Bone fixation device, tools and methods

Abstract

A bone fixation device is provided with an elongate body having a longitudinal axis and having a first state in which at least a portion of the body is flexible and a second state in which the body is generally rigid, an actuateable gripper disposed at one or more locations on the elongated body, a hub located on a proximal end of the elongated body, and an actuator operably connected to the gripper(s) to deploy the gripper(s) from a retracted configuration to an expanded configuration. Methods of repairing a fracture of a bone are also disclosed. One such method comprises inserting a bone fixation device into an intramedullary space of the bone to place at least a portion of an elongate body of the fixation device in a flexible state on one side of the fracture and at least a portion of a hub on another side of the fracture, and operating an actuator to deploy at least one gripper of the fixation device to engage an inner surface of the intramedullary space to anchor the fixation device to the bone. Various hub designs are disclosed that may be used in combination with other fixation device components.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An implantable bone fixation device comprising:
 an elongate hub comprising a mesh structure and a tubular portion,   wherein the mesh structure comprises a flexible state and a locked state,   wherein the tubular portion is proximal of the mesh structure,   the tubular portion comprising a wall with an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface with a round cross-sectional shape, the inner surface with a round cross-sectional shape,   wherein the wall extends along the mesh structure, the mesh structure comprising a plurality of apertures over at least a portion of the outer surface,   wherein the plurality of apertures are configured to deform to hold a fastener connected to the hub; and   an actuator operably connected to the elongate hub for changing the mesh structure from the flexible state to the locked state.   
     
     
         3 . The implantable bone fixation device of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible state comprises any of the group of bending, stretching, and deforming a material of the mesh structure. 
     
     
         4 . The implantable bone fixation device of  claim 2 , wherein the mesh structure takes on a rigid state in the locked state. 
     
     
         5 . The implantable bone fixation device of  claim 2 , wherein the mesh structure comprises a plurality of diamond shaped apertures. 
     
     
         6 . The implantable bone fixation device of  claim 2 , wherein at least one aperture expands upon receipt of said fastener to a diameter of 2.7 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The implantable bone fixation device of  claim 2 , wherein the tubular portion is rigid. 
     
     
         8 . The implantable bone fixation device of  claim 2 , wherein the mesh structure comprises at least two layers, each layer comprising a plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         9 . The implantable bone fixation device of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of apertures in a second layer of the mesh structure overlap a portion of the plurality of apertures in a first layer of the mesh structure. 
     
     
         10 . The implantable bone fixation device of  claim 9 , wherein at least one aperture forms a pilot hole in the elongate hub. 
     
     
         11 . An implantable bone fixation device comprising:
 an elongate body having a flexible state, a rigid state, and a tubular portion,   the elongate body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface of a tubular wall, the tubular wall comprising an array of holes over a portion of the outer surface, each of the holes being configured to expand upon receipt of a fastener there-through, wherein the elongate body comprises a mesh structure forming the array of holes; and   an actuator operably connected to the elongate body for changing the elongate body from the flexible state to the rigid state,   wherein a first position of the actuator places the elongate body in the flexible state and a second position of the actuator places the elongate body in the rigid state.   
     
     
         12 . The implantable bone fixation device of  claim 11 , wherein said holes are longitudinally formed. 
     
     
         13 . The implantable bone fixation device of  claim 11 , wherein at least one hole is elongated to form a slot. 
     
     
         14 . The implantable bone fixation device of  claim 11 , wherein the rigid state is a locked state. 
     
     
         15 . The implantable bone fixation device of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible state comprises any of the group of bending, stretching, and deforming a material of the elongate body. 
     
     
         16 . The implantable bone fixation device of  claim 11 , wherein the rigid state comprises limiting any of the group of bending, stretching, and deforming the material of the elongate body. 
     
     
         17 . The implantable bone fixation device of  claim 11 , wherein the elongate body comprises at least two layers, each layer comprising an array of slots, wherein the slots of the layers overlap to form the array of holes in the elongate body. 
     
     
         18 . The implantable bone fixation device of  claim 17 , wherein each layer comprises a separately formed mesh structure. 
     
     
         19 . The implantable bone fixation device of  claim 11 , wherein at least one hole expands upon receipt of said fastener to a diameter of 2.7 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The implantable bone fixation device of  claim 11 , wherein the tubular portion is rigid.