Granted Patent B2

US 7,326,211 · App. 10/790,671 · Granted Feb 5, 2008

Abstract

Claims (46)

1. A deployment device for use with a bone fixation device, said deployment device comprising:

a first component comprising a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the first component being configured to engage a proximal anchor of the bone fixation device;

a palm engagement portion coupled to the first component;

a second component comprising a distal end and a proximal end, the second component being axially moveable with respect to the first component;

at least one finger engagement portion coupled to the second component and being positioned distally from the palm engagement portion, said finger engagement portion being movable relative to the palm engagement portion;

a tensioner coupled to said second component and adapted to generally move with said finger engagement portion relative to said first component, said tensioner being configured to proximally withdraw an elongate body of the bone fixation device with respect to the proximal anchor which is carried by the elongate body as the at least one finger engagement portion is moved towards the palm engagement portion;

wherein when proximally withdrawing the elongate body of the bone fixation device with respect to the proximal anchor, the distal end of the second component does not extend axially beyond the distal end of the first component.

2. The deployment device of claim 1 , wherein the tensioner is configured to grip the elongate body of the fixation device as the at least one finger engagement portion is axially moved towards the palm engagement portion.

3. The deployment device of claim 1 , wherein said distal end of said first component is configured to rotate the proximal anchor of the fixation device as the deployment device is rotated.

4. The deployment device of claim 3 , wherein the distal end of the first component comprises a distal cap that is removeably attached to a remaining portion of the first component.

5. The deployment device of claim 1 , wherein the deployment device is configured to separate the elongate body into a first portion and a second portion.

6. The deployment device of claim 5 , wherein the deployment device comprises a cauterizing device.

7. The deployment device of claim 1 , wherein said tensioner comprises a collet configured to grip the elongate body of the bone fixation device as the finger engagement portion moves proximally relative to the palm engagement portion.

8. The deployment device of claim 7 , wherein the collet comprises a plurality of flexible fingers having gripping heads.

9. A deployment device for use with a bone fixation device comprising an elongate body with a distal helical anchor and a proximal anchor that is carried by the elongate body, said deployment device comprising:

an outer component having a proximal end and a distal end;

an inner component axially moveable within the outer component;

a first actuator coupled to the outer component;

a second actuator coupled to the inner component such that the first actuator is axially moveable with respect to the second actuator, the second actuator comprising a finger grip portion; and

wherein the distal end of the outer component is configured to engage and rotate the proximal anchor of the bone fixation device and the inner component is removably coupled to the elongate body and configured such that proximal movement of inner component with respect to the outer component proximally withdraws the elongate body with respect to the proximal anchor.

10. The deployment device of claim 9 , further comprising a distal cap being removeably attachable to the distal end of the outer component.

11. The deployment device of claim 10 , wherein the distal cap comprises an anti-rotational head to engage a recess of the proximal anchor of the bone fixation device.

12. A deployment device for use with a bone fixation device comprising an elongate body with a distal helical anchor and a proximal anchor that is carried by the elongate body, said deployment device comprising:

an outer component having a proximal end and a distal end;

an inner component axially moveable within the outer component;

a first actuator coupled to the outer component, the first actuator comprising a palm engagement portion;

a second actuator coupled to the inner component such that the first actuator is axially moveable with respect to the second actuator; and

wherein the distal end of the outer component is configured to engage and rotate the proximal anchor of the bone fixation device and the inner component is removably coupled to the elongate body and configured such that proximal movement of inner component with respect to the outer component proximally withdraws the elongate body with respect to the proximal anchor.

13. The deployment device of claim 12 , further comprising a distal cap being removeably attachable to the distal end of the outer component.

14. The deployment device of claim 13 , wherein the distal cap comprises an anti-rotational head to engage a recess of the proximal anchor of the bone fixation device.

15. A deployment device for use with a bone fixation device comprising an elongate body with a distal helical anchor and a proximal anchor that is carried by the elongate body, said deployment device comprising:

an outer component having a proximal end and a distal end;

an inner component axially moveable within the outer component;

a first actuator coupled to the outer component;

a second actuator coupled to the inner component such that the first actuator is axially moveable with respect to the second actuator; and

wherein the distal end of the outer component is configured to engage and rotate the proximal anchor of the bone fixation device and the inner component is removably coupled to the elongate body by threads and configured such that proximal movement of inner component with respect to the outer component proximally withdraws the elongate body with respect to the proximal anchor.

16. The deployment device of claim 15 , further comprising a distal cap being removeably attachable to the distal end of the outer component.

17. The deployment device of claim 16 , wherein the distal cap comprises an anti-rotational head to engage a recess of the proximal anchor of the bone fixation device.

18. A deployment device for use with a bone fixation device comprising an elongate body with a distal helical anchor and a proximal anchor that is carried by the elongate body, said deployment device comprising:

an outer component having a proximal end and a distal end;

an inner component axially moveable within the outer component, the inner component being adapted to grip the elongate body of the fixation device;

a first actuator coupled to the outer component;

a second actuator coupled to the inner component such that the first actuator is axially moveable with respect to the second actuator; and

wherein the distal end of the outer component is configured to engage and rotate the proximal anchor of the bone fixation device and the inner component is removably coupled to the elongate body and configured such that proximal movement of inner component with respect to the outer component proximally withdraws the elongate body with respect to the proximal anchor.

19. The deployment device of claim 18 , wherein the inner component comprises a tensioner having a collet configured to grip the elongate body of the bone fixation device as the first actuator moves proximally relative to the second actuator.

20. The deployment device of claim 19 , wherein the collet comprises a plurality of flexible fingers having gripping heads.

Assignments (6)