Apparatus and methods for securing a bone implant

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for securing a bone implant are provided. The implant may be an expandable implant. The implant may be a non-expandable implant. The implant may be for repairing a bone fracture. The implant may be secured to a bone by anchors. The implant may include anchor receiving features. The anchor receiving features may be configured to direct an anchor into cortical bone. The anchor receiving features may be configured to receive an anchor driven through cortical bone. The implant may include bone engaging members configured to engage cancellous bone. An implant may include different profiles. The different profiles may be configured to secure the implant. The profiles may be configured to support the bone. The implant may have different flexing properties configured to position the implant in the bone. The implant may be positioned to receive an anchor driven through an outside of the bone.

1 . An apparatus for a bone implant, the implant having a first base and a second base and a bone implant component extending therebetween, the first base and the second base defining a longitudinal axis, the bone implant component deflecting relative to the longitudinal axis in correspondence with relative displacement of the first base and the second base along the axis, the apparatus comprising:
 a first body that is substantially coaxial with the axis and longitudinally fixed to the first base;   a second body that is substantially coaxial with the axis and longitudinally fixed to the second base; and   an elongated engaging member that is configured to longitudinally fix a distance between the first body and the second body.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the distance comprises:
 a maximum value that corresponds to a fully collapsed state of the implant; and 
 a minimum value that corresponds to a fully expanded state of the implant; 
 the elongated engaging member is further configured to longitudinally fix the distance at any value in the range from about the maximum value to about the minimum value; 
 the fully collapsed state corresponding to a state in which the implant is configured to pass through an access hole in the bone; and 
 the fully expanded state corresponding to a state in which the implant is expanded outside the bone at standard temperature and pressure. 
 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the distance controls the expansion of the implant by controlling the length of the implant. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the distance corresponds to a therapeutic length of the bone implant. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the distance corresponds to a therapeutic radius of the bone implant. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the elongated member is of unified construction; 
 of all the structures that are configured to operate in conjunction with the implant, the elongated engaging member alone is configured to fix the distance. 
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the distance corresponds to an expansion state of the bone implant, the expansion state providing structural support for a bone and substantially eliminating residual outward radial pressure on an inside wall of the bone. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the elongated engaging member is configured to apply tension between the first body and the second body. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein:
 the elongated member is of unified construction; and, 
 of all the structures that are configured to operate in conjunction with the implant, the elongated engaging member alone is configured to apply the tension. 
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein, when the elongated member fixes the distance, the elongated member engages the first body internal to the first body and the second body internal to the second body. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein:
 the first body includes a first tapped cannula; 
 the second body includes a second tapped cannula; and 
 the elongated member includes a thread that is configured to engage the first tapped cannula and the second tapped cannula. 
 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the thread is sufficiently fine to avoid substantially changing the distance when the thread, after engaging the first tapped cannula, engages the second tapped cannula. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein, when the second body has an outer diameter, the first body includes a cylindrical portion that has an inner diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the second body, the cylindrical portion being configured to receive a portion of the second body. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a scaffolding extends between the first base and the second base, the scaffolding including the bone implant component and being configured to support a bone. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein, when the first base moves toward the second base, the scaffolding expands away from the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the implant includes an anchoring substrate that is disposed between the longitudinal axis and the scaffolding. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein an anchoring substrate extends between the first and second bases, the anchoring substrate including the bone implant component and being configured to support a bone. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein, when the first base moves toward the second base, the anchoring substrate expands away from the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the implant includes a scaffolding that is, relative to the longitudinal axis, at a greater radial distance than is the anchoring substrate. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein:
 a tab extends from one or both of the first base and the scaffolding; 
 a pocket is present in one or both of the first base and the scaffolding; 
 the tab is biased such that it engages the pocket; and 
 the scaffolding is substantially longitudinally and rotationally fixed to the first base by the engagement of the tab and the pocket. 
 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein, when the distance is fixed, the anchor substrate is slidable along the longitudinal axis and angularly displaceable about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         22 - 162 . (canceled)