising:
- heating the polymer above the glass transition temperature so that the polymer is relatively deformable;
- inserting the bone stabilization device into the intramedullary canal of the bone;
- and
- cooling the polymer below the glass transition temperature so that the polymer is relatively rigid and able to provide reinforcement to the bone.
The method of claim 17 wherein cooling the polymer comprises allowing time for the polymer to dissipate heat to the surrounding bone.
The method of claim 17 wherein cooling the polymer comprises actively cooling the polymer by removing heat from the polymer via a heat removal apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.