Photodynamic bone stabilization systems and methods for reinforcing bone

A photodynamic bone stabilization system comprising:

• a light-conducting fiber configured to transmit light energy;
• a light-sensitive liquid monomer comprising an initiator, wherein the initiator is activated when the light-conducting fiber transmits the light energy to initiate polymerization of the light-sensitive liquid monomer;
• a pressurizing medium configured to control polymerization shrinkage;
• and
• a catheter having an elongated shaft, a distal end releasably engaging an expandable portion, and a longitudinal axis therebetween,
• wherein the catheter comprises an inner void and an inner lumen,
• wherein the inner void is sufficiently designed to pass the light-sensitive liquid monomer into the expandable portion,
• wherein the inner lumen is sufficiently designed to pass the light-conducting fiber into the expandable portion, and
• wherein the inner lumen in the expandable portion comprises at least two separate areas configured to expand when the pressurizing medium is delivered to the inner lumen in the expandable portion so as to cause internal diameter pressure against the light-sensitive liquid monomer contained within the expandable portion during polymerization.

A method comprising:

• inserting an expandable portion of a photodynamic bone stabilization system into an intramedullary canal spanning a bone fracture site comprising a plurality of fractured bone pieces, wherein the photodynamic bone stabilization system comprises:
• a catheter having a distal end releasably engaging the expandable portion, an inner void, and an inner lumen extending longitudinally within the catheter into the expandable portion, wherein a septum lumen divides the inner lumen into a cooling medium intake lumen and a cooling lumen return lumen;
• infusing a light-sensitive liquid monomer into the inner void of the catheter so that the light-sensitive liquid monomer expands the expandable portion until the fractured pieces are substantially restored to their natural positions;
• inserting a light-conducting fiber into the septum lumen of the catheter so that the light-conducting fiber resides in the expandable portion, wherein the light-conducting fiber is configured to transmit light energy to the expandable portion;
• activating the light-conducting fiber to transmit light energy to the expandable portion to initiate polymerization of the light-sensitive liquid monomer within the expandable portion;
• delivering a pressurizing medium to the inner lumen of the catheter;
• infusing a cooling medium into the cooling medium intake lumen of the catheter to control polymerization temperature;
• and
• completing the polymerization of the light-sensitive liquid monomer to harden the expandable portion at the bone fracture site,
• wherein the inner lumen in the expandable portion comprises at least two separate areas configured to expand when the pressurizing medium is delivered to the inner lumen to cause internal diameter pressure against the light-sensitive liquid monomer contained within the expandable portion during polymerization.