Femoral Neck Support Structure, System, and Method of Use

Abstract

A device, system, and method for reinforcing a femoral neck bone comprises a support structure deployable from a first substantially collapsed position to a second substantially expanded position within a cancellous bone area of the femoral neck. The support structure compresses at least a portion of the cancellous bone upon expansion. A cavity created by the expansion is adapted to receive a filler material such as, but not limited to, bone cement. Upon final positioning and curing, the support structure and any filler material is adapted to interact with the healthy cortical bone and/or compressed cancellous bone and receive at least a portion of a load placed on the femoral neck bone.

1 . A device for reinforcing a femoral neck bone, the femoral neck bone including a cortical bone region and a cancellous bone region, the device comprising:
 a support structure deployable from a first substantially collapsed position to a second substantially expanded position;   the support structure adapted to displace at least a portion of the cancellous bone region and wherein when deployed in the second substantially expanded position, the support structure structurally interacts with at least a portion of the cortical bone region.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises an inflatable member adapted to expand the support structure from the first substantially collapsed position to the second substantially expanded position, the device further including an actuator, wherein the actuator is adapted to deploy the support structure into the femoral neck cancellous bone region through a bore. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising,
 an attachment structure adapted to couple the support structure to at least one of the cortical bone region and the cancellous bone region, wherein the support structure further comprises a stent, the stent including at least one of a mesh, coil, truss, strut and spring.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2  wherein,
 the actuator comprises a sheath substantially enclosing the support structure in its first substantially collapsed position, and wherein the support structure is adapted to be extracted from the sheath and bi-directionally expand into the second substantially expanded position.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein,
 the support structure comprises a unitary device having a head portion, a distal neck portion, and a proximal neck portion, and wherein the unitary device comprises a generally hourglass-shape when deployed in the second substantially expanded position, the general hourglass-shape resembling a cortical bone inner surface shape.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein,
 the support structure is comprised of at least one of (i) a viscoelastic material, (ii) a material having at least one of a time and a temperature dependent property, (iii) a gelatinous material, and (iv) a bone growth chemical regulator.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein,
 at least a portion of the support structure comprises at least one bore through which at least one of a filler material and a support structure section may be released into the cancellous bone region.   
     
     
         8 . A femoral neck strengthening system, comprising:
 a support structure defining at least one cavity and adapted to support the femoral neck; and   a filler material substantially filling the cavity and acting to increase the strength of the femoral neck.   
     
     
         9 . The femoral neck strengthening system of  claim 8  wherein,
 the support structure is comprised of at least one of an expandable truss, strut, and mesh, the at least one of an expandable truss, strut, and mesh including internal and external support sections;   wherein the filler material substantially occupies a space around the internal support sections and between opposing external support sections.   
     
     
         10 . The femoral neck strengthening system of  claim 8  wherein the support structure further comprises at least one of a balloon and a biasing device, and wherein the filler material comprises one of a cement, a glue, an adhesive, and a foam. 
     
     
         11 . The femoral neck strengthening system of  claim 8 , further comprising an actuation device, the actuation device adapted to locate at least one of the support structure and the filler material within a cancellous bone area of the femoral neck. 
     
     
         12 . The femoral neck strengthening system of  claim 11  wherein the actuation device comprises a lumen, a sheath, and a trigger mechanism, and wherein the support structure is further adapted to expand upon at least one of being extracted from the sheath and applying at least one of a pushing, pulling, and twisting motion to the trigger mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The femoral neck strengthening system of  claim 8  wherein the support structure includes a longitudinal axis, and wherein the filler material and support structure are adapted to support a first perpendicular load between 1N and 12 kN and a second parallel load between 1N and 7 kN. 
     
     
         14 . The femoral neck strengthening system of  claim 8 , wherein the support structure comprises:
 at least one guide wire located within the at least one cavity; and   a plurality of support blocks deployable to a substantially rigid position by the at least one guide wire, each support block being adapted to couple to an adjacent support block.   
     
     
         15 . A method of reinforcing a femoral neck comprising:
 creating a bore proximate to at least one of a Ward's triangle and a greater trochanter;   creating at least one cavity in a cancellous bone region of the femoral neck;   inserting a substantially collapsed support structure through the bore and into the at least one cavity;   expanding the support structure; and   allowing at least a portion of the load from the femoral neck bone to be transferred to the support structure.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 using a guide wire to place the support structure in the at least one cavity;   compressing at least a portion of the cancellous bone region; and   coupling the support structure to a portion of bone material.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising inserting a filler component into the at least one cavity. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 inserting one or more guide wires into the cancellous bone region;   conveying one or more support blocks along the one or more guide wires;   placing the one or more support blocks in an arrangement adapted to support the femoral neck;   placing a filler material into the at least one cavity, the filler material adapted to substantially conform to the shape of the at least one cavity.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one cavity is formed in at least a portion of the greater trochanter or the cancellous bone region, the method further comprising introducing a fluid into the at least one cavity. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 enclosing the support structure with a sheath;   removing the sheath;   expanding the support structure; and   inserting a substantially rigid support structure proximate the cancellous bone region.