Photodynamic Bone Stabilization and Drug Delivery Systems

Abstract

Photodynamic bone stabilization and drug delivery systems are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a photodynamic bone stabilization and drug delivery system of the present disclosure includes an insertion catheter having an inner void for passing at least one light-sensitive liquid, and an inner lumen; an expandable portion releasably engaging a distal end of the insertion catheter, wherein the expandable portion comprises an inner expandable portion in communication with the inner lumen of the insertion catheter and sufficiently designed to maintain a light-sensitive liquid therein; and an outer expandable portion, surrounding the inner expandable portion, sufficiently designed to house and release at least one additive from the outer expandable portion in an outward direction from the inner expandable portion; and a light-conducting fiber sized to pass through the inner lumen of the insertion catheter and into the inner expandable portion for delivering light energy to the light-sensitive liquid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A photodynamic bone stabilization and drug delivery system for repairing a fractured bone comprising:
 an insertion catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, the insertion catheter having an inner void for passing at least one light-sensitive liquid, and an inner lumen;   an expandable portion releasably engaging the distal end of the insertion catheter, wherein the expandable portion is movable from a deflated state to an inflated state when the light-sensitive liquid is delivered to the expandable portion;   one or more surface layers disposed along an outer surface of the expandable portion, wherein the one or more surface layers are sufficiently designed to release at least one additive; and   a light-conducting fiber, wherein the light-conducting fiber is sized to pass through the inner lumen of the insertion catheter and into the expandable portion for delivering light energy to the light-sensitive liquid.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the light-conducting fiber emits light radially in a uniform manner along a length of the light-conducting fiber. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more surface layers include a plurality of pores filled with the at least one additive. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the pores are moveable between a substantially closed position for preventing release of the at least one additive when the expandable portion is in the deflated state to a substantially open position to release the at least one additive when the expandable portion is in the inflated state. 
     
     
         5 . A system for delivery of at least one additive to a medullary cavity of a bone comprising:
 an insertion catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, the insertion catheter having one or more inner lumens;   an expandable portion releasably engaging the distal end of the insertion catheter, wherein the expandable portion comprises:
 an inner expandable portion fabricated from a non-permeable material, wherein the inner expandable portion is in communication with an inner lumen of the insertion catheter and wherein the inner expandable portion is sufficiently designed to maintain a first fluid within the inner expandable portion; and 
 an outer expandable portion surrounding the inner expandable portion, wherein the outer expandable portion is sufficiently designed to house and release at least one additive from the outer expandable portion in an outward direction from the inner expandable portion; and 
   a tube fluidly connected to the outer expandable portion at a first end and fluidly connected to a port at a second end, such that, following the implantation of the outer expandable portion in a medullary cavity, the outer expandable portion can be filled with the at least one additive through the port from outside the medullary cavity.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising an external pump positioned outside the medullary cavity and connectable to the port to supply the at least one additive to the outer expandable portion. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the tube is removably attached to the outer expandable portion, such that the tube can be detached from the outer expandable portion without disruption of the medullary cavity. 
     
     
         8 . A system for repairing a fractured bone comprising:
 an insertion catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, the insertion catheter having an inner void for passing at least one light-sensitive liquid, and an inner lumen;   an expandable portion releasably engaging the distal end of the insertion catheter, wherein the expandable portion comprises:
 an inner expandable portion in communication with the inner lumen of the insertion catheter, wherein the inner expandable portion is sufficiently designed to maintain a light-sensitive liquid within the inner expandable portion; and 
 an outer expandable portion, surrounding the inner expandable portion, sufficiently designed to house and release at least one additive from the outer expandable portion in an outward direction into an intramedullary canal of the fractured bone; and 
   a light-conducting fiber, wherein the light-conducting fiber is sized to pass through the inner lumen of the insertion catheter and into the inner expandable portion for delivering light energy to cure the light-sensitive liquid within the inner expandable portion.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the outer expandable portion is fabricated from a porous polymer. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising one or more porous sections in the outer expandable portion designed to release the at least one additive. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more porous sections in the outer expandable portion include a plurality of pores having sizes and shapes that are substantially non-uniform throughout the one or more porous sections. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more porous sections include a plurality of pores having sizes and shapes that are substantially uniform throughout the one or more porous sections. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more porous sections are designed to release the at least one additive from the outer expandable portion at a pre-determined flow. 
     
     
         14 . A method for repairing a fractured bone comprising:
 delivering to an inner cavity of the fractured bone an expandable portion releasably engaging a distal end of an insertion catheter, wherein the expandable portion comprises:
 an inner expandable portion fabricated from a non-permeable material, wherein the inner expandable portion is in communication with an inner lumen of the insertion catheter and wherein the inner expandable portion is sufficiently designed to maintain a light-sensitive liquid within the inner expandable portion; and 
 an outer expandable portion, surrounding the inner expandable portion, sufficiently designed to house and release at least one first additive from the outer expandable portion in an outward direction from the inner expandable portion; 
   infusing a light-sensitive liquid through an inner void of the insertion catheter into the inner expandable portion to move the expandable portion from a deflated state to an inflated state;   inserting a light-conducting fiber into the inner lumen of the insertion catheter;   activating the light-conducting fiber to cure the light sensitive liquid within the inner expandable portion;   delivering at least one first additive to the fractured bone by releasing the at least one additive from the outer expandable portion; and   releasing the expandable portion from the insertion catheter.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the expandable portion comprises one or more surface layers disposed on an outer surface of the expandable portion and having a plurality of pores filled with the at least one first additive. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the expandable portion comprises a first inner void for receiving the light sensitive liquid and a second inner void for receiving the at least one first additive. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein at least a section of an outer wall of the second inner void is porous to enable the release of the at least one first additive from the second inner void. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising refilling the outer expandable portion with at least one first additive. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one first additive is refilled from a pump located outside the fractured bone through a port in fluid communication with the outer expandable portion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising adding at least one second additive to the outer expandable portion to release the at least one second additive within the fractured bone.