Expandable support device and method of use

Abstract

An expandable support device for tissue repair is disclosed. The device can be used to repair hard or soft tissue, such as bone. The expandable support device can have interconnected struts. A method of repairing tissue is also disclosed. The expandable support device can be inserted into a damaged bone and radial expanded. The radial expansion of the expandable support device struts can cause the struts to cut mechanically support and/or the bone.

1 . An expandable support device for repairing damaged bone, the expandable support device having a longitudinal axis, and comprising:
 a first terminal end comprising a radially external first attachment configuration;   a second terminal end comprising a radially external second attachment configuration, and a radially internal attachment configuration;   a first strut having a first strut cross-section;   a second strut connected to the first strut,   
       wherein the first strut is substantially deformable;
 and wherein the first strut cross-section is configured to encourage bone growth toward the longitudinal axis. 
 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a bone growth material. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the first strut comprises the bone growth material. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the first strut is coated with the bone growth material. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the bone growth material circumferentially surrounds the first strut cross-section. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the first strut has a first strut first side closer to the longitudinal axis and a first strut second side farther from the longitudinal axis than the first strut first side, and wherein the bone growth material is on the first strut first side. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the first strut second side is not substantially coated with the bone growth material. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first strut cross-section comprises a needle tip. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first strut cross-section comprises a chisel tip. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first strut comprises a thread. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first strut comprises a longitudinal vane. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a detachable deployment rod comprising an expandable support device engager; and   a detachable retrieval sheath translatably slidable with respect to the deployment rod, wherein the retrieval sheath is configured to radially compress the expandable support device.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first strut cross-section is small enough to allow the bone to substantially back-fill track voids created by radial expansion of the first cross-section. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the second strut cross-section is small enough to allow the bone to substantially back-fill track voids created by radial expansion of the second cross-section.