Intramedullary fixation system for management of pelvic and acetabular fractures

Abstract

Devices for treating a bone and methods of inserting such devices into a bone are disclosed. A device for treating a bone may include a flexible tube, a stiffening mechanism and an actuator. The flexible tube has a distal end and a proximal end. The stiffening mechanism within the flexible tube is configured to cause the flexible tube to become rigid. The actuator is configured to cause the stiffening mechanism to cause the flexible tube to become rigid in response to the actuator being actuated.

1 - 91 . (canceled) 
     
     
         92 . A device for fixating a bone fracture, the device comprising:
 a body configurable in a curve, the body comprising a plurality of segments and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;   a plurality of elongate members disposed within the body, each of the elongate members having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, wherein the distal end portions of the elongate members are fixed at the distal end portion of the body, and wherein the elongate members are configured to move axially relative to one another without crossing over one another as the body is flexed into the curve such that a first one of the elongate members traverses a distance between the attachment location and a locking location and a second one of the elongate members traverses a different distance between the attachment and locking locations; and   a mechanism configured to apply a locking force normal to the elongate members at the locking location to render the elongate members incapable of relative axial movement such that the body retains the curve.   
     
     
         93 . The device of  claim 92 , wherein the mechanism is configured to render the elongate members incapable of relative axial movement by prohibiting each one of the elongate members from moving axially relative to the others of the elongate members. 
     
     
         94 . The device of  claim 92 , wherein the mechanism is disposed proximate the proximal end portion of the body. 
     
     
         95 . The device of  claim 92 , wherein the mechanism comprises a lock at the proximal end portion of the body. 
     
     
         96 . The device of  claim 92 , further comprising a screw at the distal end portion of the body to enable the body to be inserted into a bone. 
     
     
         97 . An implantable intramedullary device for fixating a bone fracture, the device comprising:
 a body configurable in a curve, the body comprising a plurality of segments and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;   a plurality of elongate members disposed within the body, each of the elongate members having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, wherein the distal end portions of the elongate members are fixed at an attachment location at the distal end portion of the body, and wherein a respective length of each elongate member between the attachment location and a locking location is changeable as the body is flexed into the curve such that the length of a first one of the elongate members between the attachment and locking locations is different than the length of a second one of the elongate members between the attachment and locking locations, the elongate members not crossing over one another while moving axially; and   a mechanism configurable to apply a locking force normal to the elongate members at the locking location to fix the body in the curve by prohibiting relative axial movement of the elongate members.   
     
     
         98 . The device of  claim 97 , wherein the locking location is proximate the proximal end portion of the body. 
     
     
         99 . The device of  claim 97 , wherein the locking location is closer to the proximal end portion of the body than to the distal end portion of the body. 
     
     
         100 . The device of  claim 97 , wherein the mechanism is at the proximal end portion of the body. 
     
     
         101 . The device of  claim 97 , further comprising a screw at the distal end portion of the body to enable the body to be inserted into a bone. 
     
     
         102 . A device, comprising:
 a plurality of segments forming a body having first and second ends, the body having a flexible configuration in which the body can define a curved shape;   a plurality of openings formed in each of the segments;   a plurality of elongate members, each disposed in the openings, each elongate member configured to move relative to at least one of the segments along an axial direction as the body is being manipulated into a curved shape; and   a mechanism disposed at one of the first and second body ends and configurable to apply a locking force normal to the members at the locking location to render the members incapable of relative axial movement such that the body retains the curved shape.   
     
     
         103 . The device of  claim 102 , wherein at least one of the segments includes an end that is engaged with an end of another one of the segments. 
     
     
         104 . The device of  claim 102 , wherein at least one of the segments includes first and second segment ends having approximately a same shape. 
     
     
         105 . The device of  claim 102 , wherein at least one of the segments includes an end having a portion that is disposed within a portion of a segment end of another one of the segments. 
     
     
         106 . The device of  claim 102 , wherein at least one of the elongate members is configured to move relative to at least another of the elongate members along the axial direction as the body is being manipulated into a curved shape. 
     
     
         107 . The device of  claim 102 , wherein the mechanism is configurable to prohibit the elongate members from moving along the axial direction relative to the segments to lock the body into a curved shape. 
     
     
         108 . The device of  claim 102 , further comprising a screw disposed at the other of the first and second body ends and configured to secure the body to a bone. 
     
     
         109 . The device of  claim 102 , wherein the mechanism is configured to lock the flexible body in a curved shape while at least a portion of the body is disposed inside of a bone. 
     
     
         110 . The device of  claim 102 , wherein the mechanism is configured to apply a force normal to the elongate members to fix the body in the curved shape by prohibiting relative axial movement of the elongate members.