Active tension bone and joint stabilization methods

Abstract

Methods of use for bone and joint stabilization devices are described in which the devices are tensioned after anchoring during a medical procedure and remain active in maintaining axial tension for continued compression of the subject anatomy.

1 . A device for treating an orthopedic injury, the device comprising:
 a spring member comprising a titanium alloy and having an elongate stretchable structure with a longitudinal length and two lateral outer extents, the spring member comprising a plurality of beams arranged in pairs, wherein a first beam and a second beam of each pair are connected to each other only at the two lateral outer extents such that the first beam opposes the second beam to form apertures between the beams, and wherein each pair of beams is connected to an adjacent pair of beams by only a medial connector such that gaps are present at the two lateral outer extents between each pair of beams and the adjacent pair of beams, and   a proximal anchor and a distal anchor to anchor separate from one another in an operable configuration to anchor the spring member, the proximal anchor and distal anchor to anchor a position of the spring member forming a linear assembly of the longitudinal length of the spring member body and the proximal and distal anchors,   wherein at least one of the proximal and distal anchors is an anchoring head that has a body with a top surface, a bottom surface, and an opening therebetween into which the spring member is received within the anchoring head body of the anchoring head, and the anchoring head includes a tooth received in one of the spring member apertures.