Antibiotic eluding intramedullary nail apparatus

An antibiotic eluding intramedullary nail apparatus for use in association with the intramedullary fixation of fractured long bones, such as fractured femurs, tibias, fibulas, humeri, ulnas and radii having a medullary canal, wherein the fracture may be associated with an open wound, which in turn, may expose the medullary canal within the fractured bone, as well as the area surrounding the open wound, to bacteria and/or other infectious micro-organisms which could result in morbidity as well as mortality said antibiotic eluding intramedullary nail apparatus comprising:

• means for Stabilizing the fractured bone in an aligned position,
• said bone stabilizing means comprising a hollow shaft having an internal region defined by an interior surface, a first end, a second end and an exterior surface, wherein said bone stabilizing means is positionable within the medullary canal of the fractured bone;
• said hollow shaft having a plurality of apertures depending from said internal region and extending through said interior surface and said exterior surface;
• antibiotic compound means, said antibiotic compound means including bactericidal means for inhibiting the growth of and destroying bacteria which may result in an infection in the medullary canal of the fractured bone as well as proximate the open wound associated with the fracture, and carrier means for sustainably releasing said bactericidal means;
• and wherein said antibiotic compound is operably positioned within the internal area of the hollow shaft so as to preclude direct contact of said antibiotic compound means with the medullary canal of the fractured bone and to preclude said antibiotic compound means from becoming dislodged during insertion of said apparatus into the medullary canal, and, to in turn, enable the release of the bactericidal means through at least one of said apertures.

A method of fabricating an antibiotic eluding intramedullary nail apparatus for use in the intramedullary fixation of fractured long bones, such as femurs, tibias and fibulas, humeri, ulnas and radii, and, in particular fractures associated with an open wound exposing the soft tissue and medullary canal of the fractured bone to bacteria and other infectious micro-organisms wherein an antibiotic agent is sustainably released directly into the medullary canal of fractured bones toward preventing and combating bacterial infestation of the bone and/or surrounding area, which could result in morbidity and mortality, said method comprising the steps of:

• utilizing a bone stabilizing element having an exterior surface having a plurality of points and corresponding "v-shaped" depressions extending below and between adjacently positioned ones of the points;
• combining an antibiotic agent with a carrier agent so as to form an antibiotic compound, said carrier agent being of the type which allows for release of said antibiotic agent after said antibiotic compound has substantially cured;
• applying the antibiotic compound into at least one of said one or more plurality of "v-shaped" depressions, and, in turn, below corresponding ones of the points;
• and
• allowing the antibiotic compound to substantially cure.

A method of fabricating an antibiotic eluding intramedullary nail apparatus for use in the intramedullary fixation of fractured long bones, such as femurs, tibias and fibulas, humeri, ulnas and radii, and, in particular fractures associated with an open wound exposing the soft tissue and medullary canal of the fractured bone to bacteria and other infectious micro-organisms wherein an antibiotic agent is sustainably released directly into the medullary canal of fractured bones toward preventing and combating bacterial infestation of the bone and/or surrounding area, which could result in morbidity and mortality, said method comprising the steps of:

• utilizing a bone stabilizing element having an interior surface defining an internal region extending from a first end to a second end of said bone stabilizing element, and, a plurality of apertures depending from the internal region and extending through an adjacent portion of the interior and exterior surfaces;
• combining an antibiotic agent with a carrier agent so as to form an antibiotic compound, said carrier agent being of the type which allows for release of said antibiotic agent after said antibiotic compound has substantially cured;
• applying said antibiotic compound within the internal region adjacent at least one of the plurality of apertures;
• and
• allowing the antibiotic compound to substantially cure.