Apparatus and methods for fracture repair

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for bone fracture repair. The apparatus may include a structural support for positioning a first bone segment relative to a second bone segment. The apparatus may include an anchoring substrate. The anchoring substrate may be configured to compress the first bone segment to the second bone segment. The anchoring substrate may transmit tension from a distal bone segment anchor in the first bone segment to a proximal bone segment anchor in the second bone segment. The apparatus may be configured to be deployed percutaneously in an inner cavity of a bone. The apparatus may be installed in an open fracture. The apparatus may be expanded, self-expanding or configured for mechanically actuation. Some embodiments of the apparatus may include a central axis member that may be used in conjunction with expansion of one or both of the structural support and the anchoring substrate to configure the apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating a fracture in a bone, the method comprising:
 inserting a self-expanding anchoring substrate through an access hole in the bone and into an inner cavity of the bone;   positioning a plate on an outer surface of the bone; and   fixing a position of the anchoring substrate relative to the bone by driving a proximal anchor through the plate and into a proximal base of the anchoring substrate such that:
 a central longitudinal axis of the anchoring substrate is at an oblique angle to a longitudinal axis of the plate; and 
 the anchoring substrate is locked in an expanded state. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising securing a first bone segment to the anchoring substrate by driving a screw through the plate, through the first bone segment and engaging the screw with the anchoring substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of claim  2 , wherein the screw is a first screw, further comprising securing a second bone segment at a position relative to the first bone segment by driving a second screw through the plate, through the second bone segment and engaging the anchoring substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 positioning the longitudinal axis of the plate substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bone; and 
 driving the proximal anchor through the plate and into a proximal base such that the longitudinal axis of the anchoring substrate is at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the bone. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein driving the proximal anchor into the proximal base applies tension to the anchoring substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the driving the proximal anchor through the plate secures the anchoring substrate to an outside surface of a diaphysis segment of the bone. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the securing resists axial movement of the anchoring substrate along the central longitudinal axis defined by the anchoring substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the securing resists rotation of the anchoring substrate about the central longitudinal axis defined by the anchoring substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the screw is a first screw and the at least one screw-hole is a first screw-hole, the method further comprising positioning a third bone segment relative to the second bone segment by driving a second screw through the third bone segment and engaging, inside the inner cavity, the second screw with a second screw-hole defined by the expanded anchoring substrate. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the securing resists force applied to the anchoring substrate by one or more fixation members. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fixing a position of the anchoring substrate further comprises:
 self-expanding the self-expanding anchoring substrate inside the inner cavity;   manipulating a central axis member to further expand the anchoring substrate; and   engaging a central member hub to control tension of the central axis member, wherein the central member hub is configured to maintain tension between distal and proximal ends of the anchoring substrate; and   locking expansion of the anchoring substrate.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising manipulating the central axis member to collapse the anchoring substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the manipulating comprises moving the central axis member along a central longitudinal axis defined by the anchoring substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the manipulating comprises applying tension to the anchoring substrate.