Resorbable bone distractor and method

A bone distractor for distracting bone on opposite sides of an osteotomy of said bone, comprising:

• a first affixation member for affixation to said bone on one side of said osteotomy;
• a second affixation member for affixation to said bone on another side of said osteotomy;
• a screw means having a rotatable member engaging said first affixation member and said second affixation member for distracting said first and second affixation members relative to each other in response to rotation of said rotatable member;
• and
• bone screws for affixing said first and second affixation members to said bone;
• wherein at least said bone screws comprise a resorbable material.

A method of distracting bone on opposite sides of an osteotomy of said bone, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a bone distractor having a first affixation member for affixation to said bone on one side of said osteotomy, a second affixation member for affixation to said bone on another side of said osteotomy, and a distraction element engaging said first affixation member and said second affixation member for distracting said first and second affixation members relative to each other in response to rotation of said rotatable member, wherein at least said first affixation member comprises a resorbable material;
• b) providing means for affixing said first and second affixation members to bone;
• c) implanting said bone distractor and affixing said first and second affixation members to bone with said means for affixing;
• d) effecting distraction of said bone;
• e) explanting said bone distractor without explanting said means for affixing.

A method of distracting bone on opposite sides of an osteotomy of said bone, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a bone distractor having a first affixation member for affixation to said bone on one side of said osteotomy, a second affixation member for affixation to said bone on another side of said osteotomy, and a screw means having a rotatable member engaging said first affixation member and said second affixation member for distracting said first and second affixation members relative to each other in response to rotation of said rotatable member;
• b) providing means for affixing said first and second affixation members to bone, wherein at least said means for affixing comprises a resorbable material c) implanting said bone distractor and affixing said first and second affixation members to bone with said means for affixing;
• d) effecting distraction of said bone;
• e) explanting said bone distractor without explanting said means for affixing.