Apparatus and method for the reduction of bone fractures

Apparatus for the reduction of a bone fragment of a bone fracture at a bone fracture site through a minimally invasive access passage to the bone fracture site, the access passage following an access direction and having a minimally invasive cross-sectional area, the apparatus comprising:

• a working head constructed for being moved between an insertion configuration and a working configuration;
• the insertion configuration providing the working head with an insertion area transverse to the access direction and being dimensioned and configured for passing through the minimally invasive cross-sectional area to move along the access passage to the bone fracture site;
• the working configuration providing the working head with an essentially rigid working face extending over a working area transverse to the access direction, the working area of the extended working face being substantially greater than the insertion area for engaging and maneuvering the bone fragment into a reduced position;
• and
• a manipulating arrangement including a manipulator for selective manipulation of the working head from a remote manipulating site such that insertion of the working head through the access passage to the bone fracture site is accomplished with the working head in the insertion configuration, and upon placement of the working head at the bone fracture site and movement of the working head in the working configuration, reduction of the bone fragment is accomplished with the working head in the working configuration to engage the bone fragment with the working face and maneuver the bone fragment into the reduced position at the bone fracture site;
• the manipulating arrangement including a stem extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis and having lateral transverse dimensions;
• and
• the working head comprising a blade-like member having a leading edge, a trailing edge spaced longitudinally from the leading edge, an altitudinal thickness, and side edges spaced apart laterally from one another along a lateral dimension substantially greater than the laterally transverse dimensions of the stem such that the working face extends over the working area between the leading, trailing and side edges throughout a relatively large area in comparison to any area established by the laterally transverse dimensions of the stem and the thickness of the blade-like member.

A method for the reduction of a bone fragment of a bone fracture at a bone fracture site through a minimally invasive access passage to the bone fracture site, the access passage following an access direction and having a minimally invasive cross-sectional area, the method comprising:

• introducing into the access passage a working head constructed for actuation between an insertion configuration and a working configuration;
• the insertion configuration providing the working head with an insertion area transverse to the access direction and being dimensioned and configured for passing through the minimally invasive cross-sectional area to move along the access passage to the bone fracture site;
• and
• the working configuration providing the working head with an essentially rigid working face extended over a working area transverse to the access direction, the working area of the extended working face being substantially greater than the insertion area for engaging and manipulating the bone fragment into a reduced position;
• with the working head in the insertion configuration, passing the working head through the minimally invasive cross-sectional area to move the working head along the access passage and place the working head at the bone fracture site;
• actuating an actuator remote from the working head to actuate the working head from the insertion configuration into the working configuration from an actuating site remote from the bone fracture site;
• and
• selectively manipulating the working head from the remote actuating site with a manipulating arrangement including a stem extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis and having lateral transverse dimensions, the working head comprising a blade-like member having a leading edge, a trailing edge spaced longitudinally from the leading edge, an altitudinal thickness, and side edges spaced apart laterally from one another along a lateral dimension substantially greater than the laterally transverse dimensions of the stem so that the working face extends over the working area between the leading, trailing and side edges throughout a relatively large area in comparison to any area established by the laterally transverse dimensions of the stem and the thickness of the blade-like member such that insertion of the working head through the access passage to the bone fracture site is accomplished with the working head in the insertion configuration and, upon placement of the working head at the bone fracture site and actuation of the working head to the working configuration, reduction of the bone fragment is accomplished with the working head in the working configuration to engage the bone fragment with the working face and manipulate the bone fragment into the reduced position at the bone fracture site.