Devices, methods and systems for remedying or preventing fractures

Abstract

Devices, methods and systems for remedying or preventing fractures of the bone are disclosed. The devices, and corresponding methods and systems, may include first and second members each having a proximal end, a distal end and a middle portion and an outer surface. The first member may be configured to be positioned at least partially within the femoral neck of the femur. The second member may be configured to be oriented at an oblique angle relative to the first member and mechanically engaged with the first member through an interlocking connection between the distal end of the second member and the middle portion or the distal end of the first member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical device for remedying and/or preventing fractures in the femur, the device comprising:
 a first member having a proximal end, a distal end, a middle portion and an outer surface, and being configured to be positioned at least partially within the femoral neck of the femur; and   a second member having a proximal end, a distal end, a middle portion and an outer surface, and being configured to be positioned at least partially within the shaft of the femur and oriented at an oblique angle relative to the first member,
 wherein the distal end of the second member is configured for interlocked engagement with the middle portion or distal end of the first member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , the first member further comprising an inner lumen and a plurality of openings, wherein:
 the inner lumen is configured to receive a flowable material, and   the plurality of openings are configured to enable the flowable material to flow from the inner lumen to at least the outer surface of the first member.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , the second member further comprising an inner lumen and a plurality of openings, wherein:
 the inner lumen is configured to receive a flowable material, and   the plurality of openings are configured to enable the flowable material to flow from the inner lumen to at least the outer surface of the second member.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , the second member further comprising an inner lumen and a plurality of openings, wherein:
 the inner lumen is configured to receive a flowable material, and   the plurality of openings are configured to enable the flowable material to flow from the inner lumen to at least the outer surface of the second member.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first member is configured with a plurality of lateral planes and the distal end of the second member is configured with a plurality of tabbed blades that engage with the lateral planes of the first member to provide the interlocked engagement between the first member and the second member. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first member is configured with a through-hole and the distal end of the second member is configured with a plurality of tabbed blades that engage with the through-hole of the first member to provide the interlocked engagement between the first member and second member. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first member is configured with a threaded hole and the distal end of the second member is configured with a threaded tip that threadably engages with the threaded hole of the first member to provide the interlocked engagement between the first member and the second member. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first member is configured with a through-hole and the distal end of the second member is tapered to provide for a press fit of the second member within the through-hole of the first member to provide the interlocked engagement between the first member and the second member. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the oblique angle ranges from 91 to 179 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of at least one of the first member or the second member is configured with threads. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first member or the second member further comprises:
 a rod having a threaded portion configured with external threads; and   a tube having an inner lumen configured with internal threads for mating engagement with the external threads of the rod,
 wherein the rod moves linearly within the tube upon being rotated relative to the tube to provide for adjustment of the length of the first member or second member. 
   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of at least one of the first member or the second member further comprises a knurled surface. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of at least one of the first member or the second further comprises a bioactive coating. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the first member has a generally cylindrical shape and another portion of the first member has a shape selected from the group of shapes consisting of oval, star, diamond, square and rectangular. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of at least one of the first member or the second member further comprises longitudinal grooves. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of at least one of the first member and the second member further comprises circumferential grooves allowing for the at least one of the first member and the second member to be cut and adjusted in length. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first member is oriented in the femoral neck of the femur in a position substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the femoral neck. 
     
     
         18 . A medical device for remedying and/or preventing fractures in the femur, the device comprising:
 a first member having a proximal end, a distal end, a middle portion and an outer surface, and being configured to be positioned at least partially within the femoral neck of the femur; and   a second member having a proximal end, a distal end, a middle portion and an outer surface, and being configured to be positioned at least partially in the shaft of the femur and oriented at an oblique angle relative to the first member,
 wherein the distal end of the second member includes an opening configured to receive and maintain the first member in a predetermined location along the length of the first member and to provide for interlocked engagement between the first member and the second member. 
   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , the first member further comprising an inner lumen and a plurality of openings, wherein:
 the inner lumen is configured to receive a flowable material, and   the plurality of openings are configured to enable the flowable material to flow from the inner lumen to at least the outer surface of the first member.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , the second member further comprising an inner lumen and a plurality of openings, wherein:
 the inner lumen is configured to receive a flowable material, and   the plurality of openings are configured to enable the flowable material to flow from the inner lumen to at least the outer surface of the second member.   
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 18 , the second member further comprising an inner lumen and a plurality of openings, wherein:
 the inner lumen is configured to receive a flowable material, and   the plurality of openings are configured to enable the flowable material to flow from the inner lumen to at least the outer surface of the second member.   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the middle portion or the distal end of the first member is tapered to provide for a press fit of the first member within the opening of the second member to maintain the first member in a predetermined location along the length of the first member and provide for interlocked engagement between the first member and the second member. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the oblique angle ranges from 91 to 179 degrees. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of at least one of the first member or the second member is configured with threads. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the first member or the second member further comprises:
 a rod having a threaded portion configured with external threads; and   a tube having an inner lumen configured with internal threads for mating engagement with the external threads of the rod,
 wherein the rod moves linearly within the tube upon being rotated relative to the tube to provide for adjustment of the length of the first member or second member. 
   
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the outer surface of at least one of the first member or the second member further comprises a knurled surface. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the outer surface of at least one of the first member or the second further comprises a bioactive coating. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein a portion of the first member has a generally cylindrical shape and another portion of the first member has a shape selected from the group of shapes consisting of oval, star, diamond, square and rectangular. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the outer surface of at least one of the first member or the second member further comprises longitudinal grooves. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the outer surface of at least one of the first member or the second member further comprises circumferential grooves. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the first member is oriented in the femoral neck of the femur in a position substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the femoral neck. 
     
     
         32 . A method for remedying and/or preventing fractures in the femur, the method comprising:
 forming a first member pilot hole at least partially within the femoral neck of the femur, the first member pilot hole being configured to receive a first member of an implant device;   forming a second member pilot hole in a position within the femur that is oriented at an oblique angle to the first member pilot hole and below the first member pilot hole, the second member pilot hole intersecting the first member pilot hole and being configured to receive a second member of the implant device;   inserting the first member into the first member pilot hole;   inserting the second member into the second pilot hole; and   engaging a distal end of the second member with the middle portion or the distal end of the first member to provide interlocking engagement between the first member and the second member.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the first member further comprises a proximal end, a distal end, an inner lumen, an outer surface and a plurality of openings; and   an injection device is inserted into the inner lumen of the first member and flowable material is injected from the injection device into the inner lumen and through one or more of the plurality of openings of the first member to at least the outer surface of the first member.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the second member further comprises a proximal end, a distal end, an inner lumen, an outer surface and a plurality of openings; and   an injection device is inserted into the inner lumen of the second member and flowable material is injected from the injection device into the inner lumen and through one or more of the plurality of openings of the second member to at least the outer surface of the second member.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein:
 the second member further comprises a proximal end, a distal end, an inner lumen, an outer surface and a plurality of openings; and   an injection device is inserted into the inner lumen of the second member and flowable material is injected from the injection device into the inner lumen and through one or more of the plurality of openings of the second member to at least the outer surface of the second member.   
     
     
         36 . A method as in  claim 33 ,  34  or  35 , the method further comprising:
 inserting the injection device into the first member or the second member such that an injection tip of the injection device is positioned at the distal end of the first or second member; 
 injecting flowable material into the first or second member; 
 moving the injection device toward the proximal end of the first or second member during the injection of the flowable material; and 
 ceasing injection when the injection tip is at the proximal end of the first or second member. 
 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein engaging a distal end of the second member with the middle portion or the distal end of the first member further comprises engaging a plurality of lateral planes configured on the first member with a plurality of tabbed blades configured at the distal end of the second member. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein engaging a distal end of the second member with the middle portion or the distal end of the first member further comprises engaging a through-hole of the first member with a plurality of tabbed blades configured at the distal end of the second member. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein engaging a distal end of the second member with the middle portion or the distal end of the first member further comprises engaging a threaded hole of the first member with threaded tip configured at the distal end of the second member. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein engaging a distal end of the second member with the middle portion or the distal end of the first member further comprises engaging a through-hole of the first member with a tapered portion of the second member. 
     
     
         41 . A medical device for remedying and/or preventing fractures in a long bone of a human body, the device comprising:
 a first member having a proximal end, a distal end, a middle portion, an inner lumen, an outer surface, and a plurality of openings, wherein:
 the inner lumen is configured to receive a flowable material, 
 the plurality of openings are configured to enable the flowable material to flow from the inner lumen to at least the outer surface, and 
 the first member is configured to be positioned in the long bone and oriented generally perpendicular to the long axis of the long bone; and 
   a second member having a proximal end, a distal end, a middle portion, an inner lumen, an outer surface, and a plurality of openings, wherein:
 the inner lumen is configured to receive a flowable material, 
 the plurality of openings are configured to enable the flowable material to flow from the inner lumen to at least the outer surface, and 
 the second member is configured to be positioned in the long bone and oriented at an oblique angle relative to the first member, 
 wherein the distal end of the second member is configured to be received in interlocked engagement within the middle portion or the distal end of the first member.